Summer Vegetables, Fresh Flowers, Art Photography and a Brass Band at Saturday’s Riverwalk Market Fair

Fresh summer flowers, lovely art photographs, and a brass band will be featured this Saturday, July 27 at Northfield’s Riverwalk Market Fair.  Kids can “Bang, Blow, and Toot” on brass band instruments courtesy of St. Olaf College’s Manitou Regimental Brass Band.  At 11 am and noon be alert for a surprise entertainment.  Watch carefully or you might not see it flash by.

Seasonal Produce From Local Farmers, Artisan Foods, Art and Fine Craft

Summer produce season is in full swing.  Expect to find kale, salad greens, zucchini, summer squash, scallions, broccoli, beets, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, hot peppers, bell peppers, Napa cabbage, and eggs grown by local farmers.  Artisan foods include a variety of fresh-baked breads, pastries, tarts and quiches from Martha’s Eats and Treats, Crack of Dawn Artisan Breads, Rebecca’s Greek Kouzina, and Archibald Mills.  Maria’s Taco Hut serves freshly made Mexican food.

Watercolors, photographs, handcrafted leather goods, ceramics, glass art, hand crafted accessories, and jewelry are among the art and fine crafts for sale.  (For a complete list of the vendors scheduled for this Saturday visit www.RiverwalkMarketFair.org.)

Featured Farmer: Humble Pie Farm

Fresh flowers that “nourish the spirit” are the specialty of Jennifer Nelson and Mike Lech of Humble Pie Farm.  Humble Pie Farm’s colorful Riverwalk booth includes sunflowers, stunning double ruffle cosmos, zinnias, Irish bells, and tall snapdragons, all grown using organic methods.  Mike says the flowers are growing well after a slow start.  “Plenty of rain, along with recent sunny, hot days, have made for a great crop.”  Mike and Jennifer create bouquets of simple, full, bohemian design, allowing the natural beauty and symmetry of the flowers to shine.

Mike and Jennifer are farming their own plot for the first time this year through the Organic Field School, an incubator program to help farmers transition to owning their own operations.  Through the Field School, Mike and Jennifer rent and work a ¼ acre plot of flowers and rent a tractor and other equipment.  This gives them a chance to build their own proven income stream and track record while they work up to buying farmland and equipment of their own.

Mike and Jennifer are joined this year by new farmer and vendor Earl, aged 6½ months, who loves riding is the backpack while Dad weeds the family flowers.  https://www.facebook.com/HumblePieFarm

Featured Artist: Patsy Dew Pix

Patsy Dew looks for inspiration and a distinct play of light in her photographs.  A milkweed plant filtered through Patsy’s camera becomes of a 4th of July fireworks starburst, the silk threads glowing light filaments.  Some photos turn into journal books, or intricate folded Turkish puzzles that open to reveal images within.  Others become boxes with surprise images when you lift the lid.  One has a florescent green and red bug hidden inside.  Patsy tells the bug and flowers thank you when she takes their pictures.  Maybe that’s what makes the green bug and the milkweed glow. http://patsydewpix.com/Patsy_Dew_Pix

Bang, Blow, and Toot kids activity by the Manitou Regimental Brass Band

The Manitou Regimental Brass Band returns to Riverwalk Market Fair at 11:10 am to play vintage and classic brass band music.  If you imagine “loud” when you think brass band, think again.  Expect sweet music from the 19th and 20th centuries.  And if you like this, be ready for a banquet of band music a week from Saturday when The Vintage Band Festival comes to Riverwalk Market Fair.  The Bridge Square Band opens Saturday’s entertainment at 9:30 am.

Ever wanted to try playing a bugle?  Kids can “Bang, Blow, and Toot” on brass instruments this Saturday.  Learn to buzz on a mouthpiece or make a great big tuba sound courtesy of the Manitou Regimental Brass Band. 

About Riverwalk Market Fair

Riverwalk Market Fair is a Saturday open-air market located on Bridge Square in historic downtown Northfield.  This one-of-a-kind European-style market is open Saturdays from June through October. Each Saturday features a different combination of organic and sustainably grown produce from local farmers, artisan foods, seasonal flowers and a juried selection of the region’s top art and fine crafts including ceramics, art works, prints, photography, glasswork, textiles, wearable art, garden sculpture and hand-crafted jewelry.  Hours are 9 am to 1 pm rain or shine.  For more information, visit Riverwalk Market Fair at www.RiverwalkMarketFair.org.