Friends of Ferrum Park will host an Opening Day Celebration for the 2026 Farm and Craft Market season on April 17 from 3-7 p.m.
Big changes are also underway at the park.
Executive Director Rebecca Saunders looks forward to another year of fun and community engagement.
“We’re really excited to share that during the Opening Day Celebration, we’ll be unveiling the new market playground,” said Saunders. “Thanks to a grant from the Lions Club of Virginia and generous local donations, the market will now have a full play area available for kids when they accompany their parents to the market! The playground will be open every day, dawn to dusk, just like the park, but we really hope families will take advantage of it while visiting the market!”
This year, the market will be held on Fridays from 3-7 p.m., rather than Thursdays as hosted in the past. Saunders hopes that this will increase market attendance and sales.
“The biggest factor in changing the date was feedback from community members whose paydays often fall on Friday,” explained Saunders. “Thursday is not the most opportune time to grocery shop. We hope this day change will make it easier for folks to come and support the market!”
FOFP saw a decline in market attendance last year. Saunders reported this to be a trend across other local markets, too, but does not see this as a setback for the upcoming season.
“From what we understand, all the local markets saw a decline in attendance last year,” she noted. “There is a general consensus that economic factors played a large part in that. As prices continue to rise, we aim to work with local producers to continue to offer local food options that are still more cost effective than larger grocery stores.”
In addition to the playground, there will also be a new event on the first Friday of every month at the market.
“Another big change this year is our First Friday celebrations at the market,” explained Saunders. “Since the market has always been as much of a social gathering as it is a market, we’ll have hot food, entertainment, and more on the first Friday of every month this year!”
Hiking and accessibility trails have also been upgraded, and the FOFP campground is open for adventure.
In addition to the Opening Day Celebration, the Southwest Virginia Alternative Living Expo will take place at the Berglund Center on May 30 and 31.
“It’s one of our biggest fundraisers,” Saunders said, “so we always appreciate the support.”
