Maricopans gather in the Copper Sky north parking lot for fresh produce at 2nd Saturday Market November through May.

This fall the City of Maricopa will begin hosting a spruced-up version of its annual 2nd Saturday Market at Copper Sky Regional Park.

The city is expanding the event to include more vendors selling products ranging from jewelry and handbags to coffee and crepes. In an attempt to make the event more engaging, the city will also add entertainment from local music and performing arts acts.

City of Maricopa special events manager Niesha Whitman hopes to go a step further than the typical farmers market by making the event a family-centered outing with attractions for all ages. She believes it should be about more than just buying fresh produce.

“We’re trying to make this a family day,” Whitman said. “We’ve been looking for local entertainers to help make it fun for everybody.”

Some fruits and vegetables will be provided by the Produce on Wheels With Out Waste, and for $10 cash, P.O.W.W.O.W. will provide shoppers with up to 60 pounds of produce.

The city recommends bringing a small cart or cooler with wheels if you are purchasing 60 pounds of produce. There will be volunteers on hand, as the city is partnering with Sequoia Pathway to distribute the produce.

Despite quantities being predetermined, certain types of produce are more abundant than others and thus may run out, so get there early. There will be no substitutions of items.

The events are 8-11 a.m. the second Saturday of each month through January, and 7-10 a.m. February through May.


This story appears in part in the November issue of InMaricopa.