If you’re in Dallas, one place you can’t miss out on is the Dallas Farmers Market, just east of Downtown Dallas at 920 S. Harwood Street.
It’s one place I tell every visitor they simply must visit when they’re in Dallas.
While there are several markets in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth area – such as the McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square, White Rock Farmers Market in East Dallas, and Lakewood Village Farmers Market to name a few – there’s just something about The Dallas Farmers Market that is close to our hearts.
Plus, the Dallas Farmers Market has an incredible view of downtown Dallas and an even more incredible selection of local goods.
As you explore The Shed and The Market, you’ll find a mix of local produce, handmade jewelry, clever t-shirts, delicious local restaurants, and so much more. It’s definitely a great place for shoppers!
What to Expect at the Dallas Farmers Market
The Dallas Farmers Market is comprised of The Market and The Shed. Keep reading for details on each section.
The Shed
- The Shed is open on Saturdays (9 am to 5 pm), and Sundays (10 am to 5 pm). Local vendors flock to this open-air pavilion, bringing their fresh produce and their latest handmade products.
- Underneath a permanently tented area, these vendors line up in rows for you to shop and sample their products.
- Expect a small-town vibe and people in great moods in these outdoor markets. It always seems like the vendors are super cheerful and want to get to know you!
- There’s a huge variety of products sold here for shoppers. Besides the fresh produce (vegetables like spinach, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli, onions, green beans, etc.) there’s organic pet food, succulent terrariums, handwoven baskets, fresh fish and chips, free-range meats (beef, pork, and chicken) straight from the butcher or ranchers, local honey, fresh fruit jams, and so, so much more. You can find a list of available products here!
- Looking for seasonal produce? Check out this handy guide to see which months of the year you have a high chance of getting your fruits or vegetables. Searching for blackberries? They might be available from April to June. Sweet potatoes? September and October. Pecans? November and December!
- Food artisans call The Shed their home, too. My all-time favorite vendor used to be Hannah’s Gluten-Free Bakery before their unfortunate closure. There are so many other artisan vendors to explore, though!
The Market
- The Market is the indoor portion of the DFM, open seven days a week (from 10 am to 7 pm). This building hosts all sorts of restaurants and shops. You can check out a map of the area here!
- The restaurants: Cajun, Afghani, and Vietnamese are three of the many types of foods you’ll find. Looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner options? They’ve got it here! Some of the choices are:
- Taqueria La Ventana offers handmade street tacos and gourmet tacos along with salads, tamales, churros, and other Mexican delights that go great with beer.
- Rex’s Seafood & Market offers the best, freshest seafood.
- The Caribbean Cabana for the best Caribbean food.
- Can’t forget sweets, especially if you’re out shopping with the kids! They might love going to Cone Creamery to get ice cream, or Doc Popcorn for – you guessed it – popcorn. To fully satiate your sweet tooth, you can also go for cookies or try out Chelles Macarons!
- The shops are the best part! There’s just so much variety in the area. In the market for a gift for a loved one? You’re bound to find something special in one of the following stores:
- Texas Goods Company features local, rustic home decor, and trinkets.
- Bullzerk offers super creative Dallas and Texas-themed apparel.
- Lone Chimney Mercantile has unique artwork and decor.
- Abundantly Aromatic sells natural handmade soaps, candles, fragrances, and scrubs.
- Scardello Artisan Cheese is where you can find fantastic cut-to-order cheeses from Texas and other domestic cheeses.
- Eden Hill Vineyard sells Texas-made wines from Texas-grown grapes.
- Just note that individual shops have their own business hours, so don’t be surprised if they are open or closed earlier/later on Fridays or even on the weekends when you visit.
What to Do at the Dallas Farmers Market
If you’ve never been to the Dallas Farmers Market, you’ll want to go on the weekend when both The Shed and The Market are open.
When you get to the Dallas Farmers Market, you might get overwhelmed by the apparent lack of parking. But don’t worry, they just opened a new parking garage behind The Shed – and parking is free!
After you park, you can walk around, browse, shop, sample foods, and enjoy a meal. There’s so much to see and so many flavors to enjoy at the Dallas Farmers Market. Plus, there are always weekly, monthly, and even seasonal events at the DFM (like their Texas Whiskey Sip and Barbecue), so you’re bound to experience something amazing when you go! You can check this page for their calendar of events.
Listen to Live Music
On the weekends, there is usually a band set up at the entrance to The Market.
It really adds to the festive ambience at the Dallas Farmers Market on the weekends.
Shop Themed Events
Some weekends at the Dallas Farmers Market are themed. My favorite pop-up weekend is when The Boho Market comes to the DFM. The Boho Market shows up every few months or so- you can see their pop-up schedule here!
It’s my favorite weekend theme because there is a ton of gorgeous clothes, jewelry, and local handmade goods for sale.
They set up Instagram-worthy photo spots and hang decorations for makeshift photo backdrops.
Grab Plants Next Door at Ruibals
And while you’re here, check out Ruibals right next door- they’ve got a great variety of flowers and plants.
My favorite season for visiting Ruibals is in the fall when they set up a photo-worthy pumpkin patch in the city!
What to Bring to the Dallas Farmers Market
Bring your friends, significant other, family, dog, etc.
Everyone is welcome at the Dallas Farmers Market, and it’s a great place to eat and walk around.
There are so many fun things to look at, and with such a variety of goods everyone is bound to enjoy this kind of shopping.
You might want to bring a bit of cash, just to make buying things from The Shed a bit easier, but everyone takes credit cards these days! I have yet to find a cash-only vendor here.
Part of the Dallas Farmers Market is outdoors (vendors, patio seating, etc.), so bring sunglasses and sunscreen or a hat to protect your skin!
Getting to the Dallas Farmers Market
If you’re in the mood for a bike ride, it’s definitely a bike-friendly place!
Whether you bring your own or use a bike ride-share option, feel free to go for a spin while you’re here!
Make sure you bring a backpack if you’re biking- one big enough to fit any goodies you might buy.
Also, parking used to be a nightmare, but as I mentioned earlier, they’ve opened a brand new, huge parking garage. (Which is great for people like me who get parking anxiety in the city… who’s with me??)
What’s your favorite thing about the Dallas Farmers Market? Let me know in the comments below!
And if you’re exploring Dallas, check out these posts:
- The Most Instagrammable Places in Dallas
- 101 Things to Do in Dallas
- Where to Find Flower Fields in and Around Dallas
You should also check out 5 Unique Things to Do in Dallas That Locals Swear By. I talk about the Dallas Farmers Market in that article, and there are tips from other locals as well!
Happy exploring,
Jasmine
