Friday Night Farmers Market Organizers Boast Bigger, Better Party This Summer

Rohnert Park’s Friday Night Farmers Market debut is just a couple weeks away, and organizers this year are boasting a bigger and better event than last summer’s first-ever Farmers Market and Party on the Plaza.

One telltale sign that the community craved a gathering spot: The market that launched last June drew an estimated 215 people, and by the end of the summer, that number ballooned to an estimated 3,500. 

“The coolest thing that happened last year was walking around and seeing everyone smiling and having a good time — neighbors talking to neighbors — it really brought a sense of community to Rohnert Park,” said Cathy Slack, of Maverick Media, who first introduced the idea of starting a market to the city last year. 

“I thought, if we want to create a downtown, we really need to start having events there,” Slack said. “The city really needed this.”

This summer’s market, held every Friday night from June 3 until Sept. 30 at City Center Plaza, is geared towards both kids and adults. Every night will feature a live band, more than 100 local growers and vendors selling items such as fresh seasonal produce, olive oils, garden starts and foodstuffs like hot dogs and gyros. Kids, meanwhile, will be able immerse themselves events such as playing on a huge inflatable jumping gym, taking a ride on a rolling train that circles the market, spinning a hula hoop and coloring the sidewalks with chalk, just to name a few. 

Slack is working hard with market manager Laure Tatman to make this year’s event a success. The party will feature more music and themed nights, such as ‘50s night, a patriotic theme on the Fourth of July and country western night. Tatman is also working with local restaurants who will set up booths there to help raise awareness about shopping and eating local.

“Last summer we only had six weeks of music, this year we’re having 18, and we’re featuring a local restaurant who will get to sell their food each week,” Tatman said. 

The idea is to showcase the local restaurants in Rohnert Park, Tatman said.

“They’ll get to serve their food to the community; so many people are unaware of what we have here,” she added.

Some restaurants include , and Karma Indian Cuisine. Tatman and Slack are still ironing out details about which vendors are coming, but she said 99 percent of last summer’s are returning. Last year, about 150 vendors signed up, and so far this year about 100 have enlisted.

Some bands include Pepperland, a Beatles tribute band, an ‘80s band called Choppin’ Broccoli, a rock ‘n’ roll bad called Weekend at Bernie’s and a Motown band called C.T. Cruisers. Beer and wine will also be sold by local nonprofits, the Education Foundation and the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati.

Editor's note: The Friday Night Farmers Market begins at 5 p.m., and lasts until 8 p.m. June 3-Sept. 30 in City Center Plaza, in between the Library and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. For vendor applications, contact Laure Tatman at 707-584-5186.