Downtown Farmers Market Blooms Tonight

The First Friday Night Farmers Market & Art event opens up shop tonight in downtown New Port Richey. 

Vendors will set up on the east end of Railroad Square (on Nebraska Ave.) and in nearby Cavalaire Square to tempt patrons with treats and art in the open air. The market already ties in to the First Friday art exhibit premiere at the Progress Energy Art Gallery at 6231 Grand Blvd.

Patrons will be able to browse  a variety of offerings, including gluten-free baked goods, dog treats, plants, honey, cheeses and produce. There will also be crafts, soap and candles, and pieces of fine art like blown glass flower. There will be presentations from local growers and live music. The Market Off Main, Cheese Lodge and Suncoast Co-op are some of the local entities who will be involved.

The market is free to attend and goes from 6 p.m-10 p.m.

It’s  produced by Greater New Port Richey Main Street, the nonprofit that focuses on downtown revitalization in New Port Richey. The plan is to hold it on the first Friday of the month through the end of the year. Then, in January, the plan is to will hold it every week on Friday through the end of April.

Planners have touted it as bringing people downtown and giving them  something do on a Friday night.

And tying it into the art gallery helps out that downtown establisment.

Nancy Ciesla, director of the Progress Energy Art Gallery, which is run by Greater New port Richey Main Street, emphasized that people can go to the gallery opening and then go shop in the cool night air.

It makes the gallery premiere "an EVENT!,"  she said.

The market starts at 6 and can be found in the east end of Railroad Square and in Cavalaire Square. The Progress Energy Art Gallery, at 6231 Grand Blvd., will open its exhibit of The Man Cave at 6 p.m.  The Man Cave features art that represents being a man.

Story updated.