Tarpon Sunday Market is Coming to Town

Oct. 14 will mark the first official day of the Tarpon Sunday Market, located at the corner of Alternate 19 and Tarpon Avenue.

Although a successful farmers market has become a thing of the past in Tarpon Springs, current market manager Laura Johnson is hoping to trigger a ripple effect of positivity through the Tarpon Sunday Market. 

Johnson explained that there used to be a thriving weekend market around 2008, but with shifts in the economy and management changes, the market crumbled.

It never fully recovered. 

Last September, Johnson received news that there would be no more weekend farmers market in Tarpon Springs. She made a bold move.

"I stepped forward and took the project on because I felt having a community market is a real asset to Tarpon," Johnson wrote in an email.

Though Johnson admitted the job has been anything but easy, the market is finally coming together and is almost ready for its fall debut.

Along with some help from local business owners, citizens and community leaders, the Tarpon Sunday Market will launch next weekend. To start off, the market will feature a vegetable vendor, coffee and smoothies as well as hand-rolled candles, stained glasswork and crystals.

Johnson hopes that the market will grow and draw more vendors. According to Johnson, there is a need for locally grown and organic produce that she hopes to cater to as the season progresses. 

But what's more important to Johnson than vendors or produce, is the fellowship the market offers. 

"One of the most important functions of the market is to be a community gathering center," Johnson wrote.

To appeal to a larger demographic, Johnson altered the hours of the market so they run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

There are plans to incorporate live music and prepared food vendors, which will inevitably make the Tarpon Sunday Market, the only place to be on Sunday afternoon.

Interested vendors can apply online or call 727-458-1138 for further information.