Update on July 9, 2025

At the July 8 Council meeting, Council voted to move the Wednesday market back to Baker Street starting on July 16. The Saturday market will remain at Cottonwood Falls Park. A recording of the Council meeting is available here. 

Media release from May 29, 2025: Downtown construction necessitates Wednesday Farmers Market moving to Cottonwood Falls Park

As several major construction projects are creating congestion and parking challenges downtown this spring and summer, the mid-week Nelson Farmers Market is moving to Cottonwood Falls Park for the season. The move will give the City, vendors and market participants a chance to experience the market in a new location that was designed to accommodate events.

The City would like to apologize for the short notice about the Wednesday market location change before the mid-week market resumes on June 4. We have been exploring all options to ensure a positive Wednesday market experience in 2025. Losing our market coordinator during this critical time led to a delay in finding a solution for this season.

 Several factors influenced the decision to move to Cottonwood Falls Park for 2025, including:

• Ongoing construction on Baker Street, Vernon Street and Victoria Street,
• A survey of Nelson Farmers Market vendors in March, which indicated that vendors would like access to amenities that are limited on Baker Street, such as:
  • Free parking for vendors and customers, 
  • Potable water, 
  • Washrooms on site, and
  • Access to electrical plug ins.
• Parking considerations,
• Traffic flow issues along Baker Street, including a close call with a vehicle during last year’s market season,
• Impact on transit routes,
• Accessibility,
• The opportunity to host more vendors from our lengthy waitlist at Cottonwood Falls Park than can be accommodated on Baker Street, 
• The success of the Saturday markets at Cottonwood Falls Park, and 
• Upgrades made at Cottonwood Falls Park last year that make the location ideal for hosting markets, including a new bridge, sidewalks, an improved parking area and enhanced green space. These upgrades ensure a functional and vibrant venue for the Nelson Farmers Market.

The City is committed to promoting the Nelson Farmers Market and helping vendors connect with customers, and will run a communications campaign around the location change, including public signs, posters, radio ads and social media posts.

The City has already received a record of over 450 vendor applications for the Nelson Farmers Market. We are looking forward to another successful market experience this season for all vendors, businesses, community members and tourists visiting throughout our region.