I’ve been to plenty of amazing farmer’s markets in my day, and the Iowa City Farmer’s Market is no exception. Even on a rainy, thunderous day, you can still enjoy the feeling of being outside, walking past all the booths and tents that feel so cozy and familiar. The farmer’s market is located on the lower level of the Chauncey parking ramp, and it runs from May to October.

There’s a wide variety of stands to explore: jewelry, baked goods, flowers, a library on wheels, and—of course— produce. Now, it may not be entirely practical, especially as a first-year student, to load up on fresh fruits and veggies, even if it is enticing. But fear not, there are plenty of fun things to buy that can be used! 

My first stop was the bookmobile, a small vehicle filled with books for rent from the Iowa City Public Library. A little farther down, I stopped at a jewelry stand that had gorgeous gemstone bracelets. Across from it was a stand with cute little potted plants, so I obviously had to snag one. Only a few stands in and I already spent half of my money! Luckily, most of the following stands were produce stands, which I wasn’t planning on buying (but they all looked delicious!). A few different flower stands were there as well, and many also sold bunches of lavender. There were so many fun things to look at, I ended up spending an hour there (compared to my usual 3o minutes at my hometown’s market).

This would be a great place to hang out with friends, sip a coffee, and enjoy the outdoors. Another excellent farmer’s market to add to the list!