The Heathsville Farmers Market is gearing up for the 2023 season and recently announced its related special events. The market will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on third Saturdays April through October on the grounds of Historic Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern, 73 Monument Place, Heathsville.
Each market has a theme. In April, there will be an Earth Day celebration, courtesy of Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship, and a wine tasting festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
In May, the market will feature a flower show sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club. In June, a free concert by the five-piece ensemble At Water’s Edge will be held on the tavern green, sponsored by the Rappahannock Concert Association.
In July, the market will host “Kids Day,” which includes fun activities for children, like making a wooden boat with the Tavern Woodworkers Guild. An Antique and Classic Car show will be featured in August, followed by “Bingo for Quilts” at 1:30 p.m., courtesy of the Tavern Quilt Guild.
There will be a “Living History” encampment and historical flag display at the September market. In October, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will present a “Blessing of the Animals” and the Tavern Quilt Guild will hold a quilt sale.
The market typically includes 40 to 50 vendors, offering fresh Northern Neck produce, locally-raised meat, flowers and nursery plants, baked goods, eggs and canned goods, and locally-made handcrafts, said manager Corinne Becker. There are new vendors at every market.
The Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern Foundation sponsors the market. Dating from the 1700s, the tavern is home to four active artisan guilds, which will be on-site for market days, demonstrating and selling their wares. Follow the smoke to see the blacksmiths working in the Tavern Forge. The woodworkers have both a modern and a colonial era workshop in the Carriage House, which also houses a collection of antique carriages. The quilters can be found on the first floor in the tavern. The spinners and weavers gather in their studio on the second floor.
Inside the historic tavern, visitors will find the Heritage Arts Center gift shop. The Tavern Café will serve light luncheon fare, available to take-out or a leisurely sit-down meal inside or outside on the verandah. All food is made by the volunteers of the Tavern Culinary Group in their commercial kitchen.
Vendors of all types are welcome at the Heathsville Farmers Market. Visit www.RHHTFoundationinc.org, or call Becker at 580-3377.
Primis Bank is a major sponsor of the market, which is the centerpiece of “Make It a Heathsville Saturday.” This community initiative is designed to highlight additional local shops and historical attractions on market day.
