A visit to a local farmer’s market is always a fun event -- shopping outside for fresh produce and locally made goods. Muskoka has a number of farmer’s markets open throughout the summer season, with one happening somewhere in Muskoka almost every day of the week.

  Monday is the Bala Farmer’s Market, situated in the picturesque village of Bala on Lake Muskoka. Starting June 24 until Labour Day there will be vendors of all sorts plying their wares across from The Kee, on the Bala Falls Road.

  “It’s not as large as some,” says Market Coordinator Jasmine Keith, “but we have a little bit of everything – we have all the bases covered.”

  The list includes produce of all kinds, a meat vendor, homemade jams and jellies, fresh pasta, plus Muskoka Chairs and other furniture, garden ornaments, and other arts and crafts by local artisans. New this year is a different, surprise guest vendor each week.

  Wednesday is the Gravenhurst Farmer’s Market, from 9am to 2pm, May 22 to October 9 this year. This award winning market – voted the best seasonal farmer’s market in Ontario by Foodland Ontario and Farmer’s Market Ontario -- enjoys a superb venue at the Sagamo Park, right next to where the Segwun and the new Wenonah II steamships dock. This proximity to the water allows customers to come by boat, too. Pony rides, a petting zoo and a clown, plus the usual produce and goods, are all part of the fun.

  Each Thursday the Huntsville Farmer’s Market sets up shop in the Canadian Tire parking lot in Huntsville. Also open 9am to 2pm, starting May 16 to October 10, 2002, the Huntsville Market offers a wide variety of goods.

  The meat section includes beef, pork and pork sausage, chicken, lamb and trout. Locally produced honey and maple syrup are also available, as are perennials, bedding plants, and annuals. Baked goods, and exclusive Muskoka crafts, such as wooden toys, beautiful children’s clothing, woven lawn chairs and jewelry, round out the array of offerings.

  “By July we will have a complete line of vegetables available, plus local berries – strawberries, raspberries and wild blueberries, as well as other fruit – peaches, apricots, and plums,” says Market Coordinator Janis Schut, adding, “New vendors this year include a Buffalo meat vendor, and some organic greenhouse growers with their produce – tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and more.”

 Fridays the Rosseau Farmer’s Market is open at the fairgrounds on Highway 632 in the village of Rosseau. Newly formed last year, it includes many local, non-profit groups and agencies. “We wanted it to have a community based focus,” explains Lynnis Aroyea, one of the principles, adding “This year we’ll also have a different, local guest artist each week.” Their season runs from June 21 to August 30^th this year, with a Grand Opening planned June 28^th, which will include an 80 piece steel orchestra.

  On Saturdays the Bracebridge Farmer’s Market can be found in a new location this year, occupying the Memorial Park on Manitoba Street in Bracebridge. Open 8 to 1 from the Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving, it boasts all the usual goods in season, as well as organically grown vegetable plants for the garden, local Maple Syrup, and Milford Bay smoked trout products.

  Pick a day, and then head out to the appropriate town to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the farmer’s markets in Muskoka.