Plenty of choices at Bigfork's multiple markets

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

These days you can come into Bigfork on practically any day of the week and find local artists or gardeners selling their wares.

Bigfork is currently boasting three separate farmers markets during the week, with one happening in the parking lot of the Flathead V8 car museum on Highway 35 each Tuesday and Saturday, one in Sliter's Park downtown on Thursday and one at Los Caporales at Streeter's Corner on Wednesday.

The market at Sliter's Park celebrated its third week in the new location last Thursday, having secured the park since the parking lot at Bigfork schools they've used in the past is unavailable due to construction.

"We were at the school for years and years," said Jamie Seegers, of Polson, who is one of the market's organizers. "But this is a great venue."

The park offers shade, a playground and parking, which has Seegers and other organizers hoping to turn the Thursday afternoon market into a family picnic destination more along the lines of what Whitefish does each week.

"People can come down before dinner and a show at the Playhouse," vendor Pam Spengler said.

Though there were only about a half dozen vendors last week— Whitefish's upcoming Huckleberry Days celebration was widely held to be the reason — Spengler said this week's market should bring more items, plus a group of Hutterites selling produce have committed to come.

"I think we'll see an increase in vendors as the show season slows down," Spengler said of the various festivals still happening around the Flathead.

The market at Streeter's Corner operates from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Wednesday. The Bigfork Farmers Market Co-op at the Flathead V8 operates during the same hours on Tuesday and Saturday and the market at Sliter's Park operates from 3 until 7:30 p.m. each Thursday.