Earlier this winter, I attended the first New Leaf Winter Farmers Markets of the season, and it was just as incredible as I remembered.
The first market was a special holiday market, complete with a visit from Santa. My daughter was a big fan of visiting Santa. She’s 5 and knows how the whole sitting-on-the-lap thing goes. She wrote up a list while standing in line, and even included a few things for her little brother, who’s only 1. Said one-year-old did not share his sister’s joy at meeting Santa; he’s big time into the stranger danger phase. And an old man with a massive beard was not someone he wanted to get to know better. So instead of an adorable picture of my two beautiful kids sitting peacefully on Santa’s lap, I have one of my daughter on Santa’s lap, my son screaming and trying to run away, and my husband making the weirdest face as he tries to corral the runaway toddler.
I think the picture I actually got is better than the one I imagined.
After our visit with Santa, we did some serious shopping. My kids shared a fresh baked cookie as my husband, a professional chef, browsed the artisanal meats and cheeses. (The lamb he bought became an incredible shepherd’s pie!)
I was lured by freshly baked treats from local coffee shops and bakers. I am continuously amazed by the selection these local farmers produce during their “off season.” Before we left, I picked up some of the best garlic herb goat cheese I have ever tasted…and I’m a big fan of goat cheese. Smear that on just about anything and I’ll try it. Maybe I shouldn’t say that… my husband will take it as a challenge.
The event is all indoors, at the KI Convention Center. You can park for free across Main Street in the ramp, take the covered skywalk over (my kids love it!) and shop through the conference halls. No snow boots required, no pushing strollers through snow.
Unlike the summer markets, the Winter Farmers Market isn’t every Saturday. From now until the first week of March, there’s one almost every week…but not quite. There isn’t a market on January 27 or February 17. They are 8AM-Noon and the dates of the upcoming markets are:
- January 13, 2018
- January 20, 2018
- February 3, 2018
- February 10, 2018
- February 24, 2018
- March 3, 2018
While the Holiday market is the biggest of the season, it’s just the beginning of the season. We will be back for more treats to savor and ingredients to challenge our palates. As winter progresses, new things will turn up at the market, and we can’t wait to see what will show up!
Chryssy is the owner of WellRoundedMom.com, a site dedicated to helping parents make the most of life. She lives in Green Bay with her husband, five-year-old daughter, and one-year-old son. You can follow her on Facebook and Pinterest for the latest content. Check out these other links from Well Rounded Mom:
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