New Palafox Market South coming May 13 to Plaza Ferdinand

Palafox Market is expanding its popular Saturday farmers market to Plaza Ferdinand on South Palafox starting Saturday, May 13.

Why this matters: The Downtown Improvement Board has had a waiting list of vendors wanting to be at the Palafox Market.

• The Palafox Market celebrates its 16th anniversary this month. What was started by the DIB as a small farmers market has sprouted into a flourishing must-visit adventure for gardeners, foodies, crafters, artists, pet lovers, and music lovers.

• Several local businesses have started and grown thanks to the loyal customers that they generated on Saturdays.

• The foot traffic between the north and south locations will be good for the businesses on Palafox Street.

Dig Deeper

“Palafox Market South” will include a blend of familiar Palafox Market vendors, along with a new mix of local farmers, artists, and craftsmen and women, who will fill up Plaza Ferdinand on the corner of Palafox and Government Streets. Shoppers can navigate between the new market and the always-humming original located on north Palafox at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Hosted by the Downtown Improvement Board, Palafox Market opened in 2006 with about 25 farmers but has grown to weekly markets featuring painters, jewelry makers, glass blowers, bakers, floral designers, and other cottage entrepreneurs, with as many as 10,000 shoppers on the busiest Saturdays.

Pensacola City Council voted unanimously in March to approve an ordinance change that would allow the market to expand to Plaza Ferdinand, with Mayor D.C. Reeves advocating for the expansion.

“Pensacola has clearly demonstrated that we can sustain multiple thriving farmers markets, so I’m excited to see even more support for local businesses and vendors through this expansion,” Mayor Reeves said. “Palafox Market South will attract even more visitors to downtown Pensacola, having a catalytic effect on our vibrancy downtown.”

“The market began as an outlet for local farmers to be able to sell their fresh produce and has grown to be a top weekend destination for locals and visitors,” said Walker Wilson, executive director of the DIB. “Palafox Market is a great economic engine for all of our downtown merchants, and offers low-barrier access to anyone looking to start a small business.”

The Downtown Improvement Board has invited local farmers and small businesses interested in being part of the new market to find out more and apply online at palafoxmarket.com/vendors.

For more information about Palafox Market, visit palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit downtownpensacola.com.