Looking for something fun to do on Saturday morning? Visit the Harbor District Farmers & Artisans Market, which opened April 1 and continues to Oct. 28 — a month early and a month later than in previous years.

The market is in a great new location: the corner parking lot at Bonner and Water streets, directly across from Festival Park and close to the North Carolina Estuarium. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon, the market is a great place to pick up local produce, food, flowers, handcrafted gifts and more.

Organized by the Washington Harbor District Alliance and proudly sponsored by Tayloe Drug & Hospital Pharmacy, the market offers access to locally grown and made goods. It’s as close to “farm to table” as one can get. Many local businesses began with a booth or table at the market — just look at Rachel K’s Bakery, now located on Market Street.

It’s important we keep our dollars local and get to know who grows and produces the food and goods we consume. It not only helps those who come to the market to shop or sell, but also attracts people to the area. We encourage folks to “make a day of it” in the Harbor District, starting with the market and continuing to local restaurants and shops.

There are many parking spots adjacent to the market in addition to two large parking lots close by — either the one between Main and Second streets, behind the shops facing Market Street, or the lot behind Wells Fargo, accessible from Market Street. An alley leads visitors from the bank lot to the market. The other lot is just across the street on Main Street. All have handicapped spaces. Need parking advice or someone to help carry or load your purchases? Ask one of the volunteer Market Ambassadors, and we’ll be happy to lend a hand.

The new location has quite a few perks: easy access public restrooms, a safer space to bring kids or pets on leashes because of the pedestrian-only traffic, and uninterrupted operations through the entire season, even during major events like the Summer Festival or Smoke on the Water. Remember, this is temporary as we look forward to the new Harbor District Market WHDA President Chris Furlough wrote about last week.

This Saturday, grab your friends, family and maybe even a pet and come to the market. Don’t forget to pick up a free reusable market tote provided by First South Bank.

To learn more or get involved, email whdafarmersmarket@gmail.com or call 252-947-1487. For regular Farmers & Artisans Market updates, follow us on Facebook. See you on Saturday!

Susan Sizemore is the 2017 Harbor District Farmers & Artisans market manager and a local business owner.