Carson City Farmers Market kicks off Wednesday in Pavilion

Carrots and potatoes and tomatoes, oh my.

Starting Wednesday, the Pony Express Pavilion will be overflowing with vendors hawking the fruits and vegetables of the summer at Carson City's Farmers Market.

Also, today kicks off Tuesdays@Third, a small craft fair with entertainment designed to get Carson residents to Third Street to do a little shopping and maybe dance in the street.

This is the seventh year for the Redevelopment Authority-funded farmers market, its second at the Pony Express Pavilion. The market will be every Wednesday through Sept. 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Market Manager Shirley Adshade-Sponsler said the theme of this year's market is Young and Young at Heart.

"It will focus on what keeps us young and what we can learn from the old and young alike," she said. "The best thing to do is come out here and try this stuff."

The market will draw about 45 different vendors selling everything from vegetables and fruit to breads and pesto sauce. Later in the summer, Adshade-Sponsler hopes to start a junior chef program where under the instruction of a professional chef, children can use market goods to learn to cook.

Taking the market from its former home on Third Street left Doug Kramer from Pop's Barbecue feeling a little lonely for the social atmosphere the market brought to downtown.

With Tuesdays@Third, Kramer hopes to get people downtown to enjoy each others company.

"Is there anything to do in this town at night?" he asked.

Tonight from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. the High Street Band will help the area kick off summer with '40s and '50s era swing music. A small craft fair with about a dozen different crafters will compliment the music with their merchandise.

Different entertainment will frequent Third Street weekly. Several dances will be held throughout the summer to benefit local charities.

Other area farmers markets include:

--Lampe Park Farmers Market, Highway 395 to Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville. The market runs from June 16 through Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-- Village Farmers Market, Ponderosa Ranch Parking Lot, Incline Village. The market runs from June 7 through Sept. 29 from 2:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Call 831-4440 or 1-800-519-1584 for information.

-- Kahle Park Farmers Market, Highway 50 and Kingsbury Grade, Stateline. The market runs Friday's from June 2 through Sept. 29. Call 588-0271 for information.

-- Sparks Hometowne Farmers Market, Victorian Square. The market runs Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. from June 15 to Aug. 24. Call 353-2291 for information.

-- Reno Farmers Market, Village Center, California and Booth streets. The market runs Saturdays June 17 through Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 746-5024 for information.

What: Carson City Farmers Market

When: Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: the Pony Express Pavilion, Mills Park

For information on the Farmers Market call Shirley Adshade-Sponsler at 746-5024.

What: Tuesdays@Third

When: Tuesdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Third Street, Carson City

For information call 885-7076.