It is the time of the year when the weather gets warm, and Saturdays are meant to be spent outside. If looking for something to do, grab a reusable bag and head downtown from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to visit the Ames Main Street Farmers Market.

The market’s grand opening is Saturday and will have a special guest, the Hovick Family Petting Zoo. If walking through Richardson Court on Wednesday, there may have been some of the animals on Iowa State’s campus. Students were given free cups of feed and able to pet any of the animals.

The Farmer’s Market is an opportunity to support local businesses and get involved in the community. Attendees can find locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, live entertainment and various handcrafted items. 

The Farmers Market will support over 130 vendors throughout the season and has multiple volunteer opportunities.

Walking down the market’s street, there are flower bouquets from Dusty Hill Farms, fresh produce from Fisher’s Flowers & Produce and handmade pottery and crafts from Crafty Folks of Ames. These are all full-time vendors at the Ames Main Street Farmers Market every Saturday from May to October.

For a bite to eat, Huey’s Mini Donuts serves fresh mini donuts, or Piece and Freedom Bakery, a Ukrainian Bakery, sells cakes, baked goods and breads. For something savory, try Carlos Quesadillas or​ The Funny Onion. There are food vendors at the Ames Farmers Market that will satisfy any craving, be it a snack or a meal.

Carly Wiegel, a freshman in event management, visited the Main Street Farmer’s Market last season and remembers enjoying her time and plans to go next weekend when it opens.

“It reminded me of home, and it was fun to see the Ames culture,” Wiegel said. “It was nice to see other people besides college students.”

To find more information about specific vendors and special guests, visit the Ames Farmers Market website.