High Point Farmers Market Returns April 18, Runs Through October

Lee Gann manages the High Point Farmers Market and sells at it. As market manager, he coordinates vendors and logistics for a season opening Saturday, April 18, at the High Point Public Library parking lot at 901 N. Main Street. Through Gann Family Farms, his own operation, he also works one of the stalls, making him one of only two vendors currently certified to accept NC WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons on-site.

The 2026 season runs every Saturday through October 31, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The market, formally operated by the High Point Public Library under the City of High Point, draws local farmers, artisans, bakers, food vendors, and food trucks. Live music fills out the weekly lineup, and the market is dog-friendly. Its Facebook following has grown to more than 5,200.

The food-access programs built into the market's structure set it apart from most weekend markets in the region. Shoppers using SNAP/EBT benefits can participate in the Double the Bucks program: $5 loaded onto an EBT card yields $10 in farmers market tokens, doubling purchasing power for the duration of the season. In past seasons, the program was funded by Bethany Medical and the Lenny Peters Foundation. Guilford County Care Network cardholders, identifiable by their GCCN Orange Card, are eligible for additional benefits at the market as well.

NC WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, established by Congress in 1992 to expand low-income families' access to fresh, locally grown produce, can be redeemed at two vendors on-site: Gann Family Farms and H&A Farm, the only two currently certified to accept them.

The April 18 opening lands exactly one week before the Spring 2026 High Point Market, the world's largest home furnishings trade show, which runs April 25–29 at 164 South Main Street. That trade show draws between 70,000 and 80,000 attendees over five days, spotlights more than 1,500 brands, and generates over $6 billion in economic impact. Visitor spending alone accounts for $506 million annually, with $130 million going to hotels, $96 million to dining, and $31 million to retail. The farmers market opens directly into the leading edge of that foot traffic.

The market has also built a reputation as a community event platform. Past seasons have featured the Pepper Blast Chili Cook-Off, a competition between the High Point Fire and Police Departments. Growing High Point, a local food-access nonprofit, has maintained a consistent presence as both a partner and vendor across multiple seasons.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture classifies farmers markets at the same level as grocery stores under state commerce rules, a designation that reflects the market's practical role in the city's food supply network.

Vendors interested in the 2026 season can reach Lee Gann at 336-689-4463 or hpfarmersmarket@highpointnc.gov. With tens of thousands of furniture trade visitors arriving the following week, the April 18 opening positions the market as the first community anchor of High Point's busiest stretch of the year.