Lane County Farmers Markets Guide: Where to Shop Local Year-Round

The Lane County Farmers Market launched its 2026 season on January 17 at the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza on 85 E 8th Ave in Eugene, a detail that separates it from almost every other market in Oregon: it runs 11 months of the year, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., through December 19. For Lane County shoppers trying to source local produce without rearranging their calendar around a brief summer window, that continuity matters.

Two Eugene markets, one Saturday morning

A common point of confusion for first-timers is that Eugene runs two distinct Saturday markets, blocks apart, with entirely different identities. Getting them straight is the first step to using both well.

The Lane County Farmers Market at 85 E 8th Ave is the year-round produce anchor. Over 100 vendors operate there, and every item on every table must be grown or produced in Oregon, a provenance rule the market enforces without exception. This is the stop for weekly staples: fresh vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, mushrooms, eggs, and prepared foods from farms you can trace by name.

The Eugene Saturday Market at the Park Blocks is a different proposition entirely. Now in its 57th season, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating weekly open-air crafts market in the United States, founded in May 1970. It opens April 4, 2026, and runs Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through November. Roughly 200 booths of handcrafted goods are sold directly by the artisans who made them, and an International Food Court of approximately 15 stalls serves food prepared fresh on site. A live music stage runs all day. Two nearby parking structures offer free Saturday parking, and the market is fully wheelchair accessible. Its Holiday Market, held at the Lane Events Center from late November through Christmas Eve, extends the season for shoppers looking for locally made gifts.

The practical approach: get to 8th Ave when the Lane County market opens at 9 a.m. for produce, then walk to the Park Blocks when Saturday Market opens at 10 a.m. for crafts and a meal.

The $20 SNAP match: how it works

The Double Up Food Bucks program at the Lane County Farmers Market is one of the most direct food-access tools in the county. EBT/SNAP cardholders receive a $20 match on fresh produce purchases, redeemable for fresh fruits, vegetables, edible plant starts, mushrooms, and legumes. The program is available at every Lane County Farmers Market date, including the Tuesday market, and applies at the Info Booth where staff process SNAP/EBT cards, exchange funds for LCFM market tokens, and handle WIC checks and Senior Farm Direct vouchers. For a household spending $20 in SNAP benefits on produce, the effective purchasing power at participating vendors becomes $40.

The $25 basket challenge

At the Lane County Farmers Market, $25 is a functional weekly produce run. A realistic Saturday basket at current market prices typically covers a bunch of leafy greens, a bag of salad mix, a dozen eggs, a loaf of sourdough, and a jar of local honey, all sourced from Oregon-based vendors. SNAP cardholders using the Double Up Food Bucks match can extend the fresh produce portion of that same $25 into $45 of purchasing power. The token system lets shoppers pre-load funds at the Info Booth and move across multiple vendor booths without carrying cash, which removes a practical friction point for larger hauls.

Springfield Farmers Market

Downtown Springfield's market runs through the peak summer months with a mix of farm stands, food trucks, and family programming that gives it a community-center quality beyond a simple shopping stop. Many vendors accept SNAP/EBT, and the market regularly features community tables and kid-friendly activities. Check the seasonal schedule for the most current operating days, as the market's weekday or weekend timing can shift between spring and summer programming.

Cottage Grove Farmers Market

Held at Coiner Park in Cottage Grove, this market operates on a smaller scale than the Eugene options and makes that scale a feature rather than a limitation. Live local music and small-farm vendors give it a relaxed pace that weekend crowds at the Park Blocks cannot replicate. It runs on weekends through the spring and summer season and pairs naturally with a walk through Cottage Grove's historic downtown or a stop at one of the area's parks for a complete outing.

Florence Farmers Market

Florence's market in the Old Town waterfront area serves both residents and visitors making the drive to the coast, and its seafood vendors set it apart from every other market in the county. Local produce and crafts round out the selection. Coastal weather along this stretch of Oregon can shift from sun to rain within an hour, so layers and a waterproof bag are practical considerations. Parking in Old Town Florence can tighten on busy summer weekends; arriving before 10 a.m. gives you the most options.

Getting there: parking and transit

• Lane County Farmers Market (85 E 8th Ave, Eugene): LTD bus stops within easy walking distance; on-site bike racks; street and garage parking nearby. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
• Eugene Saturday Market (Park Blocks, downtown Eugene): Two nearby parking structures, free on Saturdays; fully wheelchair accessible.
• Springfield Farmers Market (Downtown Springfield): LTD Route 11 connects downtown Eugene to downtown Springfield directly.
• Cottage Grove Farmers Market (Coiner Park): Street parking adjacent to the park.
• Florence Farmers Market (Old Town Florence): Limited dedicated parking; early arrival is the most reliable strategy on summer weekends.

The year-round picture

The combined calendar leaves almost no gap for shoppers committed to buying local. The Lane County Farmers Market's 11-month run covers January through most of December. Eugene Saturday Market layers in crafts, entertainment, and an expanded food court from April through November, then bridges to the Holiday Market for the final stretch of the year. Taken together, these five markets serve every corner of Lane County, from Florence's coast to Cottage Grove's valley foothills, with access programs that extend local food beyond those who can afford to pay full price for it.