I recently took a trip to the Oregon Coast area with a couple of friends. It was a welcomed getaway, and the great luck of being in Astoria on their opening day of The Sunday Market. We left first thing in the morning...well, after breakfast, and headed to Astoria which was only ten minutes away from our place in Warrenton.
I honestly expected to see a very small block of vendors and pick up some locally grown food. However, when we arrived, the market spanned for four blocks and landed in a large parking lot in the heart of downtown Astoria. Vendors range from local farmers with fresh produce and preserves, baked goods, and handmade soaps, to local artists who showcased everything from jewelry, pottery, paintings, and other items which were useful and aesthetically pleasing. The smell of fresh carmel corn permeated the air and made us hungry even though we'd just had breakfast.
As we walked up and down the rows, we each found our own gems of goodness. My friends bought some colorful earrings from a jewelry artist who works with polymer clay. Her creations were a delicate beauty and every piece was full of different natural scenes with flowers, butterflies, and colorful collages of beautiful flower patterns.
We came across a friendly owner of a small goat farm called Skamokawa Farmstead Creamery, which makes boutique cheeses and soaps. One sample of their Garlic and Dill Chevre and I had to get a couple different types of cheese. I also got a lavender soap and a really cool cammo soap for my husband.
We also found a vendor selling preserves, and they had yummy combinations of sweet and spicy. I bought some jalapeño pineapple jam for my friends to honor them on Mother's Day.
Lastly, I came across a watercolor artist with a fantastic print of Bigfoot, my husband's favorite wild animal in the Pacific NW. Yes, my hubby believes Bigfoot is real and he's a little obsessed over the furry guy.
Living in Oregon all my life, it's not unusual to run into people I know. This trip, we ran into a friend from high school and his wife. They were also staying in town at the Hotel Elliot, overlooking the market.
Although every weeken, Astroria's Sunday market provides musical entertainment, there wasn't any during my visit. That's because musical entertainement is on hold until they fully open.
The Astoria's Sunday Market is open every Sunday all summer long, from 10am-3pm until October 10th, 2021. I plan to head back there on a nice weekend again and make it a priority to visit the market again before it closes in the fall.