A change in location may have been all the St. Charles Farmers Market needed to become one of the area’s most family-friendly weekend destinations.
This season, the market packed up its produce, parted ways with the City of St. Charles, and moved to Lakeside Park. While technically in St. Peters, the new location is only about a 10-minute drive from Main Street and offers plenty of parking space for unloading strollers with ease. The market still runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon during the season.
While the venue has changed, the mission remains the same. Founded more than 35 years ago by the Lions Club of St. Charles, the market aims to strengthen St. Charles County by supporting local commerce, fostering community connections, and using proceeds to benefit organizations that serve local residents.
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One new way it’s doing that is through free books at the kids tent. Each week, children can take home as many books as they’d like—and even leave a few behind as donations.
“It’s a revolving little library,” says market organizer Lisa Davis, a member of the Lions Club and owner of Reach Realty and Co. and its nonprofit arm, Reach St. Charles.
The kids tent feels like the heart of the market. Located near the center of the grounds, it features a rotating craft or activity that changes monthly. June’s project invites children to plant seeds in adorable little pots, with volunteers on hand to help transfer dirt when needed.
With live music playing in the background, kids can also participate in a weekly coloring contest for a chance to win a small gift card or market bucks.
And if your child has some piggy-bank money to spend, a face painter provides the perfect finishing touch to the market experience. Not that kids need much encouragement to return: They can also collect punches on a loyalty card and earn a prize from the treasure chest once it’s full.
“It was a great outing with my mom and daughter,” says St. Charles resident Brooke Proske. “We plan on making it a weekend tradition. My daughter loved all the snacks, shopping, and planting a flower. She got cotton candy that was bigger than her face.”
For parents who still have energy after browsing the market, Lakeside Park offers plenty of reasons to stick around. Families can explore paved trails by bike or rent paddle boats and spend time on the water.
The market also keeps things fresh with themed weekends throughout the season. One highlight arrives in June with Kids Market, an event featuring young entrepreneurs ages 5 to 17 selling their own products and creations.
Between the books, crafts, music, and budding business owners, it’s hard to imagine a farmers market that does more to keep kids entertained.
