Downtown Cedar Rapids markets announced

The Cedar Rapids Downtown District announced a record eight downtown farmers markets will be held this summer.

Markets will be the first and third Saturdays of June through September from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Dates are: June 5 and 19; July 3 and 17; August 7 and 21 and September 4 and 18.

Markets will be held along Third and Fourth avenues and Second and Third streets SE.

More than 200 Iowa vendors are confirmed for each market, making it one of the largest of its kind in Iowa and the Midwest.

With more than 100 vendors on the waiting list last year, an extra 40 vendors were added for this summer. Vendors will offer produce, meats, baked goods, flowers and artisan gifts.

Cooking demonstrations, live main stage and street musical entertainment will be featured.

New this year will be themes for each market, including Green, Health and Wellness, Bike, Fire Safety, Gardening and Local Sports. Demonstrations and activities from local experts will be aligned with the themes.

Confirmed Corporate Sponsors for the market season include: Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation, Dale Lee Distributing, Eastern Iowa Airport, ImOn Communications, Kaplan University, Mike Frantz, Mercy Medical Center, Quaker Oats and TrueNorth. Confirmed Media Sponsors include KHAK, KCRG-TV9, 100.7 the Fox, 600WMT, Hoopla, The Gazette, Mediacom, KHAK, the Corridor Business Journal and Z102.9.

Full details on the June 5 Downtown Market can be found at www.downtowncr.org