Farmers' Market sees record number of vendors

CEDAR RAPIDS - A huge crowd came out Saturday for the first downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers' Market of the season.

"I come here every single year and it's nice to bump into everybody that you know," said attendee Avery Cassell.

Getting there was half the battle for some.

"As you know the parking here is impossible to begin with," said Linn County Trails Association President John Wauer.

The Linn County Trails Association, along with grant money from the Healthy Linn County Trails network, is offering bike storage for people riding to the market.

The racks sit in Greene Square Park.

"A group here watches the bikes, we give you a claim check," Wauer said. "Everybody's welcome to bring their bikes down."

The weather didn't stay nice for long Saturday. A short rain shower swept over the market, but many continued shopping.

The second annual bags for bucks in Guaranty Bank on Third Avenue SE provided the perfect shelter from the weather for many shoppers. The proceeds of the sale go toward the Community Health Free Clinic.

"We had people lined up at the gates waiting to get in and shop," said Lissa Novitch, Community Health Free Clinic Director of Development.