Indoor farmers market draws strong crowd for first event

For Falls Park Farmers Market vendors inside the Mosaic Art & Events building, Saturday seemed more like a reunion than a workday.

In past years, after months of connecting weekly, vendors found themselves missing their customers-turned-friends during the winter. Now, with the farmers market moving indoors during cold weather, the connection can continue.

“We miss the community,” said April Smith, who owns and operates Heart of the City bakery in Parker. “During the winter, we feel cabin fever and disconnected from community. More than anything, it is the idea of seeing our customers and touching base at least every other week.”

Saturday marked the indoor market’s opening day, and the 18 participating vendors left feeling happy they had decided to expand into winter.

“It was good to see our normal people and good to see new faces,” said Nate Van Zweden, whose family businesses include fresh flowers and items made from wood. “I even talked to some people from the south of France. They were out here visiting family, and they took them to the market.”

The Mosaic building, currently festooned with evergreen garlands, is a good size for the farmers market, giving people room to move around, a place to sit and listen to music and a bar for breakfast mimosas, he said.

The winter indoor market offers the same family atmosphere as the outdoor market, said Miranda Koltze, who makes cold-process soaps using locally sourced ingredients under the name Sweetgrass Soapery. She has been a vendor at Falls Park Farmers Market for about 10 years.

“My products are not necessarily seasonal like the fresh produce, but being part of the market for holidays seemed advantageous, and having it as an outlet for rest of the year is pretty cool too,” Koltze said.

Before the indoor market opened, customer response to the news of the extended offering heartened vendors.

“Everyone that we gave a flyer to, their eyes light up,” Koltze said. “They’re thrilled to have the option to continue to visit us as members of the community and purchase their favorite items all year-round. People look forward to it as a fun activity for the family.”

Sweetgrass Soapery has a website, but its storefront on Main Avenue will close Dec. 24. People who don’t want to shop online will be able to sniff the fragrances Koltze offers in her soaps, lotions, lip balms, shaving soaps, bath soaking salts, body oils and moisturizers.

A lot of vendors have special things planned through the holidays, Koltze said. She plans to offer heart-shaped bath bombs, seasonal simmer-pot blends to take people through the winter, elderberry syrup and traditional scents like peppermint, cinnamon and orange.

Heart of the City offers baked goods that are free of gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. Smith has been a vendor with Falls Park Farmers Market since 2015, and “every year has been the best season yet, even including the pandemic year,” she said.

Popular items include the gluten-free cutout cookies and fresh pumpkin and banana breads — any fresh bread really, Smith said — although pumpkin pies will be November’s most popular item. She is taking orders this week for pies that can be picked up Saturday at the Mosaic.

Heart of the City sells its baked goods wholesale, and Smith runs a route that requires 16-hour days that are spent driving to the Omaha area and to the Twin Cities.

“Frankly, the indoor market gives me an excuse to see people in person instead of having to run around with stock,” Smith said.

After the holiday season ends, the indoor farmers market will give people “a wonderful excuse to get out” and shop while enjoying entertainment, Smith said.

And they can eat. Several vendors are offering food prepared on-site. Smith is serving a caramel apple waffle topped with a homemade hot spiced apple compote.

On Monday, Van Zweden was outside planting peonies that will bloom for the summer farmers market in 2026 and future years. Currently, Alissa’s Flowers, the family business, is offering unique offerings such as amaryllis flowers, wreaths, holiday swags, centerpieces and “Whoville” trees, based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Van Zweden runs the other family business in Hull, Iowa, Silver Maple Woodshop. He uses locally harvested hard maple and decorative walnut to craft cutting boards, charcuterie boards, appetizer plates and unique gifts with laser engraving.

He has offered his products through the Falls Park Farmers Market for about five years.

The Falls Park Farmers Market will continue its indoor sales from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, with Ted and Alice Miller providing the music. Future dates are Dec. 6 and 20, Jan. 10 and 24, Feb. 14 and 28, March 7 and 21, and April 4 and 11.