As you may remember, last year we had a Q&A with Festival Director Lindsey Chester about the 2023 Farmers Fall Festival. Unfortunately, the fall festival had to be postponed due to a tropical storm. The new date for the now Farmers Spring Festival is right around the corner, so we sat back down with Lindsey to learn more about what the new Farmers Spring Festival will look like.
The Farmers Spring Festival will take place along South Academy Street and in Downtown Cary Park. There will be live music on the main stage, a kids performance area, interactive exhibits, local food and craft beer, arts and crafts and a mid-day pie-eating contest.
Can you describe your role in organizing the Farmers Spring Festival, and how long you have been a part of these events?
I started directing the festival during its second year in 2018. If you count last year’s that was postponed until March 23rd, I have led the event for six years.
The Cary Downtown Farmers Market is a non-Profit with only one part-time employee. This event raises critical operating funds for the year so that they can pay their employee, and adds to their community outreach efforts such as money they give out as SNAP coupons.
What can attendees expect in terms of entertainment, activities, and vendors at the Farmers Spring Festival?
This is our biggest event yet, as we move from W Chatham Street to the South End of Academy including Frantz Square, the Great Pavilion and The Old Library Park.
Our Children’s Village with Free Kids activities like face painting and a bounce obstacle course will be in the Old Library Park.
Academy Street will extend the town’s Social District where we have six food trucks and five alcohol vendors. The regular market vendors with produce will be set up in front of the Mayton. Market regulars like Sweet Child of Mine candles, CLE Heartstrings, and Sapphire & Leo will be joined by over 100 additional arts and crafts vendors. Frantz Square adds another 20+ vendors including a kettle corn seller.
Live music includes The Adam Decker band at 9:00 and the Ashley LaRue Band at 1:00.
The annual Pie Eating Contest takes place at noon beside the stage on the Great Lawn.
Are there any new additions or special features of this year’s festival, since it is being held in the spring?
We are now able to use the park because it opened in November. That was a huge change and allowed us to spread out the crowds that are expected. We did not make a lot of changes to the activities, but we did have some vendors that could not make the new date, as well as food vendors that had to be replaced.
What is it like hosting the festival along South Academy Street and in the new Downtown Cary Park?
We are excited for this layout. It will look beautiful and allow crowds to use the park. Being near mass transit and several parking lots is also a bonus for our vendors and visitors.
What is your favorite part of the festival this year?
It’s always the pie-eating contest! The crowd gathers around and all hang out together cheering each other on. It brings out such a feeling of community and small-town charm.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My partner Joy Pike, and her husband, Dan Pike (President of CDFM) are integral parts of putting this event on. Add to that, Hal Goodtree, of Chatham Street Records, who organizes the musical entertainment, and Brett Pinsett the CDFM market manager, and our team puts on a well-organized event for all to enjoy.
I also want to tell everyone to come on out and join us all on Saturday, March 23, from 9am-3pm. Stay for an hour, stay for the day!