MARKET MILESTONE

As with most traditions, the Lake Bluff Farmers’ Market was launched somewhat serendipitously.

It was 30 years ago that Fred Wacker, Chairman of the Board of Trustees in Lake Bluff, pulled aside Kathleen Gridley Swanson’s better half, Frank “Pony” Swanson (who was the Economic Development Chairman in Lake Bluff at the time) and told him the town needed some livening up.

Pony came home that day and asked Gridley what she thought of the idea of a farmers’ market.

“Whatever you want, hon,” was Gridley’s response, a working mom at the time with plenty of other issues on her mind. Neither knew then their banter would lead to a longstanding tradition in downtown Lake Bluff.

The Lake Bluff Farmers’ Market is now a North Shore institution, a thoughtfully cultivated collection of vendors offering breads, produce, candies, and other products that locals have come to love. It’s also become a community gathering spot for North Shore residents on Friday mornings throughout the summer months.

“People come because of the quality of the food. We have great vendors. We have a committee of six who reviews the vendor applications,” says Gridley Swanson, who now manages the market. “Our vendors come because they know Lake Bluff is a great market.”

There’s a lady from Grayslake who makes appetizer dips, flower vendors (who doesn’t love flowers in summer?), and food trucks that serve up pork sliders and other tasty treats.

“It’s not the biggest market in the world. Lake Bluff is not the biggest community in the world, but it’s a wonderful market,” Swanson says.

She is a people person at heart and the job of managing a farmers’ market, for her, is hand in glove. Pony didn’t know it at the time he conceived of the idea, but his spouse turned out to be a perfect fit to oversee it.

“Any market manager, not just me, acts as a mini chamber of commerce. People ask me, ‘Where is the library? Where can I get a sandwich?’,” she says. “I enjoy seeing people. It’s a very positive event. The Public Works Department sets up tables and chairs for people to come and spend time with one another.”

While the vendors and the food and products on offer are the main attraction of the market, Lake Bluff has made summer Fridays a larger community event.

There’s story time for children, performances by local musicians, and, with a bit of luck, you can catch RC Juggles, a local entertainer, work his magic.

Swanson says the market does allow for one vendor who doesn’t offer something edible but perhaps an essential service for eaters—an expert knife sharpener.

“We feel our knife sharpener is food related,” she says. “If you want to be able to slice your apples in fall and carve your pumpkins, you need sharp knives.”

If you haven’t checked it out yet, we highly recommend. Tell ‘em Pony sent you.

The Lake Bluff Farmers’ Market runs on Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon in downtown Lake Bluff through October 13. For more information, visit lakebluff.org/residents/farmers-market.