Big Bear Farmers Market

Hillside Flower Growers helps organize and administer Big Bear Farmers Market alongside Kerri Santoro, tying this mountain market to the same operation behind the broader High Desert Farmers Market network. In Big Bear Lake, the market runs at the Big Bear Convention Center on Tuesdays from April through September, giving the town a defined weekly window for produce, flowers, and vendor shopping during the warmer months. The market also accepts SNAP/EBT, which matters for both routine grocery shopping and seasonal visitors staying long enough to stock up.

Why it matters locally

Kerri Santoro is identified with the market’s founding story, which reaches back to July 1992, and Hillside Flower Growers remains part of the market’s organizing team today. The stated mission of the High Desert Farmers Market is practical and civic: provide a forum for community activities, promote a wholesome family atmosphere, and accommodate both residents and visitors. That mission is paired with a compliance framework that requires certified producers to follow the Direct Marketing Act and applicable California food and agriculture regulations. Each grower is inspected by the Agricultural Commissioner’s office in the county where they produce, which reinforces the market’s direct-from-producer structure.

What you'll find there

The clearest throughline here is a mix of farm goods and non-food shopping rather than a produce-only stop. Big Bear’s Tuesday market shares the organization’s emphasis on flowers, fruits, vegetables, crafts, handmade goods, clothing, furniture, and other specialty items, so a visit can cover groceries and gift-table browsing in one pass.

• -Find flowers from Hillside Flower Growers, the market’s named organizing partner.
• -Shop fruits and vegetables highlighted as core market offerings.
• -Browse craft vendors and handmade goods listed as part of the regular mix.
• -Look for furniture, clothing, and other unique items mentioned in the market’s event materials.

Seasonal notes include an opening-day announcement and a cherry-season post, which suggests the market marks the calendar as crops and the Big Bear season shift. The strongest thread here is the market’s push to connect shoppers with growers beyond the transaction. Its agritourism messaging leans on meeting “the hands that grew it,” and the market has teased a farm tour reel as part of that effort. That same tone sits beside hands-on, family-oriented programming elsewhere in the market calendar, including an Easter craft activity. One visitor described Tuesday mornings as a place for fresh produce alongside local honey, kefir cheese, radish sprouts, fresh hummus, hats, tie-dyed clothing, gemstones, and dog treats, a combination that reads less like a single-purpose errand and more like a weekly wander through a changing assortment of food and goods. The result is a market identity shaped by growers, crafts, and small interactions with vendors rather than a narrow shopping list.

Know before you go

Parking is the detail most likely to shape your visit. The market describes parking as an issue and specifically suggests riding the free trolley, shopping before 10am or after 12 noon, parking at the Airport and taking the free trolley, carpooling, or using surrounding neighborhood parking. The market is hosted at the Big Bear Convention Center, with the listed address at 42900 Big Bear Blvd. Dogs are not allowed, and the market notes environmental health rules around pets near food spaces. Restrooms are not listed among the visitor amenities, so plan your stop accordingly. If you need a direct line, the market lists a phone number at +1 760-247-3769.

Payments & SNAP

Big Bear Farmers Market accepts SNAP/EBT, and the broader market operation also notes senior WIC alongside SNAP licensing. That makes this Tuesday market a practical grocery stop, not just a seasonal browse. Payment methods are clearly presented in the market’s visitor information, which helps if you’re planning around food benefits as part of your trip.