Green Dragon Farmers Market

Spread across a 60-acre site in Ephrata, Green Dragon Farmers Market pairs a Friday market with multiple on-site auctions, giving the place a scale that feels different from a small-town produce stop. The market has operated since 1932, when Noah Burkholder started it, and it still presents itself as a Lancaster County Amish market in the heart of Amish Country. Shoppers come onto a property with seven main buildings, indoor and outdoor shopping, and room for more than 100 vendors, so a visit here can stretch from pastries and pretzels to antiques, books, and auction activity in other parts of the grounds.

Why it matters locally

Founded on March 11, 1932, by Noah Burkholder, Green Dragon has been part of Ephrata’s weekly rhythm for generations rather than a newer seasonal pop-up. Its Friday-only schedule gives the market a fixed place in the week, and the mix of market stalls with recurring auctions makes it a working commercial site as much as a shopping destination.

That local role shows up in the property itself. Green Dragon operates on a 60-acre site with seven main buildings, indoor and outdoor shopping areas, and a vendor count of more than 100, which points to a market built to handle regular volume over time. The setting in Lancaster County and Amish Country also anchors it to the regional identity that many shoppers associate with Ephrata and the surrounding area.

What you'll find there

Green Dragon’s vendor mix runs far beyond a narrow farm-stand lineup. Across the market’s indoor and outdoor spaces, the listings point to a heavy food presence alongside antiques, books, crafts, primitives, birdhouses, and auction-related activity on the same property.

• -Find antiques at My Favorite Things, located at spot A1 beside the lower end and parking lot.
• -Grab French fries from Fink’s French Fries.
• -Pick up baked goods from Beiler’s Taste of Home Bakery.
• -Order deli fare at Conrad’s Delicatessen.
• -Sip coffee at Cozy Coffee Shop.
• -Choose sandwiches from King’s Sandwich Shack.
• -Stop for bakery items at Giarella’s Bakery.
• -Sit down with Jake & Leona’s Restaurant.
• -Get pizza from Katie Fisher Pizza.
• -Try fried seafood at Mulligan’s Fish Fry.
• -Pick up sausage from Newswanger’s Sausage.
• -Pour tea or coffee from Paradise Tea & Coffee.
• -Add pickles from Peter Peppers PA Pickles.
• -Take home pretzels from John & Annie Lapp’s Pretzels.
• -Browse pastries at Sunnyside Pastries.
• -Shop snack foods from Zerbe’s Snack Foods.
• -Browse books at Barb’s Books.
• -Look over handmade items at Mona’s Creations.
• -Check out birdhouses from Noah’s Birdhouses.
• -See home decor at Cozy Home Primitives.
• -Browse crafts at Rhonda’s Crafts.
• -Look for vintage-oriented goods at AnTiki G’s.
• -Shop spirits from Hazard’s Distillery Inc..

Auction activity is part of what sets this market apart. Every Friday also brings a hay auction at 10:00 AM, a household goods and furniture auction with the main sale at 11:00 AM, and a small animal auction at 6:30 PM; a furniture sale is also held on the first Friday of each month at 6:00 PM.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed, which is the detail most likely to change plans before you arrive. Parking is a major part of the setup here: Green Dragon offers more than 30 acres of free parking, and RV parking is permitted on a grassy area at the rear of the market from Thursday at noon until Saturday at noon, currently at no charge.

Accessibility is built into the grounds. All seven main buildings are handicap accessible, restrooms in Building #1 and Building #7 are handicap accessible, and handicap parking spaces are provided throughout the property. Restrooms are available on site, and the main office sells souvenirs including hats, mugs, T-shirts, postcards, bags, decals, and stuffed animals if you want a market-branded extra before leaving.