Eastside Sunday Market

Battlefield Farm & Gardens hosts Eastside Sunday Market, giving this Knoxville market a clear producer anchor from the start. Set at Dr. Walter Hardy Park on MLK Jr. Ave, the Sunday market runs in the afternoon rather than the morning, with a seasonal schedule from July into October. The market describes itself as producer-only, with seasonal produce, handmade crafts, and homemade prepared food, and says more than half of its vendors travel less than 5 miles. That combination points to a market shaped around nearby growers and makers rather than a broad resale mix.

Why it matters locally

Dr. Walter Hardy Park gives the market a fixed East Knoxville setting, and the market says it was founded by the community, for the community. Its own description emphasizes neighbor-to-neighbor trade: more than half of vendors travel less than 5 miles, even while the market welcomes sellers from across East Tennessee. That keeps the local claim concrete rather than abstract.

The organizing and support network is also rooted in named local and regional partners. Battlefield Farm & Gardens hosts the market, with support from 5 Points Up, SEEED Knoxville, the National Women in Agriculture Association, and Nourish Knoxville. Sponsorship from Denark Construction, the Lawson Family Foundation, and the Tennessee Chapter of National Women in Agriculture adds another layer of backing around the market itself.

What you'll find there

The mix here is defined less by vendor volume than by market rules and product type. Eastside Sunday Market identifies itself as a producer-only market centered on seasonal produce, handmade crafts, and homemade prepared food.

• -Find seasonal produce from producer-only vendors at the market.
• -Browse handmade crafts sold within the market's producer-only lineup.
• -Pick up homemade prepared food offered by approved vendors.

Market Kids Days add a family-focused program during the season, with an extra $5 in market bucks for kids provided by Nourish Knoxville.

Know before you go

No dogs is the clearest on-the-ground rule to plan around before heading to Dr. Walter Hardy Park. The market operates on Sundays from 1 to 4pm, which makes it an afternoon stop rather than an early shopping run. Its season is limited to July 6 through October 19, so timing matters if you're planning around summer and early fall produce.

The location is Dr. Walter Hardy Park, 2020 MLK Jr. Ave in Knoxville, with Jodie Johnson listed as market manager and Vivian Williams as market director. The market is also currently accepting vendor applications for a future season, and states that all vendors must be approved before selling, which reinforces the curated setup behind the producer-only format. Restrooms are not available on site.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at Eastside Sunday Market. The market also notes that Battlefield Farm is the primary vegetable producer accepting SNAP for the 2026 season, which helps set expectations about where that benefit is currently centered. On Market Kids Days, Nourish Knoxville provides kids with an extra $5 each in market bucks.