Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market

With assistance from the Eau Claire Main Street Association, the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market officially opened in June 1994, giving this downtown market a civic foundation that still shapes its place in the city. Today it operates in a covered pavilion in Phoenix Park at 300 Riverfront Terr., along the Chippewa River in downtown Eau Claire. The market lists about 70 vendors, a mix that ranges from vegetables and flowers to trout, shrimp, bison, maple syrup, bakery goods, pasta, cheese, and ice cream. That combination makes this one of Eau Claire’s clearest places to shop directly from growers and food producers gathered in one downtown setting.

Why it matters locally

The market is a producer-only market, meaning vendors are required to sell products grown or sourced from local producers, with an emphasis on quality and freshness. That matters here because the vendor roster is built around farms and food businesses tied to the region’s agricultural output: vegetables, flowers, berries, orchard fruit, meats, eggs, honey, maple products, mushrooms, and baked goods all appear across the lineup.

Its local role also has depth. Philip Arthur Chute founded the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market in 1994, and the market opened with assistance from the Eau Claire Main Street Association and the City of Eau Claire. The market’s history also reaches back to the Eau Claire Farmers Market Association, which formed in 1980. In practice, this gives shoppers a market with long roots in Eau Claire’s downtown and farm economy rather than a temporary retail event.

What you'll find there

The mix here leans broad rather than boutique: many produce growers share space with meat producers, bakers, flower vendors, orchard stands, and prepared-food sellers. The market’s own harvest notes also point to a meat selection that includes bison, pork, beef, lamb, trout, shrimp, and chicken, which matches what shows up across the vendor list.

• -Pick up fresh flowers and bouquets from Anaya’s Flowers.
• -Find blueberries at Augusta Blueberries.
• -Shop apples, plums, and blueberries from Blueberry Ridge Orchard.
• -Look for shrimp and heirloom tomatoes at Bohemian Ocean.
• -Bring home trout and spreads from Bullfrog Fish Farm.
• -Choose vegetables and flowers from Cha and Blia Lee.
• -Stock up on pork, chicken, ground beef, and soap from Deutsch Family Farm.
• -Add microgreens from Farm Doc Microgreens.
• -Browse mushrooms from Fun Guy Farm.
• -Buy eggs from Golden Eggs from Happy Hens.
• -Taste sheep's milk and lamb products from Hidden Springs Creamery.
• -Pour maple syrup, sugar, and candies from Hilltop Maplezz.
• -Pick up honey and honey products from Honey Hill Apiary.
• -Try bison from Hooterville Junction Bison.
• -Take home gluten-free and vegan bakery goods, salad dressing, coffee, and flavored teas from Jonnie's Bakery.
• -Cook with handmade pasta from Jill & Lilly’s Homemade Pasta.
• -Grab sweet corn, melons, and vegetables from Sam's Produce.
• -Find organic vegetables and organic beef at Wheatfield Hill Organics.
• -Finish with cheese curds and cheddar from Yellowstone Cheese.

Monthly winter shopping continues with the Winter Farmers Market, held on one Saturday each month from November through April at the Pablo Center.

Know before you go

No dogs is the clearest rule to plan around before heading to Phoenix Park. The market runs in a covered pavilion in Phoenix Park at the corner of Riverfront Terrace and Madison Street, with the address listed as 300 Riverfront Terr.. Because the market lists roughly 70 vendors, it helps to arrive ready to shop across several categories rather than expecting a produce-only stop.

There are no restrooms listed in the market details, so that is another practical point to handle before you arrive. If you need a direct contact, Deidra is the market manager and the posted phone number is 715-563-2644.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market. Payment methods are presented clearly by the market, which is useful given the range of vendors selling everything from vegetables and meat to baked goods, pasta, and honey. With a producer-only vendor mix, payment options matter because many shoppers are building full-market baskets rather than making a single stop.