Last weekend I was invited to the grand opening day of the Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Market on the north side of Brisbane. The site is at a closed university campus and was absolutely swamped with people on day one.
We met at 10am and I was 5 minutes late trying to get through the swarm of people. The organisers of the market must have been over the moon at the numbers in attendance. By 10am there were several stalls with sold-out signs. I doubt they expected the numbers or they’d have stocked a lot more produce and banana bread.
The market has great signage and are all aimed at making people smile.
I was shocked when I saw a dog on a leash and asked if the market was dog friendly and it is! There were dogs everywhere but with that many people it must have been tough for the four-leggers. I don’t think I’d bring Charlie to a place with that many people to trip over him. There were no unfriendly gestures and no dog did a naughty and left it behind and that means a lot.
Did I say dog friendly and forgot the pig? Yes, there was a pig in attendance. He was really cute. Big and cute.
You’ll find vegetables fresh from the farm at their peak goodness. I bought some of these tomatoes.
There’s also a fun place for kids to play in so they can take a break from watching mum and dad shop.
There are several areas with cooked food and lots of places to sit.
You’ll also find fresh flowers and plants.
We have some wonderful farmers markets up here on the Sunshine Coast but if I lived closer I certainly would. The market is really well organised and has everything I’d want to see in a market.
Saturdays 6:00 am – 12:00 pm
Old QUT Campus
532 Beams Rd
Carseldine
What a fantastic market! It looks so well organized and welcoming. 🙂
Gorgeous photos Maureen! You really captured the vibe there 😀 That reminds me, I need to stock up on garlic!
You did really capture the vibe Maureen. I love that piggy with his harness on. So cute. Hope you had a great day. x
What a fun day…I love the signs, especially the scare crow. 🙂
Sounds like a great place! Great pictures — helps us really get a feel for the place. I wouldn’t bring Charlie either — too easy for someone to accidentally step on him.
Wonderful place, Maureen. And for those of us who are walking challenged, it’s great to see all those places to sit and rest up for a few minutes before heading back into the crowds.
They seemed to think of everything 🙂
Fantastic market. And lots of good eats and fun to boot. 🙂
How fun! Those signs are adorable.
What a lovely day and how wonderful for the stall-owners to leave knowing they’d sold all their produce. Shopping in markets is becoming increasingly popular. Like you, even though it’s very dog-friendly, I don’t think I could bring my two – they’d be trampled on! xx
I love markets like this! I love road side farm stands, too! What fun. Looks like you are feeling better!
Looks like a blast! I want to go!!
With you!
What fun we’d have!
Looks like a great place to shop and have fun! Great pictures Maureen, it was like I was there with you! Love the scare crow and the tomatoes look delicious 🙂
That’s my kind of Farmers Marrket for sure. It looks beautifully organized???? That is one gripe I have for where I live. No good farmers market nearby. But u r right. I would not take my dogs either. And of course it comes alive when u write 🙂
What a lovely day out – it’s winter though and everyone is walking around in tshirts?! I’m a sucker for a farmers market and always come back with way more than I ever need.
Well, we ARE in Queensland 🙂
What a fabulous place! Love the piggeh!
Maureen – is that gorgeous pig a NZ Kunekune? Know of a well known Kiwi blogger from Illinois who is beginning to grow them!!!!
I have no idea. All I know is that the pig doesn’t have a ring in its nose because they don’t care if it digs up the back garden. 🙂
[laughter] Maureen: these little Kiwi ‘buggers’ are awfully cute! Celi of ‘mykitchensgardens’ in Illinois is growing them to breed as pets and they are utterly delightful!! Keep the name in mind and have a happy weekend in the interim!!!!
No problem : shall send photo to Celi [‘mykitchensgarden’ : she is the expert] but it sure look the bro/sister of Tima 🙂 !!
What a really wonderful market! I especially loved your slice-of-life pics of the hilarious signs (“Hay … it’s in my jeans”!!!) … and I even had to read the doggie water bowl sign aloud to my kiddos because it was so stinkin’ cute! Isn’t there just such a friendly, community feel to markets like this? We have a lovely farmers’ market on the square in my city every Saturday in the summer – locally grown produce, baked goods, and yup … even a doggie bakery! So cool! 😀
Seems you had a wonderful time there. Beautiful market.
Love places like this…and what about that pig…?
ela h.
Sounds like a blast. I am a first time visitor of your blog. The name of it caught my attention….very catchy.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Kim!
I love a good farmers market, I do miss the ones down in England they are run all the time and all year around. Scotland has a few but they are a lot smaller and the choice is not as wide but you make do. This one looked amazing!
Wow what a fun event. The weather looks like it was out of sight beautiful. It also looks like there was something for everyone to enjoy. Its fun to see what’s going on in your part of the world. Thank you!
Hi Maureen, It’s so nice to see a market with some humor- I particularly like the sign about the water being designed for dogs (“or short people with low standards”). I’m currently in Paris for several months and while the Paris martkets are great, I can’t see the French putting up any humorous signs. It’s ‘all business’ or them!
Looks a great spot Maureen. I’m so lucky to live close to markets that are on every Sunday… great way to shop.
I love the dog signage but the Pig, the pig definitely caps it all. Great looking market, I’d definitely love to have something like that near me. GG
What a great market. Thanks for sharing the photos. Love the pig on a leash. And the sign for the water for dogs. Made me smile. 🙂
That sure does look like an amazing market and I’m so glad that they had so much success on their grand opening.
I love attending night and weekend markets, like this. You get to see a lot of interesting stuff and meet people. Nice finds!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Loved this post, Maureen. Thats a wonderful farmers market. Wished ours were just as bountiful 😉
You captured the feel of this farmers’ market perfectly! I was at our nearby one this AM…not a pig in sight 🙂
Farmers markets are amazing, I hope it’s this great every time!
Wish we had more markets like this. The only things that comes close is on Saturday mornings and only about 6 months out of the year and for 6 hours. It’s nothing like yours. I would love to roam around this market.
Looks like a great day Maureen. I really enjoy heading to my local farmers market on a Sunday, this looks great too with it’s range of stalls. Love that it’s dog friendly!
Krissie x – http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au
What a great market Maureen, pig on a leash? how cool!
I love going to farmers markets, We have lots in here every weekends
It looks like you had a great time, Maureen! What a wonderful market, I wish I could go!
What a fun market!
Love the scarecrow, real fun ‘stuff’! Maureen, you’d find me at the Frenchie’s crêpe stand but also the Ginger Beer – I adore that stuff too since miss it in France. Feel like I’ve travelled to Brisbane just now – thanks for the market tour!
this market looks great. we tried to get there but didnt realise that it shut at noon so were too late. Just wondering why you were surprised about the dogs being there? dont they allow dogs at markets on the coast?:) we used to take our wee one to the powerhouse market and others around town but she got a bit old for it in the end. i love seeing them as it adds such a lovely family atmosphere along with the kids, grannies etc.
No, no dogs at markets on the coast. A few flaunt the signs that say no dogs but we don’t. 🙂
LOL at the ‘water for your dog, or short people with low standards’ sign, what a corker!
What a great and fun atmosphere!
I love walking around WITH purpose (to get food and eat!). This farmers market seems like a good one! The jumpers do help for the kids to take a break. 🙂
What a nice activity for the week end!