WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026
We are officially ONE month into Main Season 2026!
In that time, we’ve managed to put on a Rummage Sale, community Yoga flows with Grand Rapids Yoga Company, and a whole bushel of Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday markets under our belts.
Over the last few years, Fulton Street Market has kept adding to the roster: more special event series, more community resources, and more vendors. This year, our goal at FSM is to strengthen and uplift our existing programming, creating a system and a culture that our community can depend on all year round.
Here’s a noncomprehensive list of what you can expect from us in 2026:
ART! at the Market
From Artprize, to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, to our public museums, creative & cultural festivals have been an integral part of Grand Rapids area growth. Each Second Sunday of the months June through October, Fulton Street Market transforms into a bustling hub of West Michigan’s vibrant creative scene. From 11am - 4pm, you can expect to explore a diverse array of handmade artisan goods, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, soap, candles, skincare products, stickers, prints, clothing, bags, and more!
Market-goers can also engage in a hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop guided by a talented member of our local artisan community! This month, we’ll be joined by Ruimin Ge from Ruimin Studios for a “Make Your Own Blessing Bookmark.” Participants will learn the hidden stories and symbolic meanings behind selected words – such as peace, hope, love, joy, courage, and renewal – creating their own handmade bookmark using brush writing techniques inspired by East Asian calligraphy traditions. Each finished bookmark will be placed into a small envelope and sealed with wax, transforming it into a personal keepsake or small blessing to take home.
Savor a variety of food and beverages from our local concessions vendors as you peruse what ART! at the Market has to offer. Check out our Roll Call posts on Facebook & Instagram each market morning for the full lineup of concessions & artisan vendors in attendance.
Whether you're an art enthusiast, a casual browser, or looking for a unique gift, there's something for everyone at ART! at the Market. Come support local artists and immerse yourself in a day of creativity and community!
BIPOC Night Market
In 2021, Fulton Street Market initiated the BIPOC Night Market: a twice-annual night market series to celebrate the rich diversity of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-owned businesses in our community. Since then, our vendor attendance has nearly quintupled from our initial roll call of twenty-some vendors. Product offerings vary from fresh produce, florals, eats & treats, clothing, woven goods, pottery, skincare, & more.
This year, we’ll be partying to the sounds of MexiCuba Duo! This West Michigan band infuses the sounds of Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the United States, “creating a unique sound filled with energy and authenticity.” While you’re serenaded by the live music, we encourage you to savor a variety of cuisines from diverse food vendors, showcasing flavors from around the world curated by local chefs.
Over the past five years, the BIPOC Night Markets have become some of our most anticipated events of the season. Whether you're a seasoned supporter or a first-time visitor, come experience the energy, culture, and community that make these nights unforgettable.
Kids Activities
Bring your littles to the market for a fun creative break! Our weekly Kids Activities are hosted in the headhouse by none other than Alynn Guerra of Red Hydrant Press, a beloved member of our artisan community. Let your kiddo’s inner artist unleash with farmers market coloring pages, collages, crafts, and more — grown-ups get to stay and join the fun!
Kids Activities are hosted in the Fulton Street Headhouse every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:30pm. Keep an eye on our socials each week for more details on what crafts we’ll be exploring! We’ll be kicking the series off on June 17th with a Scavenger Hunt down the market.
Yoga on the Plaza
Start your midweek market trip with a rejuvenating, community‑focused yoga flow led by Kate Benson of The Grand Rapids Yoga Company. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to the mat, this class offers a gentle warm‑up and full‑body vinyasa designed to invigorate your mind and body, breath‑work and mindfulness cues to help you transition into the day, and an overall welcoming, supportive, trauma-sensitive atmosphere. We want you to feel comfortable here!
We keep a few extras on hand, but please bring your own mat and a water bottle. All classes operate on a drop-in, donation basis – rain or shine. Contributions are accepted via cash, CashApp, or Venmo, but never required. Give whatever feels right!
Rummage Sales
Did you know that 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually by the fast fashion industry? If you’re looking for a way to push back against this, look no further than the Fulton Street Rummage Sales!
Discover a treasure trove of pre-loved and vintage items at our Spring Rummage Sale! This event combines the charm of garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, and vintage shops into one vibrant marketplace. Stalls filled with second-hand goods aren't all you can find – join us in the headhouse for free, hands-on workshops from local West Michigan artists! Keep tabs on our socials for updates on artist spotlights and workshop details.
You can expect to find curated collections from local vintage retailers, as well as clothing, furniture, books, vinyl records, kitchenware, and more from neighbors looking to give unwanted items a new lease on life. Plus, enjoy delicious offerings from onsite food trucks and concessions vendors as you shop! Bring a friend and make it a day of exploration, creativity, and community at Fulton Street Market's Rummage Sales.
National Farmers Market Week
A week of highlighting everything that makes this place so special! Make a little extra space in your regular routine during the first week of August to ask a farmer, artisan, or local maker about the “why” behind what they do all year long at Fulton Street.
We’ll have special workshops and activities to celebrate! Make sure to keep an eye on our socials and monthly newsletter for event updates, and join us on Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday from 8AM - 2PM.
Vermicomposting
…has officially wormed its way to Fulton Street!
Vermicomposting is not only an excellent alternative way to dispose of scraps, but also a way to boost soil health physically, chemically, and biologically, with higher nutrient densities than traditional compost.
Thanks to our friends over at Wormies GR, we now have vermicomposting collection bins on the north & south ends of the market. As noted in the guides on the lids, please only dispose of food waste & scraps - save the rest for the dumpster!
Food Recovery Program
The Food Recovery Program (previously known as Heartside Gleaning) is a community favorite at Fulton Street Market. Every Saturday from June through October, volunteers collect surplus produce from farmers after market and redistribute it into the Heartside community — free of charge, no questions asked. Through these efforts, we have redirected over 100,000 pounds of unsold food since 2022.
Garden Club
Learn gardening tips from Val, our resident Master Gardener, while helping to care for the flower and native plant beds on Fulton Street Market grounds. Tasks will include weeding, watering, spreading mulch and compost, planting flowers and other native plants.
Volunteers must be comfortable working outside, able to lift/carry heavy materials, and willing to wear gardening gloves – feel free to bring your own, or wear the ones provided!
Loads of new vendors
This year, we’ve introduced almost 100 local growers & makers to our market offerings!
Seeing continued growth of our vendor community isn’t just exciting in terms of what can be found on the stalls. In recent times, the majority of economic sectors within the USA have a concentration ratio of around 40%, meaning that the top four firms control their respective industry. If the concentration ratio of a sector is above 40%, economists warn that competition is threatened, and unethical dynamics are likely to occur within the market.
Nearly every agricultural sector in the United States is well over 40%, allowing a small handful of corporations to trim profit margins for producers and raise prices for consumers.
When you shop at Fulton Street Market, you support over 400 independent businesses both directly and indirectly, promoting healthy competition and product diversity in your local economy.
If you’re looking for a specific vendor, you can find our Roll Call posts on Facebook and Instagram each market morning with our full lineups.
The Opportunity…
…to support your local small businesses, artisans, and farmers while cultivating a relationship with members of your community.
Shopping locally enables a larger percentage of your dollar stays in your neighborhood. According to recent studies, approximately $50 of every $100 spent at a locally-owned business remains in the local economy. Only around $15 remains in our community when the same amount is spent at a national chain.
Not only is your dollar impacted, so are your relationships. Local, independent businesses are led by our family, friends, and neighbors. From March 2023 to March 2024, small businesses accounted for approximately 88.9% of net new job growth, employing 62.3 million people.
Plus, going to the farmers market is a fun way to spice up your weekends! We hope to see you any Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday market this main season.
If you’d like to support our commitments to supporting local food access & uplifting community resources, please visit fultonstreetmarket.org/support.
