Guide · Updated 2026

The Davis Farmers Market

It is the closest thing Davis has to a town square with a schedule. Here is how the market works, what to expect, and how to go like someone who has done it a hundred times.

The Davis Farmers Market runs in Central Park, right downtown at Fourth and C. It has been a fixture for decades and is regularly ranked among the best markets in the country. More to the point, it is where a good chunk of the town actually runs into each other every week, so give yourself more time than the shopping strictly requires.

When it runs

The big one is Saturday morning, year round, from 8am to 1pm. There is also a Wednesday market, and in the warm months the Wednesday evening version turns into Picnic in the Park, which is the one to know about (more below). Seasons and hours shift a little through the year, so check the market's own site for the current schedule before you plan around it.

What you'll find

Produce from farms in the surrounding valley is the heart of it: fruit, vegetables, nuts, eggs, honey, flowers, all of it grown nearby. Around that you get bread, cheese, prepared food to eat on the spot, coffee, and a rotating cast of local makers. It is a real working market, not a craft fair with a few vegetables, and the quality is the reason people are loyal to it.

Picnic in the Park

In the summer, the Wednesday evening market becomes Picnic in the Park: food vendors, live music, and half the town spreading out blankets on the grass while kids run loose. If you want the single most Davis evening you can have, that is it. Bring something to sit on and plan to stay a while. Check the market site for the current season's dates and the music lineup.

Go like a regular

A few small things. Bike or walk if you can, since downtown parking fills up on Saturdays. Bring your own bags. In summer, get there early before the heat sets in and the best stuff sells out. And if you use CalFresh or EBT, the market participates in nutrition programs, so look for the info booth when you arrive.

This guide is part of The Davis Current, a free local newsletter written by Ryan. Want your business featured in a guide like this? Advertise with us.