The Charleston Farmers Market (RANKED FIFTH BEST IN THE COUNTRY) is available starting each Saturday morning in the beautiful Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street. The park at Marion Square has long been the center of festive activities, and is the perfect tranquil setting for the Farmers Market. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the Farmers Market comes to life each Saturday morning and offers an abundance of the freshest local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers. While strolling the Charleston Farmers Market, a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunches are available while listening to a variety of live entertainment.

The Farmers Market also offers an amazing assortment of juried arts and crafts, providing the best selection and most talented local artisans. The celebrated Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry Farmers and Growers.

A special Holiday Magic Market in Historic Charleston will operate throughout the month of December.

CHARLESTON FARMERS MARKET WEEKLY FEATURES INCLUDE:

The Lowcountry’s Finest Local Produce * Artisan’s Alley * Ask a Master Gardener from the Clemson Extension Service * Storefront School for the Arts * FacePainting by Kathryn Johns * Caricature artist, Rick Mach * Balloon Sculptures by the Sports Balloon Babe * Pony Rides for Children * A Variety of Family Activities from the City of Charleston Recreation Department

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CHARLESTON FARMERS MARKET RANKED FIFTH BEST IN THE COUNTRY

Charleston, SC-The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs proudly announces that the Charleston Farmers Market was named the 5th best Farmers Market in the nation as one of the criteria considered in ranking top destination cities in the United States. This is according to the annual America's Favorite Cities survey conducted by Travel & Leisure magazine. Over 60,000 responses were collected in this survey that ranks aspects of 25 major cities in categories such as people (Charleston again ranked #1 for 'friendliness'), culture (Charleston is #7 for overall cultural offerings), food, and shopping. San Francisco's farmers market follows in the 6th position, with Seattle taking the number one spot.

A project of the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, the market offers an abundance of the freshest local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers along with an amazing assortment of juried arts and crafts with live entertainment and sidewalk café dining. The market runs every Saturday through December 21, 2008 from 8:00am to 2:00pm, with a special Holiday Magic Market during December that will also be open Sundays from 10:00am-4:00pm. Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun, provides the perfect setting for the vibrant market where live, local entertainment performs weekly.

The market was also recently featured in a New York Times article on July 25, 2008 titled "Charleston on the Cheap." Writer Chris Dixon reports that upon visiting Charleston, "your first Saturday stop should be the Farmers Market in Marion Square Park. It runs April into December and features the wares of local food growers and juried local artisans, along with pony rides and regional music acts from gospel to bluegrass." Dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers and growers, the market celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.