What has become a rousing tradition in Harbor Country for the past dozen years will likely be a bit more subdued tomorrow, but the excitement will be palpable for organizer and host Rhonda Sobecki from the iconic Skip’s European Farmers Market at New Buffalo.
Sobecki has announced the opening of their 12th season of the wildly popular market alongside her renowned Skip’s Restaurant & Catering establishment on Red Arrow Highway just north of the New Buffalo city limits, coming tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, 2020.
She told Facebook fans of the European Farmers Market on Thursday, “While we will be only half the size that we normally would be, because of the Governor’s current guidelines, we will still be offering everything food, produce, jams, jellies, honey, cheeses, meats, sausages, eggs, baked goods, plants, flowers, personal hygiene and Skip’s will be grilling for takeout only.”
Skip’s European Farmers Market at New Buffalo has always promised to “awaken all your senses and renew your appreciation of all that is sun-ripened & harvested by hand,” and while the fanfare for the launch of season number 12 will be somewhat restricted and reduced in size, just having the market back will be huge to many fans from the past decade.
Rhonda promises, “We have put into place current guidelines regarding social distancing and sanitary measures. We are asking visitors to please wear some sort of face covering or mask and enter and exit one way where we will have a hand washing station in place.” She asks everyone to please, “Bear with us as we all try to navigate this challenging new ‘normal.’”
Dating back to the start around 2009 Rhonda Sobecki wanted her creation to be an experience where, as she put it, “A stroll among the vendors is a new discovery each week, whether one is searching for the freshest herb for a new recipe, cut flowers for a table arrangement, coffee, organic produce, cheeses, pastries, breads, Italian sausages, hand-trimmed restaurant-grade beef, meat rubs, jams, jellies, salsas, art, jewelry, clothing and more.”
Over the years, her popular road side market has become varied and changes weekly, with Mother Nature always helping change the scenery. One reviewer was ecstatic, writing, “There is no other farmers market on the planet like this one! The people behind this work all year to make sure this is the best in quality and content!!! The public is their success and ongoing advertisement!”
Another happy camper wrote, “Absolutely love this eclectic market!! Great location and a vast array of wonderful vendors!! Just around the corner from New Buffalo’s fine shops and restaurants!! Makes for a perfect Saturday.”
You’ll have the chance to discover and renew your own love affair with Skip’s European Farmers Market starting at 9am. The market is slated to run until 3pm. You can find it alongside Skip’s Restaurant & Catering at 16710 Lake Shore Road on the north side of New Buffalo.
