BARNEGAT – Snowflakes set the scene for Christmas in July as holiday magic came to the Barnegat Municipal Complex.
Children stretched out their hands and leaned into a stream of white “snow” blowing across the grounds behind the Barnegat Recreation Center. Within moments, the flakes clung to their hair, shirts and faces, as they laughed while the unusual summer storm swirled around them.
Nearby, children filled beach-themed Christmas ornaments with sand and shells. Barnegat’s own Santa and Mrs. Claus joined celebration dressed for the Jersey Shore rather than the North Pole. Santa traded his heavy winter coat for a red tropical shirt as he greeted his youngest fans.
When the crafts were finished, children scattered across the playground. They climbed the equipment, crossed the play structures and raced down the slides before running around to do it all again.
Christmas in July was part of Kids Club, one of the new attractions helping turn the Barnegat Farmers Market into more than a place to pick tomatoes, corn and fresh flowers.
Stacey Fahringer of Barnegat Recreation is credited with bringing the Kids Club to the weekly market. The goal is to give families a reason to stay and enjoy the recreation area while supporting local farmers, food vendors and artisans.
The Barnegat Farmers Market is held Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot outside the Barnegat Township Municipal Complex at 900 West Bay Avenue. Kids Club runs from 11 a.m. to noon behind the Recreation Center.
Color, Flavor And Handcrafted Finds
The market can accommodate as many as 45 vendors. Green, yellow, purple and white tents form temporary shopping aisles across the municipal parking lot, filled with fresh produce, flowers, prepared foods, drinks and handcrafted goods.
Shoppers move through the crowd, stopping to examine displays, speak with vendors or sample something new. Shopping bags fill with vegetables, bread, plants and specialty items as the aromas of baked goods and kettle corn drift between the tents.
Stillwell Farms, Krowicki’s Farm, Eckert and Sassafras Farm are among the vendors bringing farm-fresh offerings to the market. Produce changes with the growing season. Shoppers may find tables filled with red tomatoes, green peppers, squash and corn alongside baskets of summer fruit. Bouquets provide another burst of color, while jars of local honey from Yellow Dog Apiary glow amber in the sunlight.
Bread and Bloom and Butter Me Up offer baked goods, while Bob’s Kettle Corn supplies the unmistakable scent of warm, freshly popped corn.
Those looking for something savory can stop at Danny’s Crabcakes, Fresh Guacamole, A & A Dips or Pickle Culture. There are also a few food trips and picnic benches set up. Magilla Gorilla serves cold water ice for shoppers seeking relief from the summer heat, while Dirty Soda and Make Wellness offer additional beverage choices.
Adults can also explore locally produced selections from Ocean Breeze Winery at Olea Gardens and RecklessTown Farm Distillery.
Not everything at the market is intended for the kitchen. American and decorative flags flutter above the displays at Ralph’s Flags, and floral arrangements brighten the Corner Flowers stand.
The handcrafted selections range from pottery at DJ Pottery to coastal pieces from Beach Glass Creations. Shoppers can also browse work from Stamped by Dawn, Ribbons and Things, Spiritually Wired and Nurture by Nature, along with merchandise from J&E Collectables, Lagoonlife apparel, Mrs. Coyle, Mic Macks and other specialty vendors.
Bayside Chapel and the Barnegat Community Garden are among the community organizations represented at the market.
Participating vendors accept several food assistance benefits. Market information identifies vendors accepting WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers, along with SNAP and Good Food Bucks.
Together, the food, farm and craft vendors give the market the atmosphere of a small weekly festival rather than a quick shopping stop.
Something For Children
Each Thursday brings a different Kids Club theme. Before the midsummer snowfall, another week was devoted to what organizers called a “BEARY wonderful day.”
The Teddy Bear Picnic featured cuddly new friends, teddy bear T-shirt decorating, picnic snacks and plenty of smiles. The changing activities give children something to anticipate and turn a trip to the market into a family outing.
Ten-year-old Claire Deemer helps Fahringer with the market and Kids Club. Wearing a straw hat with a pink ribbon and a shirt bearing the “Claire’s Corner” logo, the soon-to-be fifth grader arrives before the market opens, accompanies Fahringer as she checks on vendors and assists younger children with the weekly crafts.
Claire also interviews vendors about their businesses and products, helping visitors learn more about the people behind the market’s tables and tents. Although a bit shy during an interview, she gave an emphatic thumbs-up when asked whether the Farmers Market was a good thing.
A New Setting For A Familiar Tradition
The Farmers Market was previously held on the grassy field along Birdsall Street in Barnegat’s historic district. Its move to the municipal parking lot has drawn mixed reactions.
Some long-time visitors preferred the former location, where the grass, trees and historic surroundings created the atmosphere of a more traditional farmers market. Others questioned whether a municipal parking lot could offer the same charm.
The new location provides practical advantages, particularly for shoppers using wheelchairs or walkers and parents pushing strollers. The paved surface eliminates the uneven or damp ground that can make crossing a field difficult.
The proximity of the Recreation Center also makes the expanded children’s programming possible while providing restrooms, indoor space and direct access to the playground.
Parking, however, has become a challenge when the market is busy. Township officials have suggested parking near the Collins School and using the crosswalks for the short walk to the municipal complex. Some attendees have also been using the nearby Acme parking lot.
Fahringer said vendors have been pleased with the new setting. According to her, they requested the move and selected the Thursday morning hours to fit their schedules as they travel among markets throughout the area.
Whether visitors come for fresh produce, prepared foods, handcrafted goods or Kids Club, the market’s evolution reflects an effort to give residents more reasons to make it part of their Thursday routine.
