Culture Grove Market
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Farmers Market
Few things capture the rhythm of a season like a farmers market: the tables piled high with whatever's ripe right now, the regulars who know their vendors by name, the coffee-in-hand stroll through the stalls. Alexandria is especially rich in them — from a market older than the nation itself to friendly neighborhood gatherings tucked into parks and street corners. Here's your guide to the city's markets, wherever your weekend takes you.
Old Town
Saturday mornings · Tavern Square & the 100 block of North Royal Street
This is the crown jewel — and a genuine piece of history. Operating since 1753, it's the oldest farmers' market in the country held continuously in the same community, one where George Washington himself once sent produce from Mount Vernon to be sold. Today more than 70 vendors fill it with fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, breads and pastries, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps, jewelry, and art. Arrive early, bring a tote, and plan to linger.
A temporary new address. While City Hall and its historic Market Square home undergo a multi-year renovation, the Old Town market has set up nearby at Tavern Square and North Royal Street — same Saturday-morning spirit, same vendors, just a short block away. It's slated to return to Market Square once the work wraps. (Our own look at the market's 270-plus years is a lovely bit of backstory.)
Old Town North Farmers' Market
Montgomery Park, 901 North Royal Street
A relaxed, dog-friendly market at the north end of Old Town, running on both a weekday afternoon and a Sunday morning through the warmer months — handy if Saturday mornings are spoken for.
Del Ray
Saturday mornings · Corner of East Oxford & Mount Vernon Avenues
The quintessential neighborhood market: small, walkable, and woven into the fabric of Del Ray life. Locals roll up on foot and by stroller for seasonal produce, baked goods, and flowers, then drift onto Mount Vernon Avenue for coffee. It runs year-round, so it's a fixture in every season.
West End
Sunday mornings · Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive
Set in the green expanse of Ben Brenman Park, this warm-season Sunday market pairs local produce and prepared foods with room for the kids and the dog to roam. A leisurely, park-side alternative to the Old Town bustle.
More markets around town
Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market
Mount Vernon Avenue, Arlandria
A Sunday market with an artisan streak, mixing farm stands with local makers and a distinctly community-driven feel. Seasonal, so check ahead before you go.
4901 Seminary Road
A weekend market on the city's western side with an expanded lineup of produce, hot foods, and prepared items — a convenient stop for West End residents both Saturday and Sunday.
Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane
Just south of the city, this producer-only market runs on a weekday morning through the warm months, with vendors who may sell only what they grow or make themselves, all sourced from within 125 miles. A true grower's market for the south-county crowd.
Kingstowne Towne Center, 5870 Kingstowne Towne Center
A Friday-afternoon market on the same strict producer-only model — handy for grabbing just-picked produce and homemade goods on the way into the weekend.
Before you go
A few market habits worth adopting: bring a sturdy tote and small bills, come early for the best pick (especially flowers and pastries), and remember that many Alexandria markets accept SNAP/EBT — the flagship Old Town market even matches SNAP dollars through a Double Dollar program. Days, hours, and seasons vary by market and shift with the calendar, so confirm the current schedule on each market's page before you head out. Then grab a coffee and go graze.
