Worthington Farmers Market — Attraction in Sharon Township

I will preface this review and rating by saying this is about logistics only, and not the quality of vendors or the market itself. I think understanding how markets are laid out is really helpful in knowing what to expect on market day. Given my experience working at and running FM's in Wisconsin, I've been caught off guard by the logistical/layout differences here in Columbus that have dampened the market experience for me in the moment. (TLDR at the bottom)

I had many high hopes for this market and did get some great stuff (including maple cotton candy and some gorgeous peaches!!), so if you can deal with the sprawl, this is an otherwise fabulous market, especially if you live within walking distance! I will probably visit it again, just with slightly moderated expectations.

The Review:

I visited this market today as part of my ongoing Columbus land market tour and while there were many vendors and a wide variety of items, I was disappointed in the layout. The way the market was set up was highly unusual (compared to my experience outside of Cbusland) and logistically challenging. Spanning at least two city blocks on both sides of HIGH STREET, figuring out where to park and how to visit as many vendors as possible was really difficult. Ideally you would park at one end and go up one side and then back down the other, but that didn't work out for me because of parking. Plus dealing with car traffic (including some yahoos who don't seem to care about blocking a crosswalk!) on High Street can be pretty dodgy.

Markets always involve walking, but if you have any mobility challenges, access and enjoyment may be limited because of how spread out everything is and how tricky it can be to find parking. Regular visits to the market might make this less of a problem though as you build familiarity with parking rules/locations and the layout of the market.

Because of the sprawl there also wasn't really a sense of community either, and in my experience, FM's often serve as a "third space" perfect for gathering. Maybe I missed this space if it was present because I wasn't able to walk both sides of the market, but it honestly made me sad that I didn't feel the "Saturday meeting spot" vibes. Quite frankly I just wanted to get out of there ASAP because of how wonky everything felt. There were some tables and water under some trees (I think provided by a church?), but there was no one utilizing the tables. Maybe this changes as the day progresses as I got there around 8am, but the market was already really busy.

And I hope the businesses benefit from the market being there! The same set-up is present at the Clintonville market (at least in 2022 when I was last there and also disliked for the same issues with sprawl), where vendors are crammed on the sidewalks and I wonder how much extra traffic and sales the market generates for the businesses. It also seems unfair to market vendors, especially those in locations that aren't common entry points. I wonder how sales of similar products vary for vendors at different locations.

In Columbus land there seems to be a trend toward single file market on-street set-ups and I can't imagine it's due to a lack of empty and available lots large enough to house that many vendors. I'm not sure why it's like this and I haven't been to every Cbusland market (yet) so maybe there is a logic to it that I just haven't seen yet. Maybe the three I've seen this at are the exceptions and the rest I visit will have a more cohesive layout.

TLDR; If you're looking for an easy to navigate market to hang out at as your Saturday morning third space, this might not be the best one. BUT if you are looking for wide variety of high-quality items from a diverse array of vendors, this market does a great job of making that happen! I will probably...

I love the Worthington's Farmers Market. My husband and I go nearly every Saturday as part of our grocery shopping for the week. There are lots of vendors to choose from. The only "problem" is that it is always packed (I usually arrive around 10, I am sure it is less packed if you arrive earlier). It makes it a little hard to get around, especially with strollers or dogs. Plenty of people do it, just know it will be packed and you will be navigating the crowds. Parking can also sometimes be a problem. We usually park a few blocks away and walk. US Bank has a branch along the strip that has a walk-up/drive-up ATM which makes it a convenient place to get cash for those vendors that only accept cash. (Although most accept credit cards as well, but may have a minimum purchase requirement.) Overall,...

The size is great, the options are decent, but the prices are outrageous, in comparison to the farmers markets we used to go to in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and NYC. I do recommend the hot sauce stand. The sauces are great and worth the money. The produce does look good but I just can't spend over $7 on one bunch of asparagus or $3 on an apple . I'm guessing it costs vendors a lot for a booth and that is why they charge so much so maybe be more affordable to vendors? I mean, they are bringing extra business to Worthington. I'm sure many of the people grab coffee at Kitties, eat at one of the many good restaurants, or stop in at one of...