January has been rather dreary and drizzly, but we are firing things up at the North Market Fiery Foods Weekend on February 18th and 19th. From special vendors to fiery foods cooking and eating contests plus kids activities and live music there’s mild to wild fun to be had at the North Market Fiery Foods Weekend.

Special fiery foods vendors for the weekend so far include Aimee’s Blue Ribbon Spices, Bigfat’s Hot Sauce, Black Swamp Gourmet, CaJohns Flavor & Fire, Chuck Evans’ Montezuma Brand, Dragonfire Foods, Heartbreaking Dawns, Mudflats Chef Inspired Sauces, Patter Fam Sauces, Race City Sauce Works, Red Lion Spicy Foods Company and Uncle Jester’s Fine Foods. Several additional vendors are expected to join us.

Want to get directly in on the fiery foods action? Customers can take a shot at fame and fortune (OK, infamy and North Market gift certificates) in a number of contests. Make great green stuff? Then the Homemade Guacamole Contest is right up your alley. If you’ve got chops with chopped avocados, it’s the one for you. Then there’s the tried and true Amateur Salsa Contest. If you’ve got a good mix of chunky or pureed fruit or vegetable salsa, put it to the test against other homemade salsa makers. Or maybe you like to play with fire? For you we have the Amateur Hot Sauce Contest. Or one can prove their chili preparing proficiency in our ever-popular Customer Chili Cook-off (entry closed). Finally, those with iron gullets can register on the day of the event for one of the myriad fiery food eating contests including Fiery Cornbread, Jalapenos, Hot Ice Cream Sundaes and Hot Wing eating contests. All contest winners will be rewarded with gift certificates or fiery foods prize packages.

In its seventh year the Chef Chili Challenge pits local professionals against one another as contenders for the title “North Market Chili Champ 2012,” a special trophy and $200 in North Market gift certificates. Participating in the battle are market merchants, fiery foods vendors and chefs from local restaurants.

New this year: BEER! The brilliant brewers at Columbus Brewing Company and Elevator Brewing Company are each concocting a special spicy elixir just for Fiery Foods Weekend at the North Market. You’ll be able to buy simply a sample, or if you are the brave sort, a whole pint for just $4.00. Also on tap will be a couple of non-throat-burning offerings to combat the capsaicin-laden offerings that will be abundant during the weekend.

“The enthusiasm for our Fiery Foods Festival has increased exponentially over the years,” said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “We are excited to be able to offer an entire weekend’s worth of activities to our capsaicin-consuming devotees!”

Fiery Foods Festival
Schedule of Activities

Saturday, February 18
• 9-11 a.m., music by Ira Chaiffetz (banjo)
• 10 a.m., Guacamole contest in Dispatch Kitchen
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., face painting
• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show
• 11 a.m., Chef Chili Challenge in northwest corner of mezzanine ($5 sample fee includes chef chili sampling)
• 11 a.m., kids give-aways including cowboy hats, bandanas, sheriff badges and chili-pepper shaped cookies from Mozart’s Bakery
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., music by Gipson & Fitz Trio
• 12:30 p.m., Hot Sauce Contest in the Dispatch Kitchen
• 1-3 p.m., music by Island Breeze
• 2 p.m., Fiery Cornbread eating contest in Dispatch Kitchen
• 3-5 p.m., music by the Piano Pedaler
• 3:30 p.m., Jalapeno eating contest in Dispatch Kitchen

Sunday, February 19
• 12-2 p.m., music by Canned Goods
• 12 – 5 p.m., face painting
• 12:30 p.m., Amateur Chili Cook-off Contest in northwest corner of mezzanine ($5 sample fee includes amateur chili sampling) Admission CLOSED
• 2 p.m., Amateur Salsa Contest in Dispatch Kitchen
• 2:45 p.m., Hot Ice Cream Sundae eating Contest in Dispatch Kitchen
• 2-5 p.m., music by Willie Phoenix
• 3:30 p.m., Hot Wing eating contest in Dispatch Kitchen

The North Market Fiery Foods Festival will take place on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19 and is a free event. A tasting fee of $5 on Saturday enables onlookers to sample the chilis of the professional chefs. A separate $5 tasting fee on Sunday applies to the chili by the amateur contestants. All tasting opportunities available only while supplies last. Market hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. To participate in the Guacamole, Salsa or Hot Sauce Contests, the Customer Chili Cook-off or the Chef Chili Challenge, and for more information, please call (614) 463-9664 or email mmartineau@northmarket.com. Sign up for the all fiery foods consumption contests will take place in the Dispatch Kitchen on the day of those events.

There’s no place like the North Market to get you into the holiday spirit. From the friendly salutations of the merchants to the array of delectable cuisine, the bustle of market commerce on a winter weekend is sure to warm your heart and have you humming holiday tunes! Join us for the most splendid of seasonal weekends at the North Market for the Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza on Saturday, December 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 from 12-5 p.m.

Our merchants will be armed with an array of samples to tempt your taste buds and help you formulate your holiday feasts. As always, they are endowed with the wisdom of years of experience to give you excellent advice. The second floor will be devoted to forty-five local artisans and crafters for a weekend of shopping for distinctive handmade gifts. Jewelry, glass, textiles, bath and body products and knitted items are just a few of the categories represented by the local artists in our craft fair. Local musicians will provide holiday tunes to shop and dine by and the kids will enjoy the face painting and the Nutcracker Toy Solider. The whole family can get into the holiday spirit at the North Market Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza!

Scheduled Holiday Open House Activities include:

Saturday, December 3

• 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Christmas tree sales at the farmers’ market
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., holiday music by Marion Funk, accordion
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., face painting
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., roasted chestnuts and pretzels with Short Stop Youth Center (farmers market)
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., holiday music by Miss Molly
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Joyunspeakable, the living statue as the Nutcracker Toy Soldier
• 1 – 3 p.m., holiday music by Island Breeze
• 3 – 5 p.m., holiday music by the Eileen Howard Jazz Trio

Sunday, December 4

• 12-5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 12 – 5 p.m., face painting
• 1 – 3 p.m., Joyunspeakable, the living statue as the Nutcracker Toy
• 12 -2 p.m., holiday music by Dan Heidt
• 2-5 p.m., holiday music by the Piano Peddler

Participating artisans include:

Amy made it! ~ bags, purses and totes made from recycled Starbucks packaging

Andy Glass ~ hand-blown glass ornaments and sun catchers

B. Radley ~ cross stitched finery, jewelry and accessories

BC Appliqué ~ appliquéd towels, bibs, guardian angels

Beaniestalk ~ upcycled hair accessories

Beau and Pearl ~ hand forged sterling silver jewelry

Black Cat Designs ~ enameled jewelry, purse bling and art pieces

Black Market ~ hand knit scarves, crocheted hats, jewelry

Carmacazzi ~ hand printed apparel for men and women

Corazon y Mano ~ cigar box jewelry boxes, jewelry, cards

Crafty Beavers ~ knitted kitty hats, plush knitted kitties and dinosaurs, DIY lip balm kits

Mary Ann Crago ~ original art magnets, light switch plates and small assemblages

D.Action Productions ~ hand rolled beeswax candles decorated with flowers, stones and shells

David Morgan Art Works ~ wire sculpture, ornaments, kinetic mobiles, watercolor postcards

Dolly Girl Designs ~ aprons, pot holders, mittens and accessories

Kristin Ellis ~ original silver-smithed jewelry

Genoa Soap ~ sixteen varieties of soap, gift sets, bath fizzies

Girl Pie ~ pressed fern ornaments, crocheted animals, headbands, mosaics and more

Green Handle Designs ~ beaded and semi-precious stone jewelry

Infantaisle ~ baby gear including bibs, burp cloths, snack pads and more

Jan’s Gourds ~ decorative hand-painted gourd accessories and bird houses

Brenda Jennings ~ hand-dyed silk scarves, gift bags and wraps

Jennifer Sadler Designs ~ jewelry made with resin, glass and stone beads

Jenny Pope Designs ~ dichroic and fused glass jewelry

Jonathan Juravich ~ metal hand-punched ornaments, recycled key chains, greeting cards

Lark Meadow ~ handmade bound books and prints

Patrice Lehocky ~ purses made from reclaimed materials

Leslie June Designs ~ handmade ceramic pendant jewelry and ornaments

Little Critter Plushies ~ plush toys, pillows and ornaments

MaraM ~ bags and accessories from recycled materials

Mary Moon Designs ~ appliquéd bags, wristlets and accessories

Moon Garden ~ handmade candles, soaps, lotions, lip balm, shea butter and perfumes

Objet Adapté (Saturday only) ~ upcycled vintage feed sack bags and aprons

“Pine”-ing Away (outdoors) ~ evergreen Christmas wreaths and swags

Poshta Design ~ handcrafted paper goods including cards, stationery and bookplates

Eric Rausch ~ pottery, wall tiles and ceramic sculpture

Clinton Reno ~ hand-screened rock posters, t-shirts, journals and stickers

Sparrow Vine ~ handcut one-of-a-kind paper cutouts, cards and ornaments

Sweet Stella Designs ~ sweet polymer accessories

Team Chipmunk ~ children’s clothing made from vintage materials

Ticking Cats ~ watercolor cat clocks, painted wooden boxes and pins

Umbrella Girl Productions ~ sewn stationery, greeting cards, gift cards, hair scarves and pot holders

Vintage Gal Creations ~ accessories découpaged with vintage style images

Vintage Vamp (Sunday only) ~ artisan jewelry incorporating vintage parts

Wholly Craft! ~ an array of hand-crafted items by local artisans

Windy Lane Farm Alpacas ~ knitted and hand-woven alpaca items

With the Grain ~ wheat weavings: ornaments, mobiles and wreaths

With Nature in Mind ~ soap, body butters, herbal bath bags, linen sprays, scrubs and masks

Zebra Pie Gifts ~ glass tile jewelry and 100% soy candles

The North Market Holiday Open House and Craft Extravaganza will take place on Saturday, December 3 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 from 12 – 5 p.m. Admission is free.  For more information, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com. Artisan admissions are closed.

The North Market Harvest Festival is one of the culminating events of Local Matters Local Foods Week on Saturday, October 8. In addition to our usual extravaganza of harvest produce, baking contests, live music and kids’ activities, as part of their Local Foods Week celebration, Local Matters will do cooking demonstrations in a tent on the farmers’ market plaza.

This festival is a fun one for the kiddies with a plethora of activities and entertainment. Mark Wood will be twisting balloon animals and executing fancy rope tricks. Rita Miller will be on hand for fanciful full face painting. There will be give-aways of cookies and the Columbus Artmobile will offer harvest-inspired craft projects for the kiddies.

Jeni Britton-Bauer will host an ice cream making demonstration in the Dispatch Kitchen at the North Market from 12 – 2 p.m. Jeni will be discussing techniques and recipes from her recently published book, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. Registration for this limited attendance affair is $10 and available online here⇒. A free book signing will take place in the Dispatch Kitchen following the demonstration at 2 p.m.

Enterprising customers have a couple of opportunities to take home a prize in our Harvest Festival baking contests. In the pumpkin and apple pie contests, entrants are invited to submit their favorite recipe for judging. Each pie competition winner will receive $100 in North Market gift certificates. Second place will receive $50 in North Market gift certificates. Participation is limited to 12 entries per contest. To register or for more information, please email mmartineau@northmarket.com

Scheduled Harvest Festival activities include:
• Farmers’ Market and North Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in the Dispatch Kitchen, 8 – 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations at the Local Matters tent, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Live music by Joey Hebdo, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Free pumpkin cookies for the kids, courtesy of Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Autumn crafts with the Columbus Artmobile, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Live music by Gipson and Fitz Trio, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Ice Cream making demonstration and book signing with Jeni Britton-Bauer in the Dispatch Kitchen, 12 – 3 p.m., registration fee of $10 required.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Live music by Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk, 1 – 3 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Live music by Folkwood Players, 3-5 p.m.

The North Market Harvest Festival begins at 8 a.m. and is a free event. For more information or to sign-up for any of the contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.

Ahoy Maties! Supporting local foods, local merchants, Ohio purveyors and Ohio farmers (and having a little fun while doing it) is the mission at the heart of two Columbus markets, North Market and The Hills Market. The markets aligned to create the Market to Market ride in October of 2009 and have since sent more than 1,500 cyclists pedaling up and down the Olentangy River Greenway. On Saturday, October 8th they will host the fifth Market to Market ride. As it’s the Halloween season, the markets are using the October ride to encourage costumed cycling. All riders are encouraged to join “Team Pirate” or “Team Zombie” and dress commensurately while peddling their way up and down the bike path.

Participants have the option of starting at either market to fuel up with breakfast before embarking on the 13 mile adventure to the market at the other end of the bike trail. Each participating rider will be issued a passport at the beginning of their journey. Bikers can collect stamps along the way by visiting with local vendors and organizations set up along the path including B1 Bicycles, Columbus Alive, Columbus Crave, Columbus Food Adventures, The Fawcett Center, FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed), Local Matters, Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA), The Olive Orchard, Open Heart Creatures, Pattycake Bakery, Seagull Bags, Slow Food, Small Business Beanstalk, WCBE, Wexner Center for the Arts and YELP Columbus.

 Nash Imaging Events will be stationed at The Hills Market with a photo booth to capture costumed riders and prizes will be awarded to five costumed cyclists based upon photos posted on the Market to Market facebook page. Participants who arrive at their destination market will be rewarded with a scoop of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and a drawstring backpack filled with coupons and goodies from local foods purveyors worth a total value of $50 worth of savings and samples. All participating riders will also be entered into a random drawing for a messenger bag from Seagull Bags. Costumed riders are eligible for prizes including a gift certificate from B1 Bicycles, tickets to a Columbus Food Adventures Tour, Dine Originals Columbus certificates, gift certificates from the Small Business Beanstalk and a set of oils from The Olive Orchard.

But wait! There’s more! Both markets will be hosting activities to provide riders a bit of entertaining “distraction” during each leg of their cycling journey. The Hills Market will be offering “Ohio Market Day” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with cooking demos featuring heart healthy and gluten-free cooking presented by the Wexner Heritage Foundation. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the Olentangy River Greenway, the North Market will be celebrating its annual Harvest Festival. Local Matters will join the Market’s seasonal farmers in the plaza with cooking demonstrations to celebrate the culmination of Local Foods Week. Jeni Britton-Bauer will host an ice cream making demonstration and book signing in the Dispatch Kitchen from 12-2 p.m. and abundant live entertainment by local musicians will add to the gaiety of that day.

Market to Market will take place on Saturday, October 8. Registration is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The cost includes breakfast, a scoop of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (at either location), an event t-shirt and a drawstring backpack filled with up to $50 worth of savings on Ohio foods from both markets. Breakfast will be served at both locations from 8- 10 a.m. to allow for riders to eat and set out on the trail at their leisure. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will be available at both locations upon ride completion. Registration can be made online at northmarket.com or thehillsmarket.com by phone by calling 614-846-3220 (The Hills Market) or 614-463-9664 (North Market), or in person at either location beginning September 16. Participating organizations and sponsors include: The Hills Market, North Market, B1 Bicycles, Columbus Alive, Columbus Crave Magazine, Crimson Cup Coffee, Columbus Food Adventures, Dine Originals Columbus, The Fawcett Center, FLOW, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Local Matters, Nash Imaging, OEFFA, The Olive Orchard, Open Heart Creatures, Pattycake Bakery, Seagull Bags, Slow Food, Small Business Beanstalk, Snowville Creamery, WCBE: Central Ohio’s NPR Station, Wexner Center for the Arts and Yelp Columbus.

Last call for summer fun! The North Market will toast the end of summer with the 6th annual Columbus Microbrew Festival on September 16 and 17. Celebrate locally brewed ales, lagers and stouts in the company of the brewmasters from participating local microbreweries.

Participating local microbreweries include: Barley’s Brewing Company, Barley’s Smokehouse & Brewpub, Columbus Brewing Company, Elevator Brewing Company, Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Hoster Brewing Company, Neil House Brewery and Weasel Boy Brewing Company. Representatives from each microbrewery will be on hand to answers questions about their signature drafts. 

Admission to the event is free. Beer tasting admission is $20 and includes a commemorative pint glass, ten tasting tickets and a $5 North Market food certificate. Discount coupons good for $2 off the tasting admission fee will be available at all participating microbreweries in September. Additional tasting tickets will be available for $.50 each. Tickets will be available in advance online here⇒ (starting September 1st) at the North Market business office and at the door on the days of the event.

Schedule of Activities:

• 5-9 p.m., microbreweries open for tasting, second floor of the North Market
• 5-7 p.m., music by The Drowsy Lads
• 7-9 p.m., music Grace Adele

Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• 8 a.m., North Market merchants and farmers open
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., music by Slate Ridge on porch
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., face painting
• 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., microbreweries open for tasting
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., music by Miss Molly on porch
• 1 – 3 p.m., music by Willie Phoenix on the second floor
• 3 – 5 p.m., music by Gipson & Fitz on the second floor
• 5–7 p.m., music by the Shaw Brothers on the second floor

North Market Grillmasters Festival

North Market will celebrate its sixth Grillmasters Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. The Saturday and Sunday event will emphasize grilling, techniques and sauces as well as putting a little bite into your recipes with spices and hot sauces. The North Market Grillmasters Festival will take place May 28 and 29 and feature special barbeque and fiery foods vendors, cooking demonstrations, culinary contests, live music and entertainment for the kiddies.

Our regular farmers’ market will take place on Saturday and be augmented by special barbeque and fiery foods vendors including Aimee’s Blue Ribbon Spices, Black Swamp Gourmet, Crazy Uncle Jesters Inferno World, Heartbreaking Dawns, Ole Ray’s Sauces, Patter Fam Sauces, Race City Sauceworks, Silver Bridge Coffee Company and Urban Chefs. The vendors will be present Saturday and Sunday where you can see them in action along with local chefs at our grilling demonstrations that will boast a host of flavorful grilling recipes. Attendees are invited to watch as recipes are prepared, taste what the presenters have created and take tips to go home and try out on the grill.

On Saturday, customers are invited to demonstrate their BBQ prowess in an Amateur Barbeque Sauce Contest that will be judged by local BBQ sauce makers. First prize is $50 in North Market gift certificates. Returning in the “professional” category is the popular, “Thrilla at the Grilla.” A trio chefs are given their own hibachis and charcoal then use their imagination as far as what they whip up on the grill. Our discerning judges will choose a champion and the public can taste their creations. The winner will take home the title “Baron of Barbeque” and $200 in North Market gift certificates. On Sunday the activities of the day will commence with an amateur Salsa Fresca Contest with another winner taking home $50 in North Market gift certificates.

Grillmasters Festival Schedule of Activities
Saturday, May 28
• 8 a.m., Farmers Market opens
• 9 – 11 a.m., music by Ira Chaiffetz
• 9 a.m., Cooking demonstration David MacLennan of Latitude 41
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Face Painting by Rita
• 10 a.m., Amateur BBQ Sauce Contest
• 11 a.m., Cooking demonstration by Andy Fields of Due Amici
• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., Columbus Dog Connection with adoptable dogs
• 12 p.m., Thrilla at the Grilla, three chefs face off for the title “BBQ Master”
• 1 – 3 p.m., music by Loosely Strung
• 3 - 5 p.m., music by the Shaw Brothers
• 1 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Jim Budros, co-founder of City BBQ
• 2 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Heartbreaking Dawns
• 3 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Race City Sauce Works
• 4 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Patter Fam Sauces

Sunday, May 29
• 12 p.m., North Market and outdoor vendors open
• 12 – 2 p.m., music by One More Time String Band
• 12 – 3 p.m., Mark Wood’s Cowboy Fun Show
• 12: 30 p.m., Salsa Fresca Contest
• 1:15 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Brian Cook, Columbus Brewing Company
• 2 p.m., Cooking demonstration John Hard, CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire
• 2 – 4 p.m., music by the Folkwood Players
• 2:45 p.m., Cooking demonstration by TBD
• 3:30 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBD

The North Market Grillmasters Festival is a free event on Saturday, May 28 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 29 from 12 – 5 p.m. For more information or to enter the BBQ Sauce or Salsa Fresca contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or email info@northmarket.com.

Market to Market Ride Kicks Off Local Matters Local Foods Week

Two of Columbus’ premier independent, locally-owned specialty foods markets, North Market and The Hills Market, are returning with what is now one of the most anticipated bicycling events of the season, Market to Market. We are proud to celebrate our third event on the anniversary of the inaugural Market to Market ride with the cycling adventure that was named the “Best Bike Ride for Foodies” in 2010 by Columbus Monthly. Join both markets on Saturday, October 2, as we kick-off Local Matters Local Foods Week in Columbus and celebrate the end of a great summer season with a cross-city local foods-centric bike ride, for amateurs and aficionados alike.

Participants have the option of starting at either market to fuel up with breakfast before embarking on the 13 mile adventure to the market at the other end of the bike trail. Each participating rider will be issued a local foods passport at the beginning of their journey. Bikers can collect stamps along the way by visiting with local vendors and organizations set up along the path including B1 Bicycles, Greenovate, Local Matters, Pattycake Bakery, Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA), Opera Columbus, Seagull Bags,Small Business Beanstalk,Wexner Center for the Arts and Wild Goose Creative. Participants who show completed passports at their destination market will be rewarded with a scoop of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and a reusable bag filled with coupons and goodies from local foods purveyors. Those intrepid enough to bike back to their market of origin will receive a completely different bag of goodies, creating a total value of $50 worth of savings and samples. All participating riders will also be entered into a random drawing for prizes including a custom messenger bag created by local courier bag gurus Seagull Bags, tickets to the Local Matters Harvest Ball and a bonanza of gift certificates to local businesses provided by the Small Business Beanstalk.

Market to Market will take place on Saturday, October 2. Registration is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The cost includes breakfast, a scoop of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (at either location), an event t-shirt and reusable shopping bags from both locations filled with up to $50 worth of savings on Ohio foods. Breakfast will be served at both locations from 8- 10 a.m. to allow for riders to eat and set out on the trail at their leisure. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will be available at both locations upon ride completion. Registration can be made online at northmarket.com or thehillsmarket.com by phone by calling 614-846-3220 (The Hills Market) or 614-463-9664 (North Market), or in person at either location beginning September 10.

Market to Market will take place in conjunction with The Hills Market’s Ohio Market Day and the North Market Harvest Festival. Ohio Market Day at the Hills Market is a free event from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. featuring the wares of Ohio’s best food producers. The North Market Harvest Festival is also a free event that celebrates the end of a great growing season in Ohio with fall produce and an abundance of baking contests.

Market to Market sponsors include: The Hills Market, North Market, Amanda Hills Spring Water, B1 Bicycles, CrimsonCup Coffee, Greenovate, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Local Matters, Pattycake Bakery, Seagull Bags, Small Business Beanstalk, Snowville Creamery, WCBE: Central Ohio’s NPR Station and Wexner Center for the Arts.

Local Matters is a Columbus-based not-for-profit organization that is taking a leadership role in answering the question of, “What does a healthy community look like through the lens of local food?” Local Matters is committed to sharing why local food connects us to the most important issues of our time with their 2nd Annual Local Foods Week from Saturday, October 2nd through Friday, October 8th. The week kicks-off on Saturday with the Market-to-Market bike ride and breakfast and concludes with a Harvest Ball on Friday night. During the week, the entire Columbus-area community is invited to add a little more delicious to their lives by competing in Local Matters “Eat Local Challenge” and win some fabulous prizes! For more information and a detailed schedule visit www.eatlocalohio.org.

The Hills Market is a locally-owned specialty grocer on the north end of Columbus, at the bottom of the Worthington Hills and the top of the Olentangy Bike Path. For 17 years, The Hills Market has provided the best of Ohio and beyond with high quality meat, seafood, produce, bakery, wine, beer and cheese departments, as well as more than 40 feet of in-house prepared foods, a delicatessen featuring custom sandwiches and pizza, full service catering and floral shops and a state liquor agency. The Hills Market is home to The Veranda, a seasonal outdoor lunch space, as well as special events including Pancake Breakfasts, Cooking Classes, Wine Tastings and the Salmon Roast.

In operation since 1876, the North Market is Columbus’ only true public market. More than 30 merchants offer a wide variety of fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, flowers and other specialty food items. The Market also provides an international selection of freshly prepared foods, distinctive gifts and personable service from owner/operators. The North Market is open daily and located steps away from the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Nationwide Arena.

Come to the North Market for a Saturday of farm-tastic fun during the 19th Annual Farmers’ Festival on Saturday, August 14th. The annual event held at the prime of the Ohio growing season will highlight bushels of locally grown farm-fresh produce, a homemade jam and jelly contest, the Chef Challenge: “You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to”, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live music. 

The North Market Farmers’ Market is one of the largest in central Ohio, featuring more than 20 farmers offering an array of locally-grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, honey and herbs. Farms scheduled to participate this year include Anderson Orchard, Beech Meadow Farm, Blossom Acre’s Produce, Bridgman Farm, Combs Fresh Herbs, Ehmann and Sons Greenhouse, Elizabeth Telling Farm, Hinkle Farm, Honeyrun Farm, K & R Garden Fresh Produce, Oakvale Farmstead Cheese, Ohio Farm Direct, Thomas Family Orchard, Persinger Farm, Quiverfull Farm, Rhoads Farm, Shady Brook Farm, Somerset Greenhouse, Summer Thyme Farm, Toad Hill Farm, Toby Run Growers, The Wayward Seed Farm and Wishwell Farms Produce.

“Dating back to the early days at the Quonset Hut, our Farmers’ Market has become one of our community’s most cherished traditions,” said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “Every Saturday morning North Market becomes a focal point for social gathering and it’s all drawn to the Market by a wonderful group of committed, high-quality growers. Each year, during the prime of our growing season we celebrate their hard work and tremendous fruits, vegetables and flowers at our Farmers Festival.”

Saturday Farmers’ Festival activities and attractions include:
•8 a.m., North Market Merchants & Farmers’ Market open
•9 a.m., amateur jam and jelly contest for North Market customers
•9 - 11 a.m., musical entertainment by One More Time String Band
•10 a.m. - 12 p.m., balloon twisting with Dr. Silverfoot

•10 a.m. - 12 p.m., free mini Farmers Market Sundaes from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
•10 a.m. - 3 p.m., face painting by Rita
•10:30 a.m., cooking demonstration by RJ White of Taste of Belgium
•11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show
•11 a.m. - 1 p.m., musical entertainment by Slate Ridge
•11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Columbus Dog Connection
•11:30 a.m., cooking demonstration by John Hard of CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire
• 12:30 p.m., “You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to”, Chef cooking contest
•1 - 3 p.m., musical entertainment by Loosely Strung
•1:30 p.m., cooking demonstration by Janel Hedgepeth of Latitude 41
•2:30 p.m., cooking demonstration by Randy Walters of North Market Spices
•3 p.m. - 5 p.m., Musical entertainment by Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folks

The Farmers’ Festival runs on Saturday, August 14 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is a free event. For more information about the Farmers’ Festival or to sign-up for the Amateur Jelly and Jam contest, please call Mary at the North Market at (614) 463-9664.

The first CupcakeCampColumbus was a sugary success staged in the back parlor of the Surly Girl Saloon this past May. For round two, Revenge of CupcakeCampColumbus, organizers Carmen Owens of Surly Girl Saloon and Kiesha Jenkins-Duffy of the blog 52 Weeks of Baking have teamed up with the North Market’s  Mary Martineau. The trio will bring on an even bigger baking event that will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Dispatch Kitchen at the North Market. Keep up with the ongoing details of Revenge of CupcakeCampColumbus on the official event website here>.  The new location also brings a new round of categories to submit for judging the cupcakes. Approximately forty different flavors of cupcakes created by local amateur bakers (REGISTRATION FOR BAKERS CLOSED, LIMIT REACHED) will be featured. This round’s classifications include:

Best Harvest Cupcake: These cupcakes should scream ‘Autumn’. Use of fall fruits or vegetables encouraged and decorating the cupcakes like shocks of hay or other fall imagery a plus.

Best North Market-Inspired: The North Market features a little of everything and so should these cupcakes. Think cupcakes inspired by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream flavors. Or turn up the heat a little and bake a cupcake that would make CaJohn proud. Myriad options available here.

Best Ohio Pride: These cupcakes would make any Ohioan proud. Use all Ohio ingredients. Bake cupcakes in the shape of Ohio. Decorate with OSU colors. Go crazy!

Best Decorated: As simple as it sounds. Bust out your Wilton piping bag or consult your copy of “Hello Cupcake!”

Best Vegan: No animal products here! We want the tastiest cupcake you can create without using milk, eggs, butter or any other animal product.

Best Halloween: Get creative and dress those cupcakes up in their best costumes! Disguise a cupcake as something else, make fondant ghosts or create a haunted cupcake house!

Local celebrities, bakers and other experts will be on hand to judge each category and fabulous prizes will be awarded to the winners. Applications for cupcake bakers and tickets for cupcake eaters are now available. To register to be a cupcake baker visit (Edit baker registration closed)  If you’re not a baker, but you’re n avid cupcake eater and you’d like to attend, tickets are $10 with the proceeds benefiting the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and can be purchased online (EDIT: event now sold out).

Finally, if you’re all about quantity over quality, perhaps you’d like to enter the Cupcake Crush. In this contest the first intrepid eater to finish twenty mini cupcakes provided by the Surly Girl Saloon will take home a special award.

Revenge of CupcakeCampColumbus is sponsored by Surly Girl Saloon, 52 Weeks of Baking, North Market, CrimsonCup Coffee, Snowville Creamery and Wholly Craft. The event will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Dispatch Kitchen of the North Market. Admission is free for registered cupcake bakers, but space is limited. Only 100 tickets are available for $10 each to the general public. SOLD OUT

The North Market Harvest Festival is helping to kick off Local Matters Local Foods Week on Saturday, October 3. In addition to our usual extravaganza of harvest produce, baking contests, live music and kids’ activities, this year as part of their Local Foods Week celebration, Local Matters worked to pair local chefs with some of our farmers to do cooking demonstrations right out of their stalls.This festival is a fun one for the kiddies with a plethora of activities and entertainment. Mark Wood will be twisting balloon animals and executing fancy rope tricks. Rita Miller will be on hand for fanciful full face painting. There will be give-aways of cookies and apples and the Columbus Jaycees will return for their annual stint of offering harvest-inspired crafts. Not to mention, if you are looking for a new four-legged friend, the Columbus Dog Connection will be on hand with adoptable dogs.

Enterprising customers have several opportunities to take home a prize in our Harvest Festival baking contests. In the pumpkin bread contest, entrants are invited to submit their version in loaf or muffin form. Our two other contests feature the time-honored tradition of pie baking and participants can submit their favorite pumpkin or apple pies for judging. The first place winner of the bread competition will win $50 in North Market gift certificates and each pie competition winner will receive $100 in North Market gift certificates. All home-baked entries will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit North Market Development Authority. To register or for more information, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664. Participation is limited to 12 entries per contest.

“Having the Harvest Festival as the kickoff for Local Matters Local Foods Week is a perfect combination that highlights both our activities and our mission to support local businesses.” said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “You will see and taste that mission in action with our local chefs preparing recipes right in our farmers’ stalls.”

Scheduled Harvest Festival activities include:
• Farmers’ Market and North Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in the Dispatch Kitchen, 8 - 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations with local chefs at farmer stalls, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Live music by Folk Wood Players, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Joy Unspeakable, the Living Statue, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Free pumpkin cookies for the kids, courtesy of Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Free apples for the kids, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Autumn crafts with the Columbus Jaycees, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Columbus Dog Connection, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Live music by Slate Ridge, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Pumpkin Bread contest, 12 p.m.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Live music by Willie Phoenix, 1 - 4 p.m.

The North Market Harvest Festival begins at 8 a.m. and is a free event. For more information or to sign-up for any of the contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or email info@northmarket.com