Downtown Dekalb’s Van Buer Plaza came alive on Thursday as the community gathered to celebrate the 30th season of the Dekalb Farmers Market.
The event, organized by the Dekalb Chamber of Commerce and presented by Northwestern Medicine, ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has long been a tradition for local residents. This anniversary year brings nostalgia, fresh energy and a variety of locally grown and crafted goods.
On the corner of Second and Locust Street, shoppers browsed rows of vendors offering crisp summer produce, freshly baked pastries, honey, olive oil, skin care products and handmade crafts. Food trucks filled the air with the scent of barbecue and tamales. Live music added to the festive, community-centered atmosphere.
Nicole Esposito, owner of Keep it Poppin, brought new popcorn flavors to the market in celebration of the anniversary.
“We have our firecracker, it’s three layers,” Esposito said. “The bottom is blue raspberry, the center is kettle, the top is cherry and it is actually dye free. So, we’ve been really excited to roll that out this year.”
As part of the celebration, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer Matt Krahula performed. He’s best known as the lead singer of The Nightmare River Band. His show was presented through the Egyptian Theatre’s “Live Lunch Music Series,” which highlights local and regional talent.
“I’ll be playing a lot of stuff from my new record that came out last month called ‘This Island Life,’ and it’s kind of the story of the seven years I spent living on Oahu in Hawaii,” Krahula said.
For many, the market is more than a place to shop. It’s a gathering point where neighbors meet, families enjoy a summer outing and businesses connect with customers.
Pernevlon Ellis, a resident of DeKalb, has attended the market with his family throughout their time in DeKalb. He stressed the value of introducing his daughter to fresh local foods.
“Oh, that’s actually really important. The first fruit she fell in love with is apples. We get the opportunity to get her to snack on some of the more healthier options for sure, help her to create some good habits young in life,” Ellis said.
Friends Jenna Watson and Taylor Kreider, both residents of Sycamore, came for the diversity.
“We just like to come check it out, like, see all the different diverse groups and all the different things they offer here,” Watson said.
Justin Dietz, son of owner Dan Dietz, from Slow Smoke BBQ expressed his thoughts on how participating in the DeKalb Farmers Market builds his business and connection with the community.
“Seeing all the people come here and seeing the same people every year, you kind of build connections with your customers and your fans and stuff,” Dietz said.
This year also marks a decade of the Link Match program at the market. For over 10 years, the initiative has doubled the spending power of shoppers using SNAP benefits, making fresh, locally grown food more accessible to everyone in the community.
Joshua Mateja, an NIU alum who graduated in 2022, expressed why he finds products at the market special.
“I mean, a lot of stuff you can find at Walmart or all these different places are just junk,” Mateja said. “It feels like you’re part of the community when they sell stuff.”
The market serves as a snapshot of the season. Visitors can see what’s fresh at different times of the year, from summer vegetables and berries to fall pumpkins and squash. This rhythm of seasonal offerings connects shoppers to the local growing calendar and highlights the area’s agricultural diversity.
As the market enters its fourth decade, its role as a community staple remains strong. The anniversary celebration may highlight its history, but each Thursday morning continues to build new traditions for the years to come.
The next market will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 4.
