Updated May 10th, 2024
Spring Native Plant Sale, Sunset at the Market, and Community Compost Station at the Market
Spring Native Plant Sale at the Outdoor Market
The annual outdoor Market is officially underway. In addition to the permanent and part-time vendors housed indoors, the 2nd Street Market hosts a robust outdoor market during the warm weather months, highlighting local growers, specialty foods and artisans every Saturday and Sunday, May through October, rain or shine.
Local native plant growers Tadmor Greene, Local Lush, Deeply Rooted Landscapes, The Milkweed Patch, Down Nature’s Path and Oak & Ember Farms will be attending the outdoor Market during the Native Plant Sale on Sunday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These vendors will share their passion and knowledge of Ohio native plants, shrubs and trees along with their best offerings of spring and summer natives for planting your home landscape. Native plants are adapted to the environment in which they grow, making them perfect food and shelter for local wildlife. Many native plants also are important to pollinators; animals and insects that cause plants to create fruit or seed which is critical for both animals and people. Additionally, native plants help clean and filter water and air.
Sunset at the Market: Community & Inclusion
2nd Street Market’s Sunset at the Market series extends the Market’s hours earlier into the week on select Thursday evenings, offering visitors a chance to spend an evening shopping and dining local. Visitors can expect their favorite market vendors offering seasonal activities, games and demonstrations, along with programming specific to MetroParks’ mission.
The third Sunset at the Market, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, is dedicated to community & inclusion outreach and the arts. The Market will host the Word’s Faire Art Bazaar in the Market’s pavilion. The Word’s Faire, a local indie publishing company aimed to celebrate and display the diverse, inclusive talents of Dayton’s artistic and literary community while supporting local arts education.
The Art Bazaar will be a literary fest bringing together the vibrant arts and literary community of Dayton. Event highlights include artists and writers’ tables for authors to show case and sell their wares, a spoken word poetry event with headliner poet Leroy D. Bean, community art activities for all ages, a musical performance by Stivers Jazz band and a benefit for
Stivers School of the Arts Seedling Fund. In addition to the Arts Bazaar, the 2nd Street Market will host several outreach tables throughout the Market for community organizations dedicated to diversity and inclusion in Miami Valley.
Programs/Workshops
- May 18, (9AM to 3PM): Tab-A-Pullooza
- May 19, (11 AM to 3 PM): Cars & Coffee
- June 2, (10:30 AM to 11:30 AM): How to Assemble a Rain Barrel Workshop
- June 7 (11:30 AM to 12:30 PM): Making an Herb Basket Demo with Betty Hovel
- June 7 (11 AM to 3 PM): Dayton Metro Library Book Mobile
- Saturdays, 10 AM to 1 PM, Sundays, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM: Music at the Market. View schedule and list of musicians.
RiverScape MetroPark is located just blocks away from the 2nd Street Market, making for the perfect opportunity to enjoy two of your Five River Metroparks facilities in one day. Learn more about RiverScape MetroPark’s upcoming summer activities to mix with local shopping at the 2nd Street Market as part of a weekend out.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Compost Station at the 2nd Street Market
Waste-Free Dayton launched its second community compost station, hosted in collaboration with Five Rivers MetroParks’ 2nd Street Market. Participants can register with Waste-Free Dayton, who offer instructions and a compost bucket from our welcome wagon at the market’s east end.
The compost station is located at the south side of the building near the Webster St. exit and serviced by GoZERO. The compost station will accept a wide range of organic waste, including kitchen scraps, soiled and non-coated paper products, and other compostable materials.
This initiative aims to divert organic waste from landfills, reduce emissions and promote the production of nutrient-dense compost that can be used to enrich soil and contribute to a healthier environment.
SNAP/EBT
If you qualify for an Ohio Direction card and want to use your EBT benefits to purchase local food at the Market, please visit our SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Exchange Center at the far west end of the Market building. We offer a SNAP token exchange, as well as the Produce Perks incentive program and other food access state programs. The SNAP Exchange Center is open during Market operational hours: Friday and Sunday, 11 AM to 3 PM and Saturdays, 9 AM to 3 PM.
For more information, please contact the Market office at 937-228-2088 or marketinfo@metroparks.org.
