Carlow Farmers Market celebrates 21 years with spooky Halloween fun
The winners of the 2024 pumpkin carving competition at Carlow Farmers Market
CARLOW Farmers Market is gearing up for a special celebration as it marks 21 years of trading, with a Halloween-themed anniversary event on Saturday 25 October.
The festivities will run from 9am to 2pm at the Potato Market, promising a day packed with spooky entertainment for all the family. The highlight of the celebration will be a children’s pumpkin carving competition, with carved entries to be submitted by midday for judging at 1pm in The Exchange.
“We’ve had some really cool entries over the years, people turning pumpkins into alien spaceships ... all sorts of different creative ideas that I could never come up with!” said James Murphy, the market’s chairperson for the past two-and-a-half years.
The day will also feature fancy dress, live music, face painting and free pumpkin soup for visitors. Winners of the pumpkin carving competition will receive small farmers market vouchers for first, second and third place.
Mr Murphy, who has been a fruit and vegetable stallholder at the market for eight years, has witnessed remarkable growth during his time there.
“I started eight years ago, and I think there were seven or eight stalls when I started. So it really has grown a lot in the last number of years,” he explained.
The market now boasts 18 stalls offering everything from fresh produce to crafts. “We have a bit of everything at the market really. We have crafts and we have food, we have fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, hot food and baked goods,” Mr Murphy noted.
The partnership with The Exchange has been particularly beneficial for the market’s development. “With The Exchange, it really has moved the market up a level, and it’s such a great resource for us and for the town,” he said.
The Halloween celebration reflects the market’s commitment to engaging the next generation of customers. “The kids are the next generation, so we really want to get them interested in healthy food and healthy eating and all that the local market offers,” Mr Murphy explained.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, many stallholders traditionally dress up for the occasion. “Some of our stallholders always dress up, so that always adds to the atmosphere as well,” he said.
The anniversary celebration promises to be a perfect blend of community spirit, local produce and Halloween fun for families across Carlow. For more information, visit www.carlowfarmersmarket.com.
