Market Magic: How to Survive (and Enjoy!) the Everett Farmers’ Market With Kids
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Images by Taylor Majek
If you have small children, you know it can sometimes be a challenge to enjoy things that used to seem simple and relaxing, like a trip to the farmers market. Not through any fault of the children, of course! Just because things run differently when you have littles with you. Through MUCH trial and lots of error, I have found a few rituals we practice each time we go to the farmer’s market. It helps the adults maintain a shred of sanity and it helps the littles actually enjoy themselves because let’s face it; kids don’t always enjoy the same things we do. That doesn’t mean you need to stop doing the things you enjoy, sometimes all you need are some tips and tricks for how to include everyone in the fun. These are specific to the Everett Farmer’s Market, but can easily be adapted to other farmer’s markets once you have the layout figured out. So, here they are:
First things first- depending on how little your littles are, get those kids into the wagon! Strollers work just as well. We have a 5, 3 and 2 year old so the wagon is our very best friend. It’s also nice to get there right when they open at 10:30. It’s usually more on the quiet side for the first half hour or so. This makes it a little less hectic trying to maneuver your wagon/stroller situation and the lines and wait times are shorter!
This next one is a little bit dependent on entering the farmers market from Hewitt, since you want your first stop to be pretty soon after you arrive. Once you get into the farmer’s market, make a beeline for CaribBean Cuisine. They are located in the parking lot near the bathrooms. Their food is great, so if you’re hungry, this is a good spot for lunch. They even have quesadillas for the kids. Lately though, this is where we get our watermelon juice before exploring the market. Sometimes we opt for their lemonade as well. Pro tip- bring straw cups or sippy cups so you can spit the juice between multiple children and reduce spills. Having something fun, sweet and cold right off the bat helps set the tone for the outing. (Kind of like how I need an iced coffee at the start of my outings!)
Once you have your watermelon juice, time to relax and take a stroll. You can backtrack a little bit if you rushed through the beginning of the market. For us, the watermelon juice only lasts so long before the novelty wears off or it’s spilled or what have you. Usually this gets us about half way through the market. Our next stop is for berries. Luckily there are beautiful berries for sale throughout the market although they have been hard to come by towards the end of the day. We usually get a little box of raspberries but any berries will do the trick! If you want berries for something else, get extra because this box that you’re going to hand over into the wagon is not likely to be seen again. Another pro tip if you like to use all the cute little snack cups and bowls that I’m betting you have- bring them along so you can divvy up the berries. This should reengage and occupy the littles for a while; though in all honestly we’ve had to ditch plenty of times half way through because the littles weren’t having it and it just wasn’t meant to be!
There are a couple great options in the second half-ish of the market for something sweet if that’s on your menu for the day. Sweet Berry Creamery and Seattle Pops are both fantastic. Sweet Berry Creamery can have a little bit of a wait, so keep that in mind if your littles are still practicing their patience.
Our next stop is at the end of the market. Our littles are usually ready for some time out of the wagon at this point and we’re usually ready for some food! Our go to lately has been 88 Cues for Filipino food. Sometimes we all share some pancit, sometimes the littles are lucky and they all get their own. Yet another pro tip- an order of pancit can easily be split into two servings by tearing the lid off and using it as another bowl. 88 Cues is conveniently located right by the Snohomish County Courthouse. There is a set of stone steps that we use as our picnic spot. It feels a little more calm and out of the way which can be helpful when you’re trying to feed small children. Another great spot to stop and eat that is shaded is the corner of Wall and Wetmore. There is a lawn on the side of the courthouse that our kids love to use to burn off some energy.
Usually this last stop allows us to take a leisurely walk back through the farmer's market so we can pick up some of our favorites like the strawberry rhubarb dumplings from West Coast Dumpling Company and a bouquet of fresh flowers. Don’t forget your bouquet carrier from ReCooped (an Everett company!) so you can sling those flowers over your shoulder and still use both your hands!
I hope at least one of these tips can bring you some calm and relaxation next time you’re at the Everett Farmer’s Market with your littles. And if not, we’ve all had those disastrous outings! It will be okay, and you’re doing great!
Everett Farmers Market
2930 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201
Sundays from 10:30am- 3:00pm through October 26, 2025
