A good farmers market is the cornerstone of any community, especially important in a growing area such as Hickory. Supporting local farmers, makers, and small businesses is part of it, but so is the simple act of showing up and being part of something shared is so desperately needed in this day and age.
When we travel, one of the first things I look up is the nearest farmers market. It tells you a lot about a place—what’s in season, what people care about, how they gather. So when we moved here, discovering the Hickory Farmers Market was one of those small but meaningful moments that made this area start to feel like home.
It’s large, it’s thriving, it offers variety… plus, I appreciate that it’s open on Wednesdays during the warmer months, which somehow makes it feel even more woven into everyday life rather than just a weekend event.
But it’s not the only farmers market in our area. There are so many others—each with its own personality, its own mix of vendors, its own loyal crowd. We created this post to share some of those options and encourage you to explore a few new spots this season. (And don’t worry—we’ll have another post soon highlighting local farm stands and produce shops, too.)
Also check out our post on Get the Freshest Picks: 5 Tips for Shopping at Your Local Farmer’s Market.
Please note, farmers markets may be weather-dependent or closed on certain days due to specific events. We’ve included links to their social media page so you can make sure they are open before you go.
Caldwell County Farmers Market – Opening for the 2026 season on May 2nd, this market is under new management this year and will only continue to grow. It’s located at 308 Blowing Rock Blvd in Lenoir and runs every Saturday (May-October) from 7am to 1pm.
Morganton Farmers Market – Featuring a Saturday market (300 Beach St., Morganton) and a Wednesday Mini Market (111 N. Green St., Morganton), the Morganton Farmers Market boosts that it’s vendors are 100% locally grown. Saturday Market runs 8:00am-12:00pm every Saturday beginning May 2 through October 31, while the Wednesday Mini Market runs 10:00am-1:00pm every Wednesday beginning May 6 through October 28.
Hickory Farmers Market – Having started their summer hours this month (April), you can check-out the Hickory Farmers Market in Downtown Hickory – under the Sails – on Wednesdays 10am to 1pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
Don’t worry – the Hickory Farmers Market is a year-around market, they just adjust the times they are open during the cooler months.
Newton Farmers Market – The Newton Farmers Market is an evening market, making it a great option for those who want to pick up fresh items for dinner or who may not make the more traditional daytime hours of some markets. For the 2026 season, it opens on May 14th and will from on Thursdays, from 4pm to 7pm, until October 29th in Downtown Newton – Herbert M. Yount Memorial Park.
Conover Farmers Market – A certified farmers market since 2008, it touts 100% local foods. Opening on May 2nd, you can find it running on Saturdays (until October) in it’s new location in Downtown Conover from 8am to 12pm.
Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market – Opening day for this Thursday morning market will be June 4th, and it will run from 10am to 1pm until September in the in the parking lot of Catawba Co. Public Health off Fairgrove Church Rd (behind Catawba Valley Medical Center).
We know that there are some markets missing from this list, but this is currently based on markets that have stated their opening day for the 2026 season. If you know of one not on this list, leave us a comment on this page or reach out to us at hello@nothingtodotoday.com.