It’s back! After a winter hiatus, the much beloved Dekalb Market, made from nearly three dozen salvaged shipping containers, is returning to Downtown Brooklyn today Saturday, April 7th. The market first debuted last summer, and it has grown from a commercial hotspot of local artisans and eateries to a cultural community destination that hosts family-friendly events, live music and art experiences, unique shops, an urban farm, and delicious locally-made food. The Spring Weekender event today and tomorrow will feature all this, plus special Easter events.
The 2012 Dekalb Market brings back everything we loved about the unique space, including the shipping container shops and cafes populated with some of our favorite vendors, like Robicelli Cupcakes and Maharlika’s Filipino street food. The 45 retail shops will include 3rd Ward, Etsy Collective, Hot Trash Vintage, and many more. The market is ramping up its event programing, with plans for bike-in movie nights, roller derbies, and more live music. Plus, there will be a permanent Dekalb Market Beer & Wine Garden, featuring local craft beer, wine, and sangria.
One of our favorite aspects of Dekalb Market, the urban farm, will also be returning in a new and improved way. A collaborative project between several groups, Dekalb Farm grows fresh produce to sell at the market and hosts urban agriculture events for the community. Newtown Farm Collective and Brooklyn Grange help to run the farm, which is also home to Food 360, a farm-to-table job-training program run by Family Cook Productions that will be housed in a brand new incubator kitchen designed by Marketshare. The kitchen will allow market purveyors to prepare their goods on-site, and 3rd Ward intends on hosting food-related classes.
During the debut weekend on April 7th and 8th, there will be urban farming demonstrations, a curated flower and garden flea market, and a market-wide Easter egg hunt. Forty of the market vendors will also be selling their goods, and local bands and DJs will provide live music.
For more details about the Spring Weekender, go here.
