Downtown Elgin Harvest Market returns for its 17th season

The Downtown Neighborhood Association opens the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market in its 17th season - Presented by AMITA Health - with opening day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 2.

Located prominently in downtown Elgin at 200 N. Grove Ave., this weekly outdoor market will run for 18 consecutive weeks through Oct. 6.

This year, opening day at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market will feature free giveaways including AMITA Health tote bags and Harvest Market buttons for customers, as well as a free raffle for a prize basket filled with goodies from vendors.

On opening day, and every week throughout the season, you'll find more than 20 area vendors who offer locally grown and produced fresh vegetables, fruits, breads, meat, cheese, spices, honey, herbs, olive oil, soaps and lotions, popcorn, wooden items, and concessions. Each week, there will be two food trucks to provide a pick-me-up for hungry shoppers.

The market will be continuing its Link card double value program in partnership BMO Harris Bank and Glen Lerner Injury Attorneys. Use your Link card at the market and it will be matched up to $20 in additional Link tokens per person, per week.

Back again, starting June 9, will be the "Harvest Market Accent Kids' Program." Sponsored by AMITA Health and presented by Side Street Studio Arts, Accent Kids is catered to preschool through sixth grade and runs for 10 weeks from noon to 2 p.m.

The program will feature rotating sessions of everything from active fitness fun, to music demos, to hands-on art projects, to interactive scavenger hunts, and fun stuff to bring home.

Also back in 2016 is the market's performing arts series, sponsored by the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission. Each week, local artists will take the market stage. You'll see everything from classic rock to classical, modern dance to juggling, hip-hop to swing. All of the market's performances are free and family friendly.

For more details about weekly events, vendor information, live entertainment and attractions at the 2016 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, visit www.ElginHarvestMarket.com.

For more information on the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market or how to get involved, contact Harvest Market manager Jamey Bouwmeester at (847) 488-1456 or harvest@downtownelgin.com.