​Farmer markets are all the rage, and they should be. They provide a great place to buy local and healthy food, they are a great place to gather, and they bring a community together. 

Local Farmers bring the best of their crops to the Anacortes Farmers Market each Saturday from May to October. Fresh, delicious, and a bounty full of goodness.

You will find just about everything you need at the Anacortes Farmers Market. A diverse variety of healthy options.

The Anacortes Farmers Market is located at the historic Anacortes Depot Arts & Community Center. You will find the Depot at 611 R Ave, just two blocks from Commercial Ave in the lovely historical downtown Anacortes, and two blocks from Cap Sante Marina, a boater's haven.
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A little about the Depot
DEPOT: The “new” Great Northern Depot was built in 1911 at Seventh Street on R Avenue, more than 20 years after Seattle and Northern Railroad Company ran the first passenger train to Anacortes on August 5, 1890.

Hungry? There is usually a nice variety of food vendors and great bakeries at the Anacortes Farmers Market. Get some lunch, sit down in the Depot Plaza, and enjoy the music while you fuel up from shopping.

This well-run farmers market is comprised of some of the best volunteers around. It is their support, which has made this one of the best farmer markets in the state. 
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By Karla Locke
Author of The Blood Stone Queen and other ebooks, Freelance Writer for Stories from the Front Porch and other publications. Karla shares her passion of the arts and artists, photography, writing, small businesses, and people who live, work, and play with passion.

Anacortes, WA knows how to celebrate the 4th. With a day filled with events, locals and visitors celebrate the 4th of July in true Anacortes style. Kicking of the day-long festivities is the traditional town photo. Crowding close together, the towns people of Anacortes capture another moment in Anacortes history.

By 10:30 a.m. the crowds lined the streets for the main event... The Anacortes Parade. From 4th to 11th street, each inch of the sidewalks this year was lined with people, by far, the largest crowd to-date.

An hour and a half long, here are the 10 highlights of the parade.

This year was the largest crowd for the Anacortes 4th of July parade. With the newly paved and painted downtown streets, children lined up in the bicycle lane anxiously waiting for the candy.

Two jets and the rescue helicopter from Whidbey NAS (Naval Air Station) kicked off the parade. The crowd cheered in ah as they flew overhead.

The crowd hollered and whooped as Popeye stopped in the intersection to give Olive Oyl a big smooch on the cheek.

A crowd favorite, the Twisted Pixies each year devise new costumes and dance their way along the parade route.

Children and parents welcomed the first Anacortes Intergalactic guest as he raised the American Flag in greetings.

Sister City, Sidney, B.C. continued their celebration of 150 years by attending its Sister City, Anacortes' 4th of July Parade.

Each year, the Anacortes Town Crier, Richard Riddell, begins the parade in true Town Crier Form. This year, special guest, Kenny (Sidney, B.C. Town Crier) joined Richard combining two great communities together as they both celebrated their Independence.

No parade is complete without the wave of a Princess. This year, little girls (and boys) were waved to by a float filled with Princesses.

A BIG Thank you to all the men an women who serve our Nation and our Communities.

Each year the parade ends with these guys from Shell, a big hit with the kids as they scuttle their way down the parade route.

What really makes a great 4th of July parade (and Community) are the people. Thank you to all.
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Yep, Anacortes, WA knows how to celebrate the 4th of July.

​by Karla Locke

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