What to expect from Green Street farmers market’s new season in Lee’s Summit

Downtown Lee’s Summit will celebrate opening day for the 2026 Green Street Farmers Market on Saturday, April 4, with food trucks, kids activities and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny.

Since the Green Street development opened last August, this weekend will mark the first full season in the 17,140-square-foot facility. The climate-controlled space, featuring large windows and public restrooms, is a significant upgrade from the long-running outdoor market, located in a parking lot at Douglas and Second streets.

Excitement is building for opening day and the 2026 season, said Jenny Gale, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street assistant director and manager of the Green Street Market.

“We saw great customer attendance last year,” she said, with market crowds increasing by close to 300% following the move to Green Street.

This resulted in more than 3,000 people typically visiting the market on Saturdays. Crowds at the smaller Wednesday Farmers Market also increasing. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 31.

“Our vendors were so thrilled by the end of the season,” Gale added. “When you are selling out by 10:30 or 11, that’s just huge to those small businesses.”

Brandon and Rebecca Sullins, owners of Farm Stand On Orchard in Lee’s Summit, said the new farmers market has been a game changer for their business.

“Now instead of being just a farmers market, it’s an experience,” Rebecca Sullins added. “The new market business has brought in a whole new group of people. The crowds have been amazing.”

The new farmers market not only benefits its vendors, it generates more foot traffic for the downtown businesses. After moving from the parking lot to Green Street, Gale said the average customer was doubling the amount of time they spent either at the market or the downtown shopping district.

“We see those customers leaving the market and walking around downtown and supporting our other brick-and-mortar businesses, which is also a goal for Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street,” she added. “They are picnicking, they’re going to lunch and they’re shopping at all the businesses.”

For the 2026 season, the market will have around 20 additional vendors for 70 total local sellers at the Saturday events and close to 35 on Wednesdays. The former parking lot market had space for around 40 vendors.

Other changes this year include food trucks on Saturdays and a full music schedule with performers such as the Kansas City Chorus and several ensemble groups from the Lee’s Summit Symphony.

The farmers market webpage features a new live map of vendors for each Wednesday and Saturday as well as food trucks and music performers scheduled for every market day.

What won’t change at the farmers market is the focus on locally grown and produced items.

“We really pride ourselves on the vendors we allow in and follow the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 80/20 rule,” Gale said, with 80% of the sellers being producers, meaning a grower or a meat or flower vendor.

The additional 20% are “value added,” she explained, such as bakers or spice vendors. Green Street also requires that sellers growing food for the market be located within 150 miles of Lee’s Summit.

“We really are a consumable food market,” Gale added, “and when customers come to our market they are literally getting the produce grown around them.”

Throughout the season, the Green Street Farmers Market will offer programming and special events such as Wednesday storytime through the Mid-Continent Public Library.

Opening day on Saturday happens to coincide with Downtown Lee’s Summit’s annual Bunny Hop. Families will gather at 10 a.m. under the Green Street wickets to take a stroll with the Easter Bunny.

In addition, musician Heath Church will perform April 4 on the lawn with face painters and balloon artists on site along with local nonprofits Alyssa’s Wishes and Project Happiness LSMO.

Several popular downtown events will return to the market this year, including the Spring Celebration on May 9, the Harvest Festival on Oct. 3 and the Holiday Market planned for later in the year.

Since showers and storms are always a possibility for spring events, the enclosed farmers market has removed the worry about opening day weather for vendors.

“This weekend’s opening day would normally be fraught with concerns about the rain in the forecast,” said Karin Velez of Wolf Creek Family Farm. “That’s not the case this year.”

Shoppers now have the ability to enjoy themselves for several hours and take their time to peruse the offerings, grab a coffee or a bite to eat, she added.

“This will be our 19th season at the market, and we’re hoping it shapes up to be our best yet,” Velez said.