Alton Farmers' and Artisans' Market Blends Shopping and Community

Nearly 200 booths and new events each week keep Alton’s market growing.

Jul 17, 2026 9:39 AM Jul 17, 2026 10:09 AM

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ALTON - As the Alton Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market continues through October, Alton Main Street looks forward to introducing new weekly activities and fun for the families who attend.

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Sara McGibany, executive director of Alton Main Street, noted that the Alton Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market continues to grow. With nearly 200 booths of handmade or homegrown products, the market promises plenty of unique finds from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday morning.

“We have been hearing in recent years that we are the biggest and best around, and we really are proud of it,” McGibany said.

The market runs from May 9 through Oct. 17, 2026, this year at the corner of Landmarks Boulevard and Henry Street in downtown Alton. As the season nears its halfway point, McGibany encourages anyone who hasn’t yet experienced it to come out and enjoy a Saturday morning in the downtown district.

Every week, Alton Main Street sponsors a special activity or event for attendees at the market. This Saturday, July 18, the Madison County Farm Bureau will be onsite with farm equipment and farmers available to answer questions. This will be followed by the Keep Alton Weird Sideshow with FreakShow Deluxe! on July 25 and a Middle Ages historical reenactment with the Society for Creative Anachronism on Aug. 1.

McGibany is especially looking forward to the Market BINGO! event on Aug. 15 and the beloved Canine Carnival on Oct. 3. Tickets are also still available for goat yoga on Oct. 17.

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“There really is something super cool and really different happening every single week,” she said. “It really is a good platform for people. It’s a built-in crowd, so you don’t have to start from scratch and get people to come to your thing. We just set up the activity where the two parking lots connect, and it’s right there. You’ve already got a packed house.”

In addition to the free activities, McGibany is proud to offer a special deal for those who utilize SNAP benefits. You can stop by the information booth at the market and swipe your card to receive twice as many benefits, to be used for fresh fruits and vegetables.

“That is the first thing that gets cut from people’s grocery budgets when money is tight, the fresh fruits and veggies,” McGibany said. “You can come and bring your LINK card down to the info booth and swipe as many benefits as you want, and we will give you double your money for fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Almost all of the food producers at the market will accept these SNAP benefits. The information booth also has a map that denotes which booths accept SNAP. If you have any questions about how this works, McGibany encourages you to stop by the information booth.

There are 171 seasonal spots that are filled every weekend at the market, but they also have 20–30 booths that are open each week because people are on vacation or decided to take a week off. If you would like to vend at the market, it costs $15 for one day and you can reach out to Alton Main Street for more information.

To learn more about the Alton Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market, including a full schedule of upcoming events, visit the official webpage on the Alton Main Street website.

“It’s just a real community atmosphere,” McGibany added.

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