When craving the solace of the outdoors, with enough room to breathe and keep a social distance, the Driftless can offer you the outdoor fun you love with the space you need. Be sure to check ahead to see if the farmers markets are ongoing.
Look forward to your future vacation in Southwest Wisconsin and learn what the Driftless is all about. Click to order a map and start the daydream.
Click to order or download a map and start the daydream.
Photo by Elaine Casap
Viroqua Farmers Market
Farmers Markets are a staple of the Driftless with all of the local area farms and organic agriculture in Vernon and Crawford counties. Viroqua, WI is one driftless community that has leaned into locally grown and produced food and goods, many of which can be found at the Viroqua Farmers Market. Every Saturday from May 1 to October 23, you can find the market in the Western Technical College parking lot between 8:00am and 12:30pm. The market hosts more than 50 vendors each week selling local goods from within a 100 mile radius of Viroqua.
Where to begin? Plan for at least an hour to explore the market and everything the vendors have to offer. The many farmers, bakers, crafters, growers, and artists will be eager to tell you all about the products and goods they have to offer.
Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge
Ferryville Farmers Market
Hop off the Wisconsin Great River Road into the Ferryville Farmers Market on Lake Winneshiek and the Mississippi River in Ferryville, WI. Saturdays in May through October the market is open at Sugar Creek Park from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with seasonal produce, Amish products, and craft vendors. Come down for canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, handmade crafts, woodwork, antiques, preserves, candles, soaps, flowers and plants, and more. The Ferryville Farmers Market also holds an annual Fall Fest and raffles.
Where to begin? The market accepts EBT, SNAP, WIC, and credit/debit cards for payment, making it easy for everyone to enjoy fresh, local products. Sugar Creek Park is also a great place on its own to enjoy the driftless outdoors.
Photo by Amelia Bartlett
Gays Mills Farmers Market
Looking for an iconic display of local produce? Then the Gays Mills Farmers Market in Gays Mills will not disappoint you. There are several farm vendor tables loaded with the driftless’ freshest, in-season produce, eggs, herbs and spices, honey, pasture raised meats and poultry, preserves, cut flowers, and other goodies. You can also look forward to fresh bread and prepared food and treats.
Where to begin? Plan on coming home with a variety of goods to restock during the summer and fall months; the range of products makes it a great one-stop shop.
Photo by Sven Scheuermeier
Prairie Street Farmers Market
Farmers Markets are a great way to shop local. The Prairie Street Farmers Market in Prairie Du Chien is one of the best in the driftless region for promoting healthy living by encouraging consumers to purchase local products directly from the producers. They invite any vendor who creates home-grown, home-raised, home-crafted, or home-baked products, creating a wide variety of local products to be bought and enjoyed. Stop in on a Saturday between 8:00am and 1:00pm.
Where to begin? Popular items include a variety of canned goods and handcrafted crochet blankets and dish towels. The goods and products can vary by week, so be sure to check out the Prairie Street Farmers Market Facebook page for weekly updates.
There is simply no better place to explore, by car, by bike, or by boat. The scenery when you explore the Driftless Wisconsin Area is unmatched. The history is fascinating. The people and communities are diverse. Around every bend of the road, every twist of the river, something interesting awaits.