Location and Layout

The Ithaca Farmers Market operates at Steamboat Landing, on the Cayuga Lake inlet at the west edge of downtown Ithaca. The main structure is a long covered pavilion — open-sided with a roof, which means the market runs rain or shine. Vendor stalls line both sides of the pavilion and extend onto the adjacent waterfront in good weather, forming an L-shaped layout that takes 15 to 20 minutes to walk end to end if you do not stop. You will stop.

The market sits at 545 Third Street. From downtown Ithaca, it is a 5-minute drive or a 15-minute walk along the waterfront trail. From Route 13 (the main north-south corridor), the market entrance is about a half mile west.

Schedule

The primary market day is Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April through December. During peak season (roughly June through October), the market also runs on select Sundays and Tuesdays, though with fewer vendors and smaller crowds. The Saturday market is the main event: full vendor count, live music, and the widest food selection. The winter market (January through March) moves indoors to a smaller venue — check the market website for current winter locations.

What to Buy: Food That Justifies the Trip

Prepared Foods

Half the market’s draw is ready-to-eat food. The wood-fired pizza vendor operates a portable brick oven on-site and sells individual slices and whole pies with seasonal toppings — expect lines of 10 to 15 people on a Saturday morning by 10:30. The empanada stand rotates fillings weekly (beef, chicken, black bean, sweet potato) and sells out of the popular varieties by noon. Fresh pasta from a local maker includes filled ravioli, pappardelle, and linguine in small batches. The cider donut vendor, operating from fall through early December, produces warm donuts dusted with cinnamon sugar that sell as fast as they come out of the fryer — arrive before 10 a.m. if these are on your list.

Other prepared food worth seeking out: Thai noodle bowls, samosas, crepes, wood-fired flatbreads, smoked fish from Cayuga Lake, and baked goods ranging from sourdough loaves to scones to fruit pies.

Produce by Season

The produce vendors shift with the growing season, and the selection tells you exactly what time of year it is in the Finger Lakes:

• Spring (April-May): Asparagus, ramps (wild leeks — pungent, short season, usually gone by mid-May), salad greens, radishes, rhubarb, seedlings for home gardens.
• Summer (June-August): Strawberries in June, blueberries and raspberries in July, sweet corn starting mid-July, tomatoes from August onward, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, fresh herbs. This is peak selection — 30 to 40 produce vendors on a good Saturday.
• Fall (September-November): Apples (15-plus varieties from local orchards), winter squash, pumpkins, fresh-pressed cider, root vegetables, late-season greens. Fall Saturdays draw the largest crowds of the year.
• Late season (December): Root vegetables, stored apples, preserves, honey, maple syrup, baked goods. The vendor count drops but the covered pavilion keeps things running through the holiday season.

Cheese, Meat, and Dairy

Several small-batch cheese makers sell at the market, including aged cheddars, fresh chevre, and washed-rind varieties made from goat and cow milk sourced within 30 miles. Pasture-raised meat vendors offer beef, pork, chicken, and lamb — frozen cuts, sausages, and occasionally fresh poultry. Eggs from free-range operations are available but sell early; arrive by 9:30 if eggs are a priority.

Crafts and Non-Food Vendors

About a quarter of the vendors sell non-food items: pottery, woodworking, jewelry, textiles, soap, candles, and cut flowers. The craft quality is generally high — the market juries new vendors, and the handmade requirement is enforced. Flower bouquets from local growers run $8 to $15 and are among the best impulse buys at the market.

Parking: The Hard Part

Parking at the market itself is limited. The on-site lot holds roughly 100 cars, and on a Saturday in July or October, it fills by 9:30 a.m. Once it is full, you have three options:

• Route 13 shuttle lots: On busy Saturdays, the market runs a free shuttle from overflow parking lots on Route 13. The shuttle loop takes about 10 minutes. This is the most reliable option on peak weekends.
• Street parking in the inlet area: Third Street and the side streets near the market have some metered and unmetered spots. Competition is fierce on Saturdays.
• Walk or bike: The Cayuga Waterfront Trail connects the market to downtown Ithaca and the east shore. If you are staying in downtown Ithaca, walking along the trail takes about 15 minutes and avoids the parking problem entirely.

When to Arrive

The market opens at 9 a.m., but the sweet spot is 9:30 a.m. — early enough to park in the main lot, browse the full selection before popular items sell out, and eat breakfast from the prepared food vendors without standing in long lines. By 10:30, the market hits peak density: the aisles are shoulder-to-shoulder, the pizza line extends 15 deep, and the parking lot has been full for an hour. Late morning (11 a.m. to noon) is the most crowded window. Early afternoon (1 to 2 p.m.) thins out as vendors start packing, and some prepared food options may be gone.

On rainy Saturdays, the crowd drops by about a third, and the covered pavilion keeps everything dry. Rain is actually the best time to go if you want shorter lines and more elbow room.

Tips for a First Visit

• Bring cash. Many vendors accept cards, but some — especially the smaller produce stands — are cash only. An ATM is on-site but charges a fee.
• Bring bags. The market does not provide bags. Reusable totes work best; you will accumulate more than your hands can carry.
• Do a lap first. Walk the entire market before buying anything. The same vegetable or product may appear at multiple stalls at different prices, and you will spot food vendors you would have missed if you stopped at the first one.
• The waterfront seating is the best part. Buy your food, then carry it to the benches and picnic tables along the Cayuga Lake inlet. Eating wood-fired pizza with a view of the water and the market buzzing behind you is the Ithaca Farmers Market experience at its best.

If you are planning a broader Ithaca trip, the farmers market pairs well with a morning at the Cornell campus or an afternoon gorge hike — see our guide to whether Ithaca is worth visiting (short answer: yes) and our free things to do in Ithaca roundup. On rainy market days, our rainy day Ithaca guide covers indoor alternatives for the rest of the afternoon.