It’s the 19th year of Mater Madness this Saturday at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market. The Market is celebrating its favorite fruit to kick off National Farmers Market Week, August 3-9. At the festival: The Guess the Number of Tomatoes in the Jar contest, the Biggest Tomato at Market Contest, a special Mini Raffle, and a demo by Chef Bill Clifton of Lewes Yacht Club at 10 am. Cherry and slicer tomatoes—both heirloom and hybrid—will be in abundance.
Customers wearing their HLFM Tomato T-Shirt (which can be purchased at the Market) will get one free ticket into the special Tomato Festival Mini Raffle Drawing.
The Biggest Tomato at Market Contest is judged at 9:30 am and winners will receive ribbons and bragging rights. All who grow their own tomatoes—both farmers and home gardeners—are welcome to enter this contest. Contest Rules: Growers should bring their tomatoes to the Tomato Festival Tent between 8 and 9 am. Tomatoes may be heirloom or hybrid and must be edible. The largest tomato will be judged by weight as determined by the judges. The variety of each tomato must be identified on the entry form with contact information. All tomatoes must be washed and clean. The winners and all entries will be displayed with the grower’s name at the Tomato Festival Tent.
The Guess the Number of Tomatoes in the Jar Contest also takes place at the Tomato Festival Tent. Enter your guess between 8 and 11 am. The winner will be announced at 11:15 am and will receive $50 gift certificates to two local Lewes restaurants—Kindle and Nectar.
Chef Bill Clifton, Lewes Yacht Club, will be demonstrating a Stuffed Tomato Greek Salad with Whipped Feta and a Tomato Vinaigrette at the Demo tent at 10 am using tomatoes, herbs, and other ingredients from around the Market.
In addition to every variety of tomato imaginable, vendors will be bringing eggplants, cherries, cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, plums, nectarines, sweet corn, potatoes, beets, green beans, summer squashes, radishes, Swiss chard, garlic, oysters, live crabs, hand-picked crabmeat, grass-fed chicken, lamb, beef, pork, honey, jams, mushrooms, freshly-laid eggs, coffee drinks, kombucha, cold-pressed juices, fresh-baked breads, pastries made with fruit from Market farmers, gluten-free offerings, donuts, ice cream treats, herb, veggie, and flower plants, beautiful cut-flower bouquets, and much more! To celebrate at the Tomato Festival, Old World Breads will bring Sundried Tomato Pesto Bread, Heirloom Tomato Flatbread, Tomato Jam Galettes, and Gazpacho.
The HLFM Wednesday Market continues every Wednesday from 8 – 11:30am through September 3rd. Customers will find fresh local fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, and flowers from 14 farmers and producers at the Crooked Hammock Brewery parking lot, 36707 Crooked Hammock Way.
The HLFM is unique in that it is producer-only—customers connect directly with the farmer who grew the produce and raised the animals to buy their local fruit, veggies, eggs, and meats. This Market is where the farmers are—the most farmers in any farmers market in Delmarva!
Save the date! On Saturday, August 16, Kids Day at the Market returns with a special Children’s Storytime, hands-on kid’s activities and crafts, games throughout the Market, and prizes including picture books donated by The Nature Generation. The HLFM thanks The Nature Generation for their sponsorship of Kids Day at the Market.
The HLFM Summer Raffle continues this celebratory 20th Market season! Customers can purchase tickets to win a Lewes Oyster House 3-Course Chef’s Tasting with Wine Pairing for 6-8 at the LOH Chef’s Table, a watercolor painting of “Chicken Man at the Market” by Anne Buck, and a beautiful blueberry themed quilt by Laurie Sieminski. New August prizes include a beach cruiser bicycle and a restaurant gift card bundle. Tickets are on sale at the Saturday Market, $5 a ticket or 6 tickets for $25, final drawing on Saturday, August 30th. All proceeds go to the HLFM farmer support and food access programs.
The popular Children’s Storytime at the Market is every Saturday at 10am under the yellow tent as all children and their adults can enjoy listening to books about farming, gardening, and healthy eating read by Market volunteers.
Please note that dogs and other pets (except for service animals) are not permitted inside the Market. This is to ensure the safety of customers, vendors, and volunteers. Customers may still walk their dogs around the other paths and parts of George H.P. Smith Park but may not bring them inside the Market area.
The HLFM encourages customers that are able to bike or walk to the Market. The circle in front of the Fred Thomas Building at the foot of Dupont will be open for accessible drop-off and pick-up, with some spots available for accessible parking only. With the new sidewalks to George H.P. Smith Park, the best place customers can park is at the main parking lot at the Lewes Elementary School (where the Market moves if it rains) at 820 Savannah Road, with just a short walk down the path to Market. Beebe Hospital also generously allows Market customers to park in its outside parking lot.
The Market’s weekly newsletter lists what each vendor is bringing to Market, demos, and more. To receive the newsletter customers should email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org and ask to be added to the list.
The Market accepts SNAP, WIC, and SFMNP benefits, and continues to match SNAP up to $20 per market, per customer. Please go to the SNAP tent to process SNAP/EBT.
The HLFM continues its Food Pantry Purchase Program. HLFM customers who want to help feed the local community may purchase local produce, meat, and other food from growers at the Market to donate to this program every Saturday. At the end of the Market, the produce and other foods are gathered and given to food pantries including Epworth and Casa San Francisco. The HLFM thanks its customers for their generosity.
In case of inclement weather, the Market moves to the Lewes Elementary School parking lot, 820 Savannah Road.
The HLFM thanks The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group for their continued support of the Market, especially for this special season, as 2025 HLFM Market Champion.
For more information, including Market maps and vendor listings, go to www.HistoricLewesFarmersMarket.org, or find the Historic Lewes Farmers Market on Facebook or Instagram.
