If you’re looking for something easy and genuinely local to do in Squamish with kids on a Saturday morning, the Squamish Farmers Market is hard to beat. It fits a stroller nap, a toddler meltdown, and a coffee in hand, all at once. I’ve hauled my own crew through these stalls many a time, so I’ve picked up a few things worth passing along.
The Squamish Farmers Market sits right in the heart of downtown, at Cleveland Ave and Victoria Street. It has a way of pulling the whole town together on a Saturday. Locals show up with their dogs and totes, visitors wander through mid-road trip, and kids seem to gravitate toward the same corner with live music and popcorn every time. If a Squamish vacation is on your calendar, this is one easy stop that captures the local flavour.
Roughly fifty vendors set up on a typical Saturday. The lineup shifts just enough each week to keep things interesting. Rising Knead Bakery is a local favourite, so grab a loaf while you can. Their sourdough has a bit of a cult following around here. Molly and Marv’s Bagels is another one my kids ask for by name. Liv Finley Designs has some of the cutest handmade jewellery. It makes a nice little treat for yourself while the kids are busy checking out everything else.
Coffee lovers should swing by Kea Coffee Roasters. If foraged flavour sounds interesting, check the table at Sea to Sky Mushrooms. They always have something delicious on hand, and we love their mixed tasting box. Ellen Wood Designs, Rain City Distillery, Totomoxtle, and Golden Meadows Honey Farm round out some other market favourites. Together, they make up a mix of Squamish farmers market vendors that feels more like a curated show than an errand.
A rotating cast of food trucks shows up every week too. Breakfast or lunch is rarely a struggle. Add in the kids craft table and some live music, and the whole morning starts to feel like a neighbourhood party more than a simple outing. For families looking to do the Squamish Farmers Market with kids, there is enough going on to keep little ones interested while you browse.
Parking around the market has become more difficult as Squamish grows, particularly if you are hoping to find a convenient street spot close to the action. Street parking is still great if you can find it, but I would not count on getting a spot right outside the market if you arrive mid morning.
If street parking is full, there are a couple of easy alternatives. There is a decent-sized parking lot at Dollarama, right at the corner of Second Avenue and Winnipeg Street. If you are still struggling to find a spot, head up to the Save-On Foods parking lot at Pemberton Avenue and Second Avenue. There are lots of spaces there because of the number of stores in the area, and it is only a short stroll back to the market.
The bigger question I get asked constantly is whether to bring a carrier or a stroller. Honestly, it depends on your kid, your patience levels, and your shopping interests. The MEC Shuttlecraft Carrier rental keeps littles up at your shoulder height. That way they can actually see the stalls instead of staring at knees. It also makes squeezing through a packed row of tents much easier. You are not steering anything in front of you. That said, once you start collecting bread, honey, and mushrooms from the stalls, storage may become an issue.
That is where a jogging stroller rental tends to win out for most families doing the market. The basket underneath holds everything you pick up, no juggling bags required. The seat gives a napping toddler somewhere comfortable to drift off. You still get decent manoeuvrability through the crowd.
The carrier wins for the sights and sounds of it all. But if collecting goodies is part of your plan, the stroller usually wins for practicality by the end of the morning.
If you’re travelling to Squamish with little ones, you don’t need to bring every piece of gear from home. Our baby equipment rentals make it easy to have the essentials you need once you arrive, from sleep and outdoor gear to those everyday items that make travelling with young kids a whole lot easier. It’s a simple way to lighten your luggage without having to leave the things your family relies on behind.
Once the market wraps up, or even partway through if little legs need a break, Stan Clarke Park is close by. It makes an easy pairing. There is a lovely shady patch of green space with picnic tables and a playground with swings for every age. You will also spot murals from the Squamish Mural Walk scattered around the edges.
It turns a simple market run into a proper half-day out. It remains one of my favourite ways to stretch a downtown morning without driving anywhere else.
For the full rundown straight from the source, the Farmers Market Squamish website keeps an updated vendor list and seasonal schedule. It comes in handy before you head out the door.
The market opens at nine in the morning during the main season. Once winter hours begin, it shifts to a ten o’clock start.
Yes. The season runs from March through mid-December. That means it stays open well past summer, just with slightly shorter winter hours.
You will find it right in downtown Squamish, at Cleveland Avenue and Victoria Street, right beside the Copper Coil restaurant. It is an easy walk from most of the shops and cafes in the area.
Very much so. The paths between stalls are wide enough for a stroller. A jogging stroller in particular gives you storage space and manoeuvrability in one package.
