Looking for farmers markets in Alexandria? This historic city is home to one of the oldest continuously running farmers markets in the country, plus welcoming neighborhood markets. This local guide covers Alexandria’s farmers markets, what to buy, when to go by season, and how to find the freshest, most current details from people who shop them every week.

Alexandria’s farmers markets

The Old Town Farmers Market at Market Square — running continuously since 1753, one of the oldest in the nation — is the crown jewel, held Saturday mornings with produce, flowers, baked goods, and prepared foods. The Del Ray Farmers Market and the West End market add beloved neighborhood options on their own days.

What to buy at Alexandria farmers markets

Expect fresh Virginia and regional produce, farm eggs and meats, artisan breads and pastries, cut flowers, honey, and prepared foods and coffee to enjoy on the spot. Del Ray’s market is especially community-friendly and family-oriented.

Seasons & when to go

The markets run year-round in some form, with peak abundance from late spring through fall — berries, tomatoes, corn, and stone fruit in summer, apples and pumpkins in autumn, and hardier greens and baked goods in the cooler months. To pair a market run with a walk, see our guide to the best parks in Alexandria.

What to know about Alexandria farmers markets

The Old Town market is walkable (and Metro-accessible via King St–Old Town) and gets busy — arrive early for the best selection. Bring a bag and cash, though many vendors take cards. It pairs perfectly with an Old Town stroll.

What Alexandria locals recommend

Market days, seasonal hours, and the best vendors change constantly — and locals know which stalls are worth the trip. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Alexandria community, real Alexandria neighbors share their favorite markets and vendors, and what’s in season right now. For more, see our guide to the best things to do in Alexandria. Join your Alexandria neighbors free and get real local market recommendations →

Getting the most out of Alexandria

Each market has its own rhythm, vendors, and best-early hours worth learning. If you are planning a morning at the market in Alexandria, it helps to build it around the parts of town you already love. Spots like the Old Town waterfront and the Mount Vernon Trail anchor the areas locals gravitate to, and the best plans tend to pair one of those with a stop from this guide. Neighbors also point to the Torpedo Factory Art Center (free to browse) when they want something a little quieter or off the usual path. Knowing those anchors makes it far easier to line up a morning at the market that actually fits the day you have in mind, whether you have a couple of free hours or a whole afternoon in Alexandria.

More Alexandria guides worth bookmarking

Part of what makes Alexandria rewarding is how much it packs into a small footprint. If you found this useful, these companion guides cover the same neighborhoods from different angles: Best restaurants in Alexandria, Things to do in Alexandria, Parks in Alexandria. Between them you can plan an entire day — or an entire weekend — without ever leaving town.

Ask a Alexandria neighbor first

Guides get you started, but the freshest tips always come from people who live here. Hours change, new spots open, and locals know which places are worth it right now. The Alexandria community on Neighborhood Nurturers is where residents swap honest, current recommendations — ask Alexandria neighbors what they would do, or join your town community free and get answers from real people who actually know Alexandria.

Old Town Farmers’ Market — one of the oldest in America

The Old Town Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday morning in Market Square in front of City Hall, is not just Alexandria’s flagship market — it is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers’ markets in the United States, with roots going back to 1753, when George Washington reportedly sent produce from his Mount Vernon farm to be sold here. Today the market fills the historic square with regional farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, flower growers, and prepared-food vendors, and it starts early — serious shoppers arrive not long after dawn for the best selection. Beyond the shopping, it functions as a weekly community gathering in the heart of Old Town, an easy walk from King Street and the waterfront.

Del Ray and West End markets

The Del Ray Farmers’ Market, at the corner of East Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenues, brings the same farm-fresh energy to Alexandria’s most neighborly quarter on Saturday mornings, fitting right into Del Ray’s main-street, family-friendly character. On the other side of the city, the West End Farmers’ Market sets up on Sundays at Ben Brenman Park, running roughly 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May through mid-November. Its park setting, with a playground, pond, and open space, makes it especially popular with families who turn a produce run into a morning outing. Between the three markets, most Alexandria residents have a farmers’ market within a short walk or drive on the weekend.

What you will find and when

Alexandria’s markets are true producer markets, meaning the focus is on regional Virginia and Maryland farms rather than resellers. Depending on the season, expect leafy greens, asparagus, and strawberries in spring; tomatoes, corn, peaches, and berries at the height of summer; apples, squash, and pumpkins in fall; and hardy roots and greens plus holiday greenery as the year winds down. Year-round staples typically include pasture-raised eggs and meats, artisan bread and pastries, local honey, cheeses, cut flowers, and prepared foods for breakfast on the spot. Many vendors accept cards and SNAP benefits, and some markets run matching programs that stretch food-assistance dollars, part of a broader effort to keep fresh, local food accessible across the city.

Making the most of market day

A few habits separate seasoned market-goers from first-timers. Go early for the widest selection, especially for popular items like berries and flowers that sell out fast, or go late if you are hunting for end-of-morning deals. Bring your own bags and small bills, and take a lap before buying so you can compare what different farms have that week. Talking to the growers is half the point — they will tell you what is at its peak, how they raised it, and how to cook it, which is exactly the kind of knowledge a supermarket can’t offer. Because vendor lineups, hours, and seasonal opening and closing dates shift from year to year, the surest way to know what is fresh and who is set up this weekend is to check in with other locals who shop the markets regularly.

More than produce: markets as community

Alexandria’s farmers’ markets do a lot more than move vegetables. They are among the most reliable weekly gathering points in the city — the place you run into neighbors, introduce the dog to the crowd, let the kids pick out a peach, and catch up on what is happening around town. Local musicians often play, community groups and nonprofits set up tables, and seasonal celebrations bring extra vendors and activities, from spring plant sales to fall harvest festivals and holiday markets. For newcomers, a Saturday morning at the market is one of the fastest, lowest-pressure ways to start feeling like part of the community; for longtime residents, it is simply part of the rhythm of the weekend. Supporting the market also keeps money in the regional food economy and helps small farms within a day’s drive of the city stay viable, which in turn keeps the produce coming season after season. However you use them — a serious weekly grocery run, a leisurely browse with coffee in hand, or a standing date with friends — the markets reward regulars, and the best tips on which stand has the sweetest corn or when the strawberries will peak travel fastest among the neighbors who show up every week.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the farmers markets in Alexandria, VA?

The historic Old Town Farmers Market at Market Square (Saturday mornings) is the standout, plus the Del Ray Farmers Market and the West End market on their own days.

Is the Old Town Alexandria market really that old?

Yes — the Old Town Farmers Market has run continuously since 1753, making it one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the country.

What do locals recommend at Alexandria markets?

Alexandria neighbors share their favorite markets, vendors, and what’s in season in our community.

In a city that prizes its history and its walkable neighborhoods, the farmers’ markets tie both together — fresh, local, and rooted in a tradition Alexandria has kept alive for more than two and a half centuries.

So grab a tote bag, get there early, and make a morning of it — between the three markets there is almost always something fresh worth the trip, whatever the season, and the neighbors are happy to point you to their favorite stand.