San Diego CA— The Little Italy Association will launch a brand new weekly farmers’ market, the Little Italy Wednesday Market starting on Wednesday, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Created to be the destination “where the chefs shop,” the Little Italy Wednesday Market will provide local chefs and restaurants a mid-week market to give them plenty of time to shop for local produce and ingredients to craft their menu specials for the upcoming weekend. The Little Italy Wednesday Market will also serve the thousands of residents, employees and visitors of Little Italy by providing another opportunity for shoppers to shop local and support local farmers and foodmakers.
“As chefs and restaurants in San Diego plan and prepare their farm to table menus for the weekend, they will now be able to shop for local produce and ingredients directly from dedicated farmers and foodmakers right in their backyard, which creates a huge benefit for the farmers” said Catt Fields White, Little Italy Mercato and Wednesday Market manager. “Like the successful mid-week morning market in Santa Monica, we think Little Italy’s central location, high traffic of visitors and residents and abundance of restaurants makes it the perfect location to launch this new farmers’ market. We’re looking forward to providing this convenient avenue for chefs and the community who desire a reliable source of farm fresh, healthy food in the middle of the week.”
Similar to the treasured Little Italy Mercato, the year-round Little Italy Wednesday Market will offer a selection of farm fresh produce, pastured eggs, poultry, meat, fish and more brought to the neighborhood by California farmers, fisherman and artisan foodmakers. The Little Italy Wednesday Market will occupy three blocks on W. Date St. between Kettner Blvd. and State St.—activating the newly open Piazza della Famiglia. Shoppers will also be able to enjoy live entertainment during the Little Italy Wednesday Market on select street corners—adding to the authentic Italian ambience of the Little Italy atmosphere.
“We are excited to launch the Little Italy Wednesday Market in our neighborhood for San Diegans and visitors to enjoy and serve the many restaurants and chefs in Little Italy and neighboring communities,” said Chris Gomez, district manager of the Little Italy Association. “We’ve seen the success that the Little Italy Mercato has brought to this neighborhood now, for what will be 10 years in June, and we are certain the Little Italy Wednesday Market will also become a San Diego tradition for the years to come.”
More events happening in San Diego’s Little Italy now through September.
Little Italy Summer Film Festival- Saturday, August 25
Presented by the Little Italy Association and Cinema Little Italy, the Little Italy Film Festival will screen amazing Italian films with English subtitles under the stars. Attendees can snuggle up in a blanket and enjoy delicious snacks at Amici Park Amphitheater. The film festival is running now until
(Located at the corner of State and Date Streets; $5 donation, 8 p.m.)
Little Italy Mercato
The Little Italy Mercato, the largest farmer’s market in San Diego, features more than 200 vendors who offer a wide selection of farm fresh produce, eggs and poultry, meat, fish, flowers, local artisan goods and more. Come soak up the San Diego sun and peruse the wide variety of great offerings while enjoying live entertainment with friends and family. (Free, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., ongoing)
Marine Band San Diego Summer Concert- Saturday, August 4
The Marine Band San Diego Summer Concert is an evening of incredible live music by the 45-piece Marine Band San Diego, as well as the Party Band and the Jazz Band. San Diego residents and military and their families are invited to enjoy for the free concert in the new Piazza della Famiglia. On this evening the Little Italy Association will also be paying tribute to first responders by honoring them at the event and lighting up the whole piazza in blue lights. (Free, 6 p.m. – dusk)
State of the Neighborhood Dinner- Thursday, September 20
The Little Italy Association will host its annual State of the Neighborhood dinner reception on the rooftop of the County of San Diego Parking Structure. The evening will be filled with delicious food, spectacular entertainment and amazing views of the San Diego Bay and Downtown skyline. The community can gather together and socialize with honored dignitaries, local business owners and residents. Multiple Little Italy restaurants donate Italian family-style dishes and Little Italy Association’s Chief Executive Administrator will present about all the happenings of Little Italy. ($45 tickets, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.)