THINGS TO DO

6 winter farmers markets to shop

Broad Ripple market has moved inside Bent Rail Brewery, where you can shop, eat and have a beer

Liz Biro
liz.biro@indystar.com
  • Indy winter market news
  • Tamales at 2 markets
  • Indoor Sunday market

Winter at the farmers market is going to be a whole lot more fun this season. The new Broad Ripple Winter Farmers Market is inside a brewpub, and the kitchen and bar are open. The Indy Winter Farmers Market's is moving and the Jewish Community Center continues the area's only Sunday market.

Broad Ripple Winter Farmers Market

The Saturday morning market will begin Dec. 5 inside Bent Rail Brewery. You will be able to shop, grab breakfast and sip a beer or a bloody mary while you're there. About 21 vendors have signed up for the market space that the brewery's owners are providing for free. Bent Rail Brewery chef/owner Craig Baker crafts a special breakfast menu each week using what's available at the market. It may list apple waffles with apple fennel butter and local maple syrup or a duck sausage, egg and American cheese breakfast sandwich on Texas toast. Dining tables will be set up throughout the space, and the bar will be open, Baker said. Expect live acoustic music, too. Bent Rail brews should be available by mid-January, Baker added.

9 a.m. to noon Saturday Dec. 5-April 30, 5301 Winthrop Ave., www.broadripplewintermarket.org

Indy Winter Farmers Market

This Saturday morning market is already underway at The Platform attached to Indianapolis City Market, but on Jan. 16 it moves to the much larger Circle City Industrial Complex. When it does, expect free parking, food trucks and an expansion to 60 vendors.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 19, 202 E. Market St.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday Jan. 16-April 29, 1125 E. Brookside Ave.,​ www.indywinterfarmersmarket.org

On Jan. 16, the Indy Winter Farmers Market moves to Circle City Industrial Complex.

Farm to Fork Market

The year-round Normandy Farms market moves into a heated building in winter. A breakfast café is part of this season's mix. Order the hot English muffins combo with various spreads, juices and coffee. Market produce and meat for sale is raised without the use of artificial chemicals. Many vendors are certified organic or certified naturally grown. The market is in the clubhouse near the old granary.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, 7802 Marsh Road, at 79th Street, www.farmtoforkmarket.org

Carmel Winter Farmers Market

If you like 3 in 1 tamales as much as I do, stock up at this market. The restaurant will sell its tamales frozen so you can pack your freezer and have them anytime. The 3 in 1 team is among 24 vendors inside Wilfong Pavilion at Founders Park.

9 a.m. to noon Saturday through March 12, 11675 Hazel Dell Parkway, www.carmelfarmersmarket.com

Bloomington Winter Farmers Market

One of the hottest things at this market in the Harmony School gym are tamales served right out of the big, old pot in which they were steamed. Bivi's Tamales' relies on the owner's Mexican family recipes and uses skinless, boneless chicken and grass-fed beef. Pork and vegetarian tamales are sold, too. Also find pastries, coffee and, each week, live music. Farm Pickers play Dec. 12 and Hoosier Hotcakes perform Jan. 9.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 5-March 26, 909 E. 2nd St., www.bloomingtonwinterfarmersmarket.com

JCC Farmers Market

Indy's only Sunday market has moved inside at the Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center.Fresh, locally sourced foods and other items are available. Find kosher baked goods, local honey, organic vegetables, chocolate, tea, apples and more. Get a JCC Farmers Market shopping bag. They cost $5 each, and proceeds help pay the market's operating costs. No dogs are allowed at this market.

,10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, 6701 Hoover Road, www.jccindy.org

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbiro, Facebook and Pinterest.