20-05-2025
QC Farmers Market moves to downtown Rock Island
The QC Farmers' Market is moving – just a few blocks, to downtown Rock Island this season.
The Rock Island City Council approved a weekly use of the newly renovated 1800 block of 2nd Avenue for the expanding homegrown, food-focused market on May 19. Ald. Dylan Parker, 5th Ward, said moving the market from Schwiebert Park is a major milestone for the Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Project and revitalization efforts.
'This once-in-a-generation investment by the City has revitalized our downtown infrastructure and public spaces, and the arrival of the farmers' market will inject even more vibrancy and energy into this renewed area,' said Parker, who's also the community representative on the QC Farmers' Market Board of Directors. 'It's a fantastic synergy that will bring increased foot traffic, benefiting our local businesses and making the market more accessible.'
The market will run from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Saturday from May 31-October 25 on the new 'festival street' that will close to vehicle traffic during the market's hours of operation.
The new pedestrian-oriented, event-friendly street features improvements like curbless 28-foot-wide sidewalks; pop-up bollards for seamless routine road closures; decorative lighting and landscaping; public art; bench seating and uniform patio areas for adjacent businesses. Free parking is available in adjacent lots and on the street surrounding the market venue. Several bike racks are in the general vicinity.
'We are thrilled to partner with the City and Downtown Alliance to make this move into downtown Rock Island, in the beautifully renovated space on 2nd Avenue,' said Ian Forslund, founder and chair of the QC Farmers' Market Board of Directors.
The market has been operating in Schwiebert Riverfront Park since 2021. Over 20 vendors based within 50 miles of downtown Rock Island have items for sale, including produce, meat, eggs, dairy, honey, flowers, garden plants, baked goods and more. Many vendors already supply food for downtown restaurants, including NEST Café and QC Coffee and Pancake House.
'Multiple opportunities arise for the farmers, downtown, market visitors and businesses on and close to 2nd Avenue,' said Jon Keim, owner of Huckleberry's Great Pizza and Calzones, 223 18th Street 'We are looking forward to purchasing from the farmers, creating meals from the locally grown products and growing our business alongside the QC Farmers' Market.'
Market patrons and visitors to the new location will find additional seating and yard games on the new green lawn right next to the festival street. The Downtown Alliance will host a special event called Second Saturdays on 2nd Avenue during market hours once a month, from June through October, featuring free live music and family-friendly activities. Activities and artists will be announced at a later time.
'This is exactly the type of consistent program and activity we planned for when dreaming up this new shared space for the community,' said Jack Cullen, executive director of the Downtown Alliance. 'We are eager to offer more reasons for people to explore downtown and all it has to offer on a regular basis, and we hope this partnership with the QC Farmers' Market motivates people to make us part of their weekend ritual.'
The last parts of the Rebuild Downtown Project include installing sidewalk patios outside of five restaurants and reconstructing the 3rd Avenue and 19th Street intersection, which is expected to be completed in June.
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