The Mid-Ohio Valley is fortunate to have a lot of talented musicians in the community. The DFM will try to showcase as many of them as possible on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month (May- October). Local musicians will perform live on the Market stage from 11am to 1pm. So if you want to get your feet a tappin’ and your hands a clapping,’ check out the musical entertainment this year at the DFM. If you or someone you know would like to take center stage, please contact Rickie Yeager at 304.424.8558 or email rmyeager@parkersburg-wv.com, as organizers are still seeking entertainers. Musicians are to submit a copy of their work (i.e. CD, YouTube video, etc.) for review before they are permitted to play. Who knows, you or a friend could be Jamin’ on the Square this season!

For the last five years, the DFM has been providing customers with some of the best fresh fruits and vegetables in the Mid-Ohio Valley. This has been complimented by live cooking demonstrations at Noon by local chefs. Chefs are encouraged to use as many ingredients from the Market vendors to prepare their culinary masterpiece. So whether you’ve taken the day off or work downtown, be sure to stop by the Marketplace each Friday at Noon to see what’s Cookin’ in the Kitchen that day! If you or someone you know would like to do a cooking demonstration, please contact Tammy Bunner at 304.424.8519 or email thart@parkersburg-wv.com.

To rekindle your taste buds this season, organizers will be giving away samples at the Information Booth from various eating establishments in the area. Parkersburg and the greater Mid-Ohio Valley is fortunate to have a diverse collection restaurants that serve everything from American fare foods ethnic cuisine. A different establishment or menu item will be showcased each Tuesday at Noon at the Information Booth. However, there are a limited number of samples. Therefore, patrons are encouraged to get to the information Booth Information early while supplies last.

Nowadays, who doesn’t love saving a little bit of money when they go to the grocery store or buy new a new pair of shoes? That’s why organizers are getting together with DFM vendors to offer discounted items. Organizers will post a list of discounted items on the Market’s Facebook page on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month. Discounted items will be posted no later than 10am that day. If you would like to check out what’s available, but are not a Market fan already, please ‘like’ our Facebook page at Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace. The Market’s Facebook page is the place for Bargain Deals and Awesome Steals this season!

Back by popular demand, I Am Chef takes center stage this year on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month. I Am Chef is a children’s program aimed at helping kids and their families make healthier lifestyle choices. The program includes a hands-on cooking demonstration and a family-fun physical activity. The hour long program concludes with a tour of the Marketplace. There, children will get to interact with the Market vendor and learn about where some of the food they eat comes from and how it is grown. This fun and educational program was developed by Parkersburg resident Laura Foutty. Laura has a passion for helping others and feels strongly about helping kids grow up to be all that they can be. I Am Chef is part of a larger vision to help young people identify and build upon their strengths, whether that be playing a musical instrument, dancing on stage or in this case cooking in the kitchen. The program is free and open to the public. I Am Chef is sponsored by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department and the Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace.