Missoula Farmers Market to Kick Off 43rd Year on Saturday May 2 [YouTube]

The Missoula Farmers Market will begin its 43rd year this Saturday in downtown Missoula.

It's a rite of spring for the Garden City. The opening of the Missoula Farmers Market at its traditional location by the X's statue in downtown Missoula. Market manager Evita Nagel said the market opens early on Saturday morning.

"We start at about 6 a.m., that's when I arrive, but we open for business as soon as the vendors are set up," Nagel said. "We're officially open from 6:30 a.m. till 12 noon. We have mostly produce vendors, but we also have home baked goods and a few hot food vendors, as well."

Nagel said many of the vendors at the Farmers Market have been there for a number of years, but new vendors are always welcome, and there's always live music featured at the Farmers Market.

"Most of our market vendors have been there for many, many years," Nagel said. "But everyone starts with an application process through us. They have to have locally grown items from the western side of Montana, so they just pay their fees and sell their products."

There are several other markets going on simultaneously on Saturday throughout downtown Missoula, as well. Admission is free.