One of my absolute favorite things about Old Ellicott City is that it keeps giving you reasons to show up on a Saturday. The OEC Farmers Market is officially back for the season, and if you haven’t been yet, I want to change that TODAY. I’ve been and it feels like the most charming way to start a weekend morning. You’re walking along Main Street, iced coffee in hand, the vibe’s already perfect before you’ve bought a single thing.
Tiber Park fills up fast with locals, and the mix of vendors they pull together every year is SO good. Sourdough, crepes, fresh mushrooms, cold-pressed juices, gorgeous flower arrangements, handmade pies. This isn’t a generic grocery-store-adjacent thing. It’s a real community market, run by the Ellicott City Partnership, and the care they put into it shows. I cannot wait for you guys to get there and see it for yourselves.
What Is the Old Ellicott City Farmers Market?
The Old Ellicott City Farmers Market (also called the OEC Farmers Market) is a seasonal outdoor market organized by the Ellicott City Partnership. It runs every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM in Tiber Park, right on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City. The 2026 season runs from May 23 through October 24, so you’ve got plenty of Saturdays ahead of you. There’s no admission fee, it’s free to walk around and shop, and the location right on Main Street means you can pair it with breakfast or lunch at one of the great spots nearby. If you’re new to Ellicott City, I’ve got a full post on the must-visit restaurants in Ellicott City worth bookmarking for the same trip.
Nomtastic Kim’s Must-Visit Vendors
Full transparency: the vendor lineup I’m sharing here is from last season. Not every vendor is guaranteed to be back, and the market can rotate, so I’d check the official OEC Farmers Market page before you go. That said, here’s who I personally love and what to look for when you’re there.
Bitty Bread Bakers
Start here. Bitty Bread Bakers is the vendor I look forward to most. Their sourdough is PHENOMENAL, and I got to try their focaccia and cookies too. Everything they make is worth it. The loaves go fast, so get there early if you want your pick.
If you want the full story on everything they make, I did a write-up on Bitty Bread Bakers and their sourdough, focaccia, and cookies.
The Crepe Shoppe
You honestly can’t go wrong with a yum crepe from The Crepe Shoppe. Whether you’re doing sweet or savory, it’s a solid farmers market eat. Perfect to walk around with while you browse.
Dangerously Delicious Pies (Rodney Pieman Henry)
Rodney Henry, aka Rodney Pieman Henry, is the founder behind Dangerously Delicious Pies, and he’s been bringing his pies to the Ellicott City market after closing his brick-and-mortar storefront. I don’t know which pies he’ll have on any given Saturday, but I’d grab whatever’s there. Just trust the process.
Dear Globe Coffee
I’m the kind of person who has to be caffeinated to shop. Dear Globe Coffee is where I get my iced coffee before doing anything else. Grab your iced coffee before you do anything else, and then you’re set.
Rooted MD
Rooted MD brings cold-pressed juices, immune shots, hummus, and ferments like kimchi. It’s a great table for anyone into whole-food eating or trying something a little different. The juices are TASTY and if you’re into fermented foods, worth picking up.
Manchester Fungi
Manchester Fungi is a gourmet and medicinal mushroom farm out of Manchester, Maryland, and they make a regular stop at the OEC market. If you’re a mushroom person, this table is a MUST. They carry varieties you’re not going to find at a regular grocery store.
Enchanted Flower Farm
Even if you don’t usually buy flowers, walk over to Enchanted Flower Farm. The blooms are gorgeous, and it’s the kind of thing that makes you want to buy a bouquet for no reason other than they’re beautiful. A nice little treat for yourself or someone you’re shopping with.
A Farmers Market Tip From Kim
One tip: grab your coffee first, then do a full lap before you buy anything so you don’t miss something good at the end. It sounds simple, but it saves you from impulse-buying something in the first five minutes and then missing the thing you actually came for. Coffee to start, sourdough from Bitty Bread before you leave, and something in between. That’s a solid game plan. Also, get there closer to 9AM than 1PM if you want the best selection. Things like baked goods and specialty produce move FAST.
Good to Know
- 📍 8061 Main Street, Ellicott City, MD 21043 (Tiber Park, across from the B&O Railroad Museum)
- Saturdays 9AM-1PM, May 23 through October 24, 2026
- Free admission, no ticket needed
- Parking: Parking Lot B on Main Street is currently closed through mid-2027 for flood-control construction. Use Maryland Avenue street parking (now unrestricted) or Lots A, C, D, E, F. All public lots in Historic Ellicott City are free.
- Vendor lineup can vary week to week; check the Ellicott City Partnership site or their social media before you go for current vendor info
- The market also has a bonus Thanksgiving market on November 21, 2026
Is the OEC Farmers Market Worth the Trip?
If you’re in Howard County, 100% yes. And if you’ve never explored Old Ellicott City, this is a perfect reason to finally go. The market itself is free, the vibe on Main Street on a Saturday morning is its own thing, and the vendors are legitimately good. You can pair it with a bite to eat nearby before or after and make a whole morning out of it. Historic Ellicott City has a lot more going on than people realize, including some great local shops and restaurants, and it all makes for a really solid Saturday.
Have you guys been to the OEC Farmers Market before? Drop a comment below and let me know your favorite vendors. And if you’ve got a friend who’d love this, send it their way.