New Weekly Farmers Market Comes to Buellton’s Avenue of Flags

The Buellton City Council on February 26, 2026, approved a license agreement to operate a weekly farmers market on the Avenue of Flags, designed to promote community engagement and local commerce. 

According to the agreement with private operator Brenda Browning, the weekly market will utilize medians 2 and 3. Median 2, the parking lot, will feature vendor booths, while the northern section of median 3 will house food trucks, live music, and family-friendly activities.

Median 3 will also feature vendors selling fresh produce and gourmet dog food and treats. 

On market days, median 2 and the cross street connecting medians 2 and 3 will be closed to vehicular traffic from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

The market will run every Monday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with an option to extend to 7 p.m. during the summer months of March to October. The permit allows for potential year-round operation in the future. 

A nominal yearly license fee of $1 will be charged to encourage the operator to handle the logistics that the city found challenging.

The agreement is valid for five years and will end in December 2030. 

While customers can buy dog treats, dogs are strictly prohibited at the farmers’ market due to Health Department norms. Large signage will be posted to inform visitors of the rule.

For restroom access, the market’s operator has made arrangements with nearby businesses, including the 76 station, a local plumbing business, and Oliveras, to allow customers to use their facilities. 

The city will conduct a formal review after the event’s first year to address any proposed modifications. During the review, the city staff will assess the market’s operations and, if required, will refer the project back to the Planning Commission. 

First Event

The first event is scheduled for March 16, 2026. Live music is planned for the inaugural event, with local bands like ‘Out of the Blue,’ set to perform that day. 

The market has already reached its maximum capacity for vendors, the operator told the City Council. 

Expressing enthusiasm for the launch, the City Council and the market operator noted that they had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community ahead of the event. 

Parking Accommodations

To ensure sufficient parking for businesses along the Avenue of Flags, the council discussed several strategies.

There are roughly 150 parking spaces along the Avenue of Flags, excluding the median 2 parking lot, which is expected to accommodate both market guests and customers of the existing shops, the planning director noted. 

The City Manager suggested that the city will consider discussing with the local businesses about reserving one or two parking spaces directly in front of their establishments specifically for their customers. 

Unlike major events, like the Fall Fest, the city will not close the main roads. Only median 2 and the cross street between medians 2 and 3 will be closed, helping to maintain the accessibility and predictability for the area.