Midweek, midday farmers market proposal was scheduled for council work session discussion

What the records say

In materials published ahead of the Feb. 2, 2026 City Council work session, Parks Director Tara Mizell was scheduled to lead a discussion on shifting the Marysville Farmers Market to a midweek, midday format ¹. The proposal cites community feedback from residents who said they wanted to shop at the market during their lunch hour because they could not attend after work ¹. Staff also pointed to observed shopping patterns: customers regularly arrived around 1:00 pm even while vendors were still setting up, and attendance and vendor sales consistently dropped after 5:00 pm even when the market stayed open later ¹. The proposal describes a summer-season market timed to work for families, kids, seniors, and people who can take a short break during the workday ¹. The packet notes a possible tie-in with Kids Music in the Park at Comeford Park, plans for a coupon book involving market vendors and nearby local businesses, and a regional note that Lake Stevens is planning a later-day (3 pm to 7 pm) market model ¹. Staff also cited twelve farmers markets in Washington State currently operating successfully as midweek, midday markets ¹. This was a discussion item on the work session agenda; the available records do not establish the meeting's outcome or any decision to change the market's schedule ¹.

• Parks Director Tara Mizell was scheduled to present a farmers market discussion item at the Feb. 2, 2026 council work session.
• The proposal recommends a midweek, midday, summer-season market based on surveys and direct community conversations.
• Observed data showed customers arriving around 1:00 pm and sales consistently declining after 5:00 pm, including when a prior Friday market on 3rd Street stayed open until 7:00 pm.
• Plans include a coupon book for market vendors and nearby businesses and coordination with Kids Music in the Park at Comeford Park.
• Twelve Washington State farmers markets currently operate successfully as midweek, midday markets, per the staff presentation.

Why it matters

The market's day and time determine whether residents who work standard daytime hours can shop locally, and whether vendors can count on steady sales. The record shows staff concluded the strongest community interest is in a midweek, midday, summer-focused market, backed by observed sales declines after 5:00 pm and a stated model already working in twelve Washington markets ¹. Any change would also affect nearby businesses through a planned coupon-book cross-shopping program and coordination with Comeford Park programming ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The available records show no change has been made; the sole documented development is that a proposal for a midweek, midday format was scheduled for discussion ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome, and the agenda item summary contains no suggested action or draft schedule, so any actual change to market days and times remains undetermined ¹.