Dole Mansion Farmers Market Partners version from Illinois Agricultural Assoc. on Vimeo.

A Civil War-era mansion built by a Chicago grain merchant now hosts a weekly farmers market.

The Farmers Market+ at The Dole in Crystal Lake offers fresh local fruits, vegetables, flowers and delicacies as well as live music, children’s activities, food trucks and more on Sundays from the end of May through October. An indoor season runs November through the end of April.

Charles Dole bought the property in 1860 and completed the mansion in 1865. Dole established one of the first grain elevators in the nation’s third-largest city almost 200 years ago. A grain elevator dries and stores crops such as soybeans, corn and wheat.

Flower booth at the Farmers Market+ at The Dole
The Farmers Market+ at The Dole brings a range of vendors offering local fruits, vegetables, flowers and more. Photo credit: Mike Orso

With a strong agriculture-related heritage and spanning 12 acres, The Dole property became the perfect place to incorporate a modern-day farmers market, so journey over to enjoy a Sunday afternoon at The Dole. To learn more and listen to a Partners Podcast about The Dole, visit ilfbpartners.com/thedole.

See more: Search for Local Food, Farm Fun and More With MarketMaker 

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