By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The start of event season in Berlin is here, as the town prepares for two of its springtime staples this weekend.

Sunday, May 2, marks the Berlin Farmers Market’s first day back after the winter-long hiatus. The weekly market crowds downtown Berlin each Sunday from May through October, as vendors sell and display produce, baked goods, seafood, meat, and more.

According to the Town of Berlin’s website, the weekly event yields over 50 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood sellers, and meat vendors. Available products include peaches and blueberries from Bennett Orchards, honey from BayBees Farm, flowers from Assateague Farm, locally grown produce from Bratten Farm, Cross Farms, and Splendid Earth Acres Farm, in season fruit and mushroom logs from Goat Plum Tree Farm, locally grown mushrooms from The Bay Mushrooms Farm, beeswax products from 6 Kings Farm, goat milk items and hand-made wool products from Marshall Creek Farm, and items from Berlin Bison Ranch, Carniola Farm, Elf Enchanted Garden, Foxhound Farm, Dream Catcher Homestead, Reinke Lavender Farm, Sacred Sowings Collective, and Quinton’s Quality Products at Truitt Farm.

This season, the beloved Berlin Farmers Market will also feature locally made mead from the Buzz Meadery, Mandala Pies, teas from Little Green Witch Apothecary, Cast 26 Coffee Roasters, Baked Dessert Café, soy candles from Honey Water Candles, Mother Flowers, the Street Kicthen’s food truck, the Berlin Beer Company, the Berlin Cafe / Berlin Macaron Co., the Bleached Butterfly, Beached Begonias, Burley Oak Brewery, Boulangerie Gluten Free Bakery at The Inn Berlin, Forgotten 50 Distilling, Mary Fiore Photography, Skilligalee Seafood, and 2nd Wave Coffee, among others.

The Berlin Farmers Market begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m., rain or shine, each Sunday until autumn. The event includes a petting farm from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and live music funded by a Worcester County Arts Council grant.

“I am very excited, and so is my household, about this coming weekend because it’s farmers market weekend,” Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols said at the April 28 Berlin Mayor and Council Meeting. “…We are looking forward to the new editions.”

Berlin’s annual Jazz, Blues, Wine and Brews event, sponsored by the chamber of commerce, is also back this weekend, kicking off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3.

The lineup will feature the Baione Quartet from 10:30 a.m. to noon, The Tribe Band from noon to 1:30 p.m., The Boneshakers from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Swamp Dog from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Stephen Harvey Octet from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Local beer, wine, mead, and spirits will also be available. Alcohol sales will end at 5 p.m. The event is free to attend. Outside coolers are prohibited, and pets are welcome but must be leashed.