By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – There are just a number of days left until the month of June and with that comes an exciting time in Helena where Saturdays are filled with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, performers, chef demonstrations and more at the annual Helena Market Days.

This year marks a special time for Helena Market Days as Saturday, June 1, will kick off the 10-year anniversary of the market. The market will run from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday morning through the summer with each weekend offering something new.

The kick off on June 1 will feature OTM music students performing and Chris Hastings will be the featured chef offering demonstrations.

The farmers and vendors at the Helena Amphitheater on June 1 and most other weekends will include the following:

–C & J Farms offering peaches, plums, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, peas, corn, greens, potatoes, squash, onions, collards, cabbage, okra, cucumbers, green beans and broccoli.

–George Family Farm offering grass-fed, hormone-free beef, lamb, pork and chicken.

–Cheyenne Farms offering baked goods, boiled and roasted peanuts, lemonade, tea, fresh eggs, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, okra, zucchini, watermelons and cantaloupe.

–Mori Farms offering tomatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers, onions, pickles and pepper jelly.

–Medders Family Farm offering homemade peanut butter/sunflower seed butter.

–Wilkes Microgreens offering radish, pea, broccoli and lettuce.

–Aldrich Farm offering blueberries.

–Talleys Fruit Farm offering nectarines, peaches, apples and blackberries.

–Skull Girl Soaps offering handmade scented soaps, bath items and candles.

–Brady’s Natural offering homemade pickles, seasonal jams, pepper jellies and seasoning blends.

–KC’s Fresh Seafood offering Gulf of Mexico fresh fish and shrimp.

–BB’s Bread offering homemade sourdough bread with a variety of flavors.

–The Petal Cart offering mason jar fresh flower arrangements and home decor.

–Fat Susan’s offering homemade cookies and pastries.

–Austin Beard offering barbecue sauce.

–Bee Creek Farm offering local honey and whipped flavored honey based out of Vincent.

The following is a schedule for Helena Market Days as of May 15 that includes performers, chefs, the event/theme and non-profits. The schedule is subject to change.

–June 1: OTM music students will perform and Chris Hastings will be the featured chef.

–June 9: Kat Fowler will perform, Matthew Guy Lagace will be the featured chef and the non-profit will be Alabama Partners for Clean Air.

–June 15: The second annual black and blueberry festival with Rick Carter performing, Clifton Holt will be the featured chef and the non-profit will be Two by Two Animal Rescue. The event will also feature a petting zoo, pony rides and a bounce house slide combo.

–June 22: Katie Slagle will perform, the featured chef is to be determined and the non-profit will be Kitty Kat Rescue.

–June 29: Steve Norris will perform, Matthew Norman will be the featured chef and the non-profit will be YMCA of Pelham.

–July 6: Peaches and ice cream day with Kat Fowler performing, featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–July 13: The Barbecue Cookoff contest will be held with Thomas Trussell performing, the featured chef will be determined and the non-profit will be the Helena Miracle League.

–July 20: The Intermission Band will perform and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–July 27: Grilled Corn Day with Joe Cagle performing and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–Aug. 3: Watermelon Day with James Quakenbush performing and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–Aug. 10: Tomato Sandwich Day with Katie Slagle performing and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–Aug. 17: BLT Day with Jarod Hill performing and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

–Aug. 24: Tractor Day with Kat Fowler performing, the featured chef is to be determined and the non-profit is the Helena library.

–Aug. 31: A car show with OTM music students performing and the featured chef and the non-profit are to be determined.

Helena Market Days exists as a venue for local farmers and producers to sell directly to residents of Helena and its neighboring cities. Scot Newman is the market manager and can be reached directly at 313-377-9078 or by email at Helenamarketday@gmail.com.

For more information on Helena Market Days including a farmer’s list, weekly scheduled events and links to chef recipes, visit Facebook.com/The.Helena.Market.Days/. The Helena Amphitheater is located at 4151 Helena Road.