By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–A popular mainstay attraction at the Helena Amphitheater during the summer months will return in 2017 with lots of offerings every Saturday morning.

A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, performers, chef demonstrations and more will fill the Helena Amphitheater beginning Saturday, June 3, as Helena Market Days returns for the duration of the summer.

Helena Market Days will kick off June 3, from 8 a.m. to noon and will run every Saturday morning in the summer through Aug. 26. A special barbecue cook off contest will be held on July 15.

In addition to vendors, Helena Market Days organizer Scot Newman said there will be plenty of entertainment for the June 3, kickoff that includes a kids zone with inflatables and face painting, breakfast offered by The Rolling Scones Bakery and coffee by Soel, Rooski’s Food Truck and new and returning vendors and artisans.

New to Helena Market Days is Downtown Farms, a small farm that specializes in pastured pork, poultry broilers and free range eggs, according to Newman.

Other local farmers and artisans at Helena Market Days will include Evan Farms, Boozer Farms, Vincent Gardens, Brady’s Naturals, BB Breads, Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes, Frios, Skull Girl Soaps, JnS Treasured Creations, Smoked, The Birminghammer, On-Site Sharpening and more.

The following is a schedule for Helena Market Days that includes performers, chefs and non-profits. The schedule is subject to change.

–June 3:Thomas Trussell performing, Chef Chris Hastings and non-profit Life South Mobile.

–June 10: Leah Rose performing, Chef Chris Vizzina and non-profit YMCA Pelham.

–June 17: Intermission performing, Chef Walter Caron and non-profit Two-By-Two Rescue.

–June 24: Cody-Lee performing, Farm to Table with Brian Puckett and non-profit Decoding Dyslexia.

–July 1: Jim Quakenbush performing, peaches and ice cream day and non-profit Life South Mobile.

–July 8: Baily Ingle performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Helena Miracle League.

–July 15: BBQ Cook off

–July 22: StickandStrum performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Alabama Partners for Clean Air.

–July 29: Intermission performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Jehovah’s Witness of Helena.

–Aug. 5: Katie Searcy performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Life South Mobile.

–Aug. 12: Alicia Sherer performing, tomato sandwich day and non-profit Helena Miracle League.

–Aug. 19: Jim Quakenbush performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Helena Library.

–Aug. 26: Intermission performing, chef to be determined and non-profit Hatching Hope.

For more information on Helena Market Days including a farmer’s list, weekly scheduled events and links to chef recipes, visit Helenamarketdays.com.