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Takeaway: Saturdays in Sax has a bit of everything—live music, fresh food, local wine, plants, and even a giant slip-and-slide for the kids (sorry, adults!) Not really a farmer’s market, it’s more like a weekly music festival with food, and it is completely delightful.
“No man that will be content within the Bounds of Reason, can have any reason to dislike it.” Back in 1701, John Lawson wrote this about the area around Saxpahaw and it still holds true today. The village of Saxpahaw is less than an hour drive from the Triad (a bit longer for you in W-S) and just a 20 minute jaunt from Chapel Hill.
At the center of the community stands the old textile mill and dye house, part of it transformed into apartments and the other part into the Haw River Ballroom, the Eddy Pub & Grill, Haw River Farmhouse Ales, and the Left Bank Butchery. You really should read more about its history: the native Catawba people(!) and quakers and freeing slaves(!)
The free live music show from 6-8pm on Saturdays fills the shady hillside in the middle of the village from May through end of August, but in addition to the music, you can also pick up a few fresh items to add to your picnic or take home as a treat. When we visited in mid-June 2015, the only thing missing was the candlestick maker, as the local baker, the Village Bakehouse, the local butcher, Left Bank Butchery, were both on site.
The market is light on veggies, but definitely heavy on fun! Nearby Benjamin Vineyards and Winery were onsite, selling their wines by the bottle and ice-cold sangria.
I highly recommend a visit–checkout the music schedule and take a wander around town. Don’t forget your ice chest for taking home finds from the General Store, the butchery and the market.
P.S. You should really just make a day of it; go paddling before the evening festivities with Haw River Canoe and Kayak, grab a cold one on the patio of the brewery, then head to the park to grab a bite and watch the show. You can thank me by bringing back some liverwurst from the butcher!
Where to find them:
Saxpahaw, NC
May through August, market 5-8pm and music 6-8pm
Website: http://www.rivermillvillage.com/saturdays-in-saxapahaw-2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SXPHW/40474061573
Pineapples on Trees 