Perennial June events kickoff summer fun – Home and Garden Tour, Farmers Market return this month

by Maddy Holman

Summertime in Hudson means a flurry of outdoor events for community members of all ages to enjoy. Along with the always anticipated Ice Cream Social (see story on page 2), two June favorites that kick off the fun are the Hudson Garden Club’s Home and Garden Tour and the Farmers Market.

Home and Garden Tour

The Hudson Garden Club’s 76th annual Home and Garden Tour will take place on Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22. Tour ticket holders can explore a collection of beautiful local homes, stunning gardens and unique outdoor living spaces, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., with a special preview party on the evening of Thursday, June 20. Guests attending the preview are invited to a cocktail party following their tour of the homes.

This year, the tour will feature four homes, some including a tour of gardens or grounds, and three garden-only properties, according to Carla Maurer, a co-char of the event. Proceeds from the tour are used to award scholarships for students studying environmental disciplines or horticulture and to fund grants that support environmentally focused projects around the city. The club also uses the proceeds to plant trees, purchase books for the Hudson Library, support the Christmas Tree Lighting on the green and give to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Maurer said.

Presale tickets to the tour are available online at hudsonhomeandgardentour.org, and in-person sales begin sales on June 1, at HOUSE at Hudson, a boutique in the Evaporator Works complex. Presale purchases are encouraged and come at a discounted price through June 19. Same day ticket purchases are also available at East Woods Intermediate on Hayden Parkway.

Community members can also purchase plants and garden items at East Woods during tour hours on Friday and Saturday at its garden shop. The beloved tea room can be found in the same location, open from 1-4 p.m.

Farmer’s Market

The Farmers Market, an outgrowth of the Leadership Hudson class of 2008, is welcoming new vendors to the scene of one of Hudson’s most cherished yearly traditions. Manager J. Hudson looks forward to ushering in Raber Organics, certified organic Amish farmers, and Kres Kitchen, a group which makes sauerkraut using local, in-season produce. Also neighboring the returning Wren Box Farm, a small, family-owned vendor selling fresh produce, will be the new First Tap Ice Cream, a treat that is as unique as it is delicious. First Tap uses maple syrup to sweeten its ice cream.

Hudson said Ash Creek Farm, selling produce and sourdough bread, will return this season. Coffee lovers can look forward to fresh sips from Porchlight Coffee, and garlic enthusiasts will be excited to welcome back Thaxton Organic Garlic as a rotating vendor on select Saturdays during the summer. The Pierogi Lady, one of the market’s most popular sellers, will also make a reappearance.

The Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 1- Oct. 5. The Mini Makers Market, where artists between the ages of 5-15 can sell their work, will kick off on June 15, with more dates to follow.

Hudson notes that the market has always made a point to recognize and celebrate young entrepreneurs. Lang’s Classics is one such example. This pickle vendor was started by a young entrepreneur at age 19 and returns in 2024 for a third consecutive year. Furthering its dedication to entrepreneurship, the market supports The Young Entrepreneurs Institute, a nonprofit from Cleveland which collaborates with young entrepreneurs through education and opportunities.

He said over 40 tents with various edibles and wares can be expected on the Clock Tower and Gazebo greens each week. Hudson encourages residents to purchase the market’s award-winning poster to support its continuation.

For more information on the Farmers Market and the Home and Garden Tour, visit hudsonfarmersmarket.org and
hudsonhomeandgardentour.org. ∞

Photo: This stunning the outdoor living space is one of the stops on the 2024 Hudson Home and Garden Tour. Photo submitted.