There is a special kind of Saturday that starts with a canvas tote bag, a paper cup of coffee, and a plan to buy way more produce than you actually need. Wisconsin does farmers markets right, and the best ones fill up fast, so sleeping in usually means missing the good stuff.
Across the state you will find markets set beside Lake Michigan, wrapped around the State Capitol, and tucked into small downtowns full of flowers and fresh vegetables. Each one has its own personality, from massive and buzzing to small and easy to breeze through.
Here are five Wisconsin markets that make the early alarm feel completely worth it.
1. Dane County Farmers’ Market, Madison, WI
Very few markets in the country can say they wrap all the way around a State Capitol, but this one does exactly that on the Capitol Square in downtown Madison. It is often called one of the largest producer-only markets in the country, and once you see the crowds you understand why…