◆ AlbanyEco
← All things to do Street & Flea Markets · Downtown Albany

Capital Region Farmers Market at Empire State Plaza

Wednesday and Friday mornings the plaza fills with 40+ upstate farm stands — cider donuts, Adirondack cheese, and fresh trout from Hudson Valley growers.

Where
Downtown Albany
Time needed
1 hr visit
Tickets
Free
Free entry
Yes
Capital City Farmers Market vendors at Empire State Plaza Capital City Farmers Market vendors at Empire State Plaza

What to expect at Capital Region Farmers Market at Empire State Plaza

The Capital Region Farmers Market takes over Empire State Plaza every Wednesday and Friday from May through October, drawing 40 or more upstate farm stands into the central plaza between the four office towers. It's one of the largest state-office-lunch farmers markets in the country — the state workers pour out at 11:00, so vendors bring serious inventory. For visitors it's a good hour of grazing: apple cider donuts from Fix Bros orchard, Adirondack cheese from Nettle Meadow, smoked trout from Hudson Valley Fisheries, real maple syrup, jams, and cut flowers.

The layout runs along the reflecting pool with vendors on both sides, food-truck-style hot lunches (empanadas, wood-fired pizza, Vietnamese banh mi) at the north end, and prepared cheeses and baked goods in the middle. Cash is preferred but most vendors take cards. If you're on the Empire State Plaza self-tour anyway, timing your visit to a Wednesday or Friday morning is a genuinely good move — you get both the plaza architecture and a real slice of Albany life at once.

Runs strictly May through October at Empire State Plaza; the market shifts indoors and to smaller volumes over winter, but the plaza edition is the flagship. Best for lunch — most food stalls sell prepared plates $8-15 that beat downtown restaurant lunches. Free to browse, obviously; you pay for what you buy. In a shower the market moves to the covered concourse below the plaza.

Plan your visit TicketsFree Free entryYes Time needed1 hr visit WhereDowntown Albany Opening hours Wed and Fri 11:00-14:00 (May-Oct) Closed Nov-Apr at this location Hotels near Capital Region Farmers Market at Empire State Plaza

Questions about Capital Region Farmers Market at Empire State Plaza

Does the market cost anything?

Free to enter and browse. Individual items range $2-15 depending on the vendor.

Is it free to attend?

Yes, always free to browse. You pay only for what you purchase.

How long should I plan?

One hour is plenty. 90 minutes if you're eating lunch there.

When is it closed?

Only runs Wednesday and Friday 11:00-14:00, May through October. Closed the rest of the week and all winter.

Do I need to book?

No booking needed. Walk-in market.

How do I get there?

Held on the central plaza of Empire State Plaza. Multiple CDTA routes stop at the Plaza. Free weekend/evening plaza parking; weekday parking is street meters.

Where to stay

Hotels near Capital Region Farmers Market at Empire State Plaza

Live prices · free cancellation
Browse

Every hotel we cover in Downtown Albany

24 with a full page

More things to do

All things to do

From the journal

All posts