Boston's JJ Maguire, 4, Ariel Maguire, 6, and their mom, Kasha Grabowski, wear funky hats while enjoying treats from Jeremiah's Italian Ice at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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As Lakewood Ranch's Mitchell Miller passes by market goers with his German shepherd, Jager, by his side, he doesn't hesitate to give out compliments.
"Beautiful dress!" he said to one woman. "Beautiful tattoos!" he said to another.
Every week, Miller attends the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch, which is held at Waterside Place each Sunday.
"There's lots of great people, awesome vendors and beautiful weather," Miller said. "It’s the one place I look forward to going with my dog every week.”
Despite a temperature that soared into the high 90s, the farmers' market still attracted a large crowd of both humans and dogs July 12. A sign was placed on one end of the market to remind dog owners how hot the pavement can be on dogs' paws.
For Lakewood Ranch's Marlena Bontrager, the hot pavement was no obstacle. Her dogs, Sulley, Munchkin and Tito, each wore their own dog shoes. Due to his age, her dog, Toby, rode in a stroller and was on the pavement without shoes for only a few moments.
Bontrager has just recently moved to Lakewood Ranch and has attended the market six times. She searched for coffee, plants, dog items and jewelry. She was not disappointed.
"The vendors were happy to share the shade with the boys when we stopped for water breaks," Bontrager said. "It was a very laid back and friendly experience."
Lakewood Ranch's Mitchell Miller attends the market with his 4-year-old dog, Jager, every week for socializing.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Marlena Bontrager brings her four dogs — Sulley, Munchkin, Toby and Tito — to the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch. Three of them wore booties to protect their feet from heat.
Photo by Madison Bierl
A sign at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch warns dog owners to be mindful of how hot the pavement gets in hot weather.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Brittany Snyder, the market manager of Southwest FL Produce, hands out free samples of pink pineapple at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Carmen Forte, who plays eclectic acoustic covers from the 1970s-2000s, performs "The Middle" by the band Jimmy Eat World at Waterside Place during the market.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Palmer Ranch's Steve Mock and Marygrace Fot are excited to go home with octopus and seahorse art pieces from 10th Avenue West, made out of tin roofing.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Luna Ahumada and Jordan Ventresca show off flowers from Posies at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bryce Toporowski of Camelot Breads keeps market goers informed of how the breads were made while also celebrating the nation's 250th birthday.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Dilek Koc, the owner of Myrattan Studio, demonstrates how to make a basket at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Madison Bierl
The Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch, which hosts 100+ vendors selling food, handmade gifts and more, is held at Waterside Place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Myrattan Studio sells a variety of handmade decorations made of rattan at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
