The Federal Way Farmers Market will open near its original location for the 2012 season.

The market has been somewhat nomadic the past couple of years. After spending its first seven seasons at The Commons Mall parking lot, the market relocated last year to the former AMC Theatres site on 20th Avenue South. However, the vacant parking lot at that location is being prepped for a future mixed-use development.

According to organizers, the market will open May 12 at the mall’s southwest corner, near South 324th Street and Pacific Highway South (behind Sears). More than 70 vendors typically set up shop at the market, which runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through October. Vendors offer everything from fresh flowers and locally-grown produce to gardening information and snacks.

“We’re just happy to be back at the mall,” said Karla Kolibab, co-founder of the farmers market. “The downtown core is where we want to be.”

Organizers hope the location is mutually beneficial to both the market and mall’s businesses.

“We think we help keep people in Federal Way to shop here instead of going north or south,” said market co-founder Rose Ehl.

Organizers may bring back a mid-week evening farmers market this summer. The market’s signature event, a charity chili cook-off between Federal Way police and South King Fire and Rescue, is tentatively slated for Sept. 29.

Buds and Blooms 2012

The Federal Way Farmers Market will participate in this year’s Buds and Blooms Spring Garden Tour. The tour takes visitors around Federal Way’s premier garden sites, including the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, PowellsWood Garden and private gardens picked by the Federal Way Symphony.

Buds and Blooms will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13. On Mother’s Day, the market will also host a pancake breakfast, raffles, live entertainment and more.

For information on Buds and Blooms, visit www.budsandbloomstour.org (website available soon).

Learn more about the market

Vendors interested in participating at the Federal Way Farmers Market are encouraged to contact Karla Kolibab at federalwayfarmersmarket@yahoo.com or (253) 261-8157. To learn more about the market, visit federalwayfarmersmarket.com.