The Federal Way Farmers Market opens for the 2025 season with new owners this weekend.

The city has officially taken over ownership from founder Rose Ehl and will open for the first time this season at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Commons at Federal Way parking lot’s south entrance.

Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m., and the day will feature Mother’s Day festivities, fresh flowers, photo booth, face painting, treats, kids activities and more.

The city announced the transfer of power at a special city council meeting on Jan. 7.

Founded by Rose Ehl, the farmers market has been a community staple on Saturdays through the summer for the past 21 years, as the Mirror previously reported.

When Ehl began to explore retiring from the market, she and the city both wanted the legacy to continue. The Ehl family worked with Mayor Jim Ferrell and policy advisor Bill Vadino to come to an arrangement.

Rose Ehl’s daughter, Karla Kolibab, has been an essential part of the Federal Way Farmers Market operation for years. Now that the market is owned by the city, she will continue to support the market through managing vendor relationships, this time as a seasonal part-time city employee.

Local resident Vickie Chynoweth has also been hired by the city to support the transition.

“This is really the inaugural handover to the city,” Ferrell said at the council meeting on May 6. “There’s been a passing of the baton and it’s been going absolutely fantastic.”

Ferrell also made sure to share a big thank you to Bill Vadino, whom he said has “done so much to help facilitate this.”

Shelley Pauls is one of several volunteers serving to support the market and told the Mirror some of her favorite things about it.

“There are some really great programs for people to make it more affordable,” she said. Some of these include programs that stretch EBT (food stamp) dollars and others that provide free produce to youth and seniors.

Supporting the market is truly an unmatched way to directly support people in the community. “The whole heart of ‘support local’ is at the market,” Pauls said.

She highlighted the success stories of several vendors who began at the market and went on to launch brick and mortar locations, along with those who use the market to supplement a lower income.

“Some of these vendors, like, it’s really actually a lifeline for them,” Pauls said.

From vendors to customers of the market, Pauls said it is a great place to celebrate the diversity of the city.

“The market is truly a gathering point. You see a lot of friends and families…it shows our community,” she said. “When you sit there, you see the beautiful diversity of our city and in the vendors and the variety of products and the people and the shoppers.”

Market offerings also represent a wide variety of products and activities for the community depending on the week. Some events include gardening days, public safety days, the Federal Way’s Got Talent competition, pet day and more.

While this year’s Farmer’s Market will continue in the same place in the south parking lot of The Commons at Federal Way, Ferrell said the city is looking at moving it next year.

The location under consideration is the street that separates Town Square Park and the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to bring the farmers market truly into the downtown,” Ferrell said.

The community enjoyed a sunny Federal Way Farmers Market on Saturday, July 27. Photo by Bruce Honda.

Federal Way Farmers Market on June 29. Photo by Bruce Honda.

Barbecue and hot sauce were one of the many delicious items for sale at the Federal Way Farmers Market on Saturday, June 29. Photo by Bruce Honda.

Founder of the Federal Way Farmers Market Rose Ehl, Karla Kolibab, who will stay on managing vendor relationships for this year, and Vickie Chynoweth, who runs Federal Way’s Got Talent. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror.