The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announces the return of its signature Chicago Farmers Markets and the historic Maxwell Street for the 2026 season. Running May through October, these programs will once again activate neighborhoods across the city with fresh produce, local vendors, live entertainment and cultural programming that reflect Chicago’s diversity and community spirit. Chicago’s longest-running farmers market at Daley Plaza, now in its 48th year, opens Thursday, May 21, and operates weekly from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 22. Maxwell Street, one of Chicago’s oldest open-air markets, returns for its 114th year with six market days on select Sundays: May 17, June 7, July 19, Aug. 9, Sept. 13 and Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located on Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave., the market continues its legacy as a hub for commerce, culture and community, offering an eclectic mix of vintage goods, handmade crafts, clothing, housewares and a wide variety of food. For more information, visit www.chicago.gov/DCASE

Photo Credit: Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events