Autumn farmers’ markets in the Peninsula and South Bay: check moves and closures first
Practical shopping pointers for San Mateo, San Carlos, Mountain View and Campbell
Want some company?Start an outing with this article’s coverOriginal autumn community illustration, not a depiction of the listed events, venue locations or actual weather.
Treat markets as practical weekly food stops: a Thursday evening in San Mateo or a South Bay Sunday morning, with confirmed October closures and a November relocation. Check purchases, parking, benefit rules and workshops separately before leaving.
Shop where you will already be, instead of chasing four cities
For a first visit, list ingredients for two meals and one fruit or vegetable to try. Bring bags and a cooler bag for perishables. Compare quantity, ripeness and total price, and ask whether pricing is by weight or container. Budget food-truck meals separately from groceries to take home; an admission-free visit can still involve substantial purchases.
Four market directions and their exceptions
- San Mateo: the officially listed November 5 session runs Thursday, 3–7 p.m., in the former Draeger’s lot at 222 East 4th Avenue, with produce and food trucks. It is different from the Saturday CSM campus market.
- Mountain View: normally Sunday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., at the Caltrain lot, 600 West Evelyn Avenue. November 8 moves to lots 4 and 8 at 190 Hope Street.
- Campbell: normally Sunday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., on East Campbell Avenue between Central Avenue and 3rd Street. It closes October 18, 2026 for Oktoberfest; festival stalls are not the usual farmers’ market operating as normal.
- San Carlos: the operator lists a year-round Sunday market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., but closes October 11, 2026 for the Art & Wine Faire. Recheck the exact street location and day’s notices.
Original AI neighborhood dining illustration, not the featured business's interior or actual menu.
On relocation days, separate the destination from parking
The November 8 Mountain View move frees the Caltrain lot for a 49ers home game. Market stalls occupying Hope Street parking areas do not make those spaces available to shoppers’ cars. Choose legal parking separately and check time limits, fees and closures. Transit passengers should save the dated market address and plan the walk instead of waiting at the usual entrance.
Ask the information booth about food benefits
Campbell’s operator lists EBT and WIC acceptance and an EBT fruit-and-vegetable match of up to $15. Ask the market information booth about payment, redemption and eligible purchases. It is not a cash gift for every visitor or a benefit for every hot-food stall. Rules differ between markets and programs, so do not apply one location’s limit everywhere.
For edible gifts, consider a structured preserving class
The November 14 Gifts from the Kitchen class in San Carlos requires separate UC registration; it is not a market add-on. It runs 9 a.m.–noon at 1839 Arroyo Avenue and costs $115 per person after September 30. Check availability, age suitability and allergy information before paying. Do not budget from an old early-bird heading or confuse untested home recipes with the course’s preserving methods.
Check items off to organize your thoughts. Your selections reset when you leave this page.
Recheck temporary updates; year-round operations can still have exceptions.
Plan quantities, ask useful questions and bring food home safely.
Official resources and service links
Check the original sources for your circumstances. Admission prices, hours, rules, and services may change.
- Downtown San Mateo — November 5 Market(opens in a new tab)
Confirms the Thursday session, 3–7 p.m. and former Draeger’s lot.
- CFMA — Mountain View Farmers’ Market(opens in a new tab)
Checks Sunday hours, the usual Caltrain site and the November 8 relocation.
- UVFM — Campbell(opens in a new tab)
Checks Campbell’s Sunday location and food-benefit information.
- UVFM — San Carlos(opens in a new tab)
Checks the San Carlos Sunday market and Art & Wine Faire closure.
- UVFM — 2026 Market Calendar(opens in a new tab)
Confirms October 11 closure in San Carlos and October 18 in Campbell.
- UC Master Food Preservers — Gifts from the Kitchen(opens in a new tab)
Checks the November 14 preserving class and post-early-bird fee.
Reviewed October 5, 2026 against market operators, the downtown association and UC pages. Regular weekly operations are distinguished from dated relocations and closures. Vendor attendance is not guaranteed, and shopping, food benefits and admission are separate.
