There may be no better way to:
- Shop local,
- meet local folks, including those who grow or produce what you eat,
- fill your Isle of Palms beach rental home with delicious, healthy, fresh food,
- have a terrific time while doing it...
… than by visiting farmer’s markets!
The Lowcountry is blessed with some terrific options, including one that’s been named to the top ten list of best farmer’s markets in the country.
Some other pluses - they’re all an easy drive from your Isle of Palms beach house. They’re all family-friendly. And they’re pet friendly, too - like many of our IOP vacation rentals.
I’ll cover some of the best options in a minute.
First up, here’s a handy link to know what’s growing now.
What’s in season?
South Carolina produces an abundance of incredible fruits, vegetables, meat products, dairy, herbs, flowers, plants, trees - you name it. A combination of long, warm growing seasons, good rainfall and humidity, and generations of farming know-how all make this a treasure of a state to buy fresh.
There’s a great resource called Certified South Carolina that tracks what’s fresh, when. They’ve put together a fun & useful website that tells you exactly that. It’s a rich resource and great for sparking a creative shopping/meal planning list.
Just pick your month. You can choose among these categories:
- Produce
- Specialty foods
- Eggs & dairy
- Fish
- Livestock
- Animal agriculture
- Crops & forestry
- Ornamental horticulture
Right now, in May, they’re showing 100 products that are in season. Check out their What’s in Season tracker.
Now, here are the local markets, by area:
Downtown Charleston
The Charleston Farmer’s Market in Marion Square’s a classic option. It takes place each Saturday in lovely Marion Square, bordered by famous Charlestonian streets of Meeting, King and Calhoun.
And yes, it was the one selected one of the ten best on the country.
Here are the deets:
- Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
- April 4th – November 21st, 2026 (note: closed July 4th and November 28th).
- There will be an extra market on Sunday, May 31st during Spoleto.
- Holiday markets on certain Saturdays and Sundays in December - Dec. 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th & 19th.
- Location: Marion Square, 329 Meeting Street in Charleston.
The Charleston City Market – while not technically a farmer’s market, is definitely worth a stop while you’re downtown. It’s called “The Cultural Heart of Charleston since 1807.” Located between on Market Street between Meeting and East Bay, it’s where you can find sweetgrass baskets, Lowcountry specialty foods, artisanal products and great gifts to take home from your stay. The Charleston City Market is open daily from 9:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
They also run a special Night Market on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., featuring the works of over 200 artists, artisans and craftspeople, plus live music. It’s actually become the largest art market in the Southeast, and stretches between Church and East Bay Streets. If you’re downtown for dinner, it’s a fun vibe and the perfect place to stroll through before heading back to your rental home on Isle of Palms.
Mount Pleasant
The Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market is a local favorite, with plenty of delicious produce, ready-made meals for dinner, artisanal products, fresh seafood, live music, food to eat on site, and more.
It’s located on Coleman Boulevard; just head over to Sullivan’s Island, then cross the Ben Sawyer Bridge into Mount Pleasant. It'll be on your left.
- Every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. from April through September.
- Located in the special, shaded market pavilion next to Moultrie Middle School;
- Address: 645 Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. Free parking next to the pavilion or in the shopping center across Coleman Boulevard.
- Read more here.
Willie’s Roadside Market is also a great option open six days a week. You access the cool timber-framed market made of cypress wood from Highway 17 North, just over the IOP Connector from your IOP beach house. It’s run by the fine folks at Boone Hall Plantation, which happens to be a thriving working farm as well as one of the area’s most popular sites to visit. Depending on the season, they offer U-pick options for things like strawberries and sunflowers. Check out the Palmetto Tide Shrimp stand for some of the best fresh seafood around. Recently they've added Salthouse Catering's popular grab-n-go faves like pimento cheese and curry chicken salad, plus take-and-bake meals, frozen soups and fresh-made baked goods.
- Willie’s Roadside Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am till 5:00 p.m.
- Located at 2434 Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant.
- Check the chalkboard out front for daily specials.
- Call the Boone Hall Farms’ Information Line at (843) 856-5366, check out their updated Facebook page or their website for pics of what’s fresh.
The Isle of Palms
The Isle of Palms has its very own farmer’s market, so you don’t even have to leave the island.
The Isle of Palms Farmer’s Market runs on the third Thursday each month from June through October.
- The 2026 season is set to kick off on June 18th, with markets happening the third Thursday of the month during the warm season. So additional dates will be July 16th, August 20th, September 17th and October 15th.
- Hours are 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m.
- Located under the tents outside the IOP Rec Center at 24 28th Avenue, right smack dab in the middle of the Isle.
- Vendors, food trucks, live music and a fun island vibe.
- Plenty of free parking onsite.
Farmer’s market season is prime time for great produce AND Isle of Palms vacation rentals.
We do have some availability in our Charleston beach homes, but it’s limited. Please contact us at EP as soon as you can, so we can help you pick the perfect one.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger