The dormancy of darkness is falling on the fields with the close of the Port Townsend Farmers Market close at hand.

However, a festive last market will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 outside on Tyler Street and inside the Port Townsend Community Center.

To mark the close of the 30th season of the Port Townsend Farmers Market, the season-long offerings of farm-fresh and artisan food as well as handmade arts will be enhanced by several returning vendors.

There will also be an extensive live music lineup of local favorites Jonathan Doyle, the Wild Rose Chorale, and Aimée Ringle with Alexa Rose and friends to bring extra cheer.

And Storytime, from 11 to 11:30 a.m., offered by the Port Townsend Public Library, will bring fun and joy to children of all ages.

After two challenging years of operations, the 30th season has been one of recovery.

More than 80 Jefferson and Clallam county farms and artisan food and arts businesses participated in the two Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) with vendor sales exceeding $1.5 million. The amount broke past records for the markets.

“We celebrate this success and are so grateful for the community support that made it possible,” Market Director  Amanda Milholland said in a press release.

And Milholland had yet another success to share.

She also announced the markets were awarded a three-year U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program grant.

“With this support, we will achieve some of our key growth goals starting this winter,” Milholland said.

The grant will support a part-time marketing coordinator position to increase promotion efforts and better share the stories of vendor businesses. The funds will also support the development of local farms through training and technical assistance offered by grant partner the North Olympic Development Council.

The board contracted with Mark Bowman, the group’s sustainable agricultural coordinator, to offer one-on-one support to farm vendors and farmers who are working to grow their business.

“Farmer training can include anything from creating a land lease agreement to identifying product pricing that covers the cost of production,” Milholland noted.

In addition to the farmer training, JCFM is offering a third season of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Start-Up Business Fund.

This community-funded small grant provides new BIPOC-owned market businesses with $500 to $1,500 during the first season of operation to cover some of the costs associated with getting started.

Visit the JCFM website for more information at jcfmarkets.org/bipoc-start-up-business-fund.

To learn more about ways to support JCFM or to apply to participate in the market, visit the JCFM website.

Vendor applications will be available by the end of December at jcfmarkets.org/apply-jcfm. Applications for the Port Townsend Farmers Market are due Feb. 1 and Chimacum Farmers Market applications are due March 1.