A few years ago, the Athens Farmers Market and Athens Art Guild relocated to the Athens Community Center Campus. With input from vendors, customers, and the City, we have finalized plans for a Community Pavilion—a permanent, beautiful home for the Athens Farmers Market.

The pavilion will transform the market experience with heat, lighting, electrical connections, and a roof for rainy days. An enclosed section will allow a winter market in the same location, while green space and picnic tables will create a welcoming place to gather. Importantly, the pavilion will also be available for broader community use outside of market hours, serving as a year-round space for connection and events.

Our first goal is to build the foundation that will support the full project. This phased approach makes the pavilion achievable while ensuring a lasting home for the market.

We need your help to make this vision a reality. By donating, you invest in:

  • Access to healthy, local food

  • Support for farmers, food, and art businesses

  • Regional economic vitality

  • Farmland preservation across Southeastern Ohio

Thank you to the City of Athens for their support of this project! The City has committed $300,000 if we can raise the funds to start construction in 2026, is donating the land, and will take over management of the building once constructed.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made easily through our partner, the Athens County Foundation.  Please give today and help us break ground on a pavilion that will serve our community for generations to come.

For questions or to get involved: afmprojectmanager@gmail.com 

Here's what community members are saying:

“We have never been closer to getting the Market Pavilion underway. I’m all in with a $10,000 contribution and I hope my fellow localists can join me.” — Leslie Schaller, Director of Programs, ACEnet; first Harvest-level donor

“To me the Athens Farmers Market is the crown jewel of the Athens community. It's a weekly ritual where people come together to get great local food, see friends, and support the local economy. It's also a great tourism asset. This is the place where food entrepreneurs from the region can get their start and build connections. The pavilion project will give the AFM a big upgrade.”  - Chris Chmiel, Athens County Commissioner; owner, Integration Acres 

“As farmers, we don't just support the AFM, the AFM supports us. We make our living through the AFM. The AFM supports our family, our dreams, and our children's future.” - Sarah Tucker, owner, Tucker Family Farm