GALT, CA (MPG) - It’s that time of year again. 

The Galt Saturday Market Series makes its triumphant return from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, bringing an array of baked goods, delicious cuisines, retail options for the home, crafts, live entertainment and much more to the Fourth Street Promenade. 

It’s the fourth year for the event, which is held on the first Saturday of every month between March and November. Jackie Garcia, special events manager for the city of Galt, said each year it has continued to grow, with 2025 expected to be the biggest year yet. 

“I think that we have built this so it is not just a shopping experience,” Garcia said. “It is providing an experience for the whole family to enjoy and they feel like they don’t just have to come here and shop. There are plenty of activities for everyone.”

The event kicked off in 2020 as a Friday Night Market series, then in 2023 transitioned to the Saturday Market series, which led to significant growth in both vendor participation and attendance. 

When the series was on Friday, Garcia said, there were only 20 to 30 vendors. Now the event has ballooned to more than 125 vendors, with upwards of 1,500 people attending for each event, compared to around 200 people when the event was on Friday. 

Garcia said as the event continues to grow, vendors continue to flock to the market from further away, including as far out as Tracy. 

Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis said attendance has steadily increased as word of mouth spreads about the budding market series. 

“A lot of things we hear is that ‘oh, my cousin told me to come down so I’m visiting her, and they brought us out here, or I am visiting relatives out here and they wanted me to come to this,’” Solis said. “That is another way to get people from out of town down here. There is a lot of family connection.” 

With each event comes a different theme, with the first being St. Patrick’s Day. 

Garcia said kids will be able to participate in cabbage bowling, a shamrock walk, a photo backdrop donated by a local vendor, seasonal treats, a leprechaun scavenger hunt and listen to live music.

For the adults, Papas and Wings will also be providing green beer and other alcoholic drinks.

“That is the most important part,” Solis said. “It’s pretty good.” 

In April, the event will be themed around “Touch a Truck,” where kids will be able to experience different large trucks, including police vehicles, fire trucks, lawn mowers, tree trimming trucks and more. The event will include a safety expo, in collaboration with local law enforcement. 

“A ton of trucks will come out and the kids get to touch them and get in them,” Solis said. “And to me that is probably the most exciting part for the kids. Again, there is a different theme every month but that is probably the most exciting part for the kids.” 

May will be the “Shower Mom with Love” event, in preparation of Mother’s Day; June will be a 1950s theme and July will center around Independence Day. Themes for August, September and November are still being planned.

Both Solis and Garcia highlighted a few new additions to the event. 

Garcia said there will be a “nourish community” booth that will include monthly cooking demonstrations hosted by local restaurants and chefs. There will also be a “nourish kids” booth for kids to come out and learn about nutrition. Each child will receive a fruit, which is donated by the Galt Flea Market. Garden Partners will also be partnering with a local nonprofit to sell fruit at the booth.  

While vendor applications are pretty much locked in place for March, Garcia said there is still room for prospective participants to sign up for the following Saturday events by reaching out to the Parks and Recreation Department and filling out a vendor application. 

Solis said the market still has room to grow, and the hope is that eventually the event will stretch as far out as Seventh Street. 

“That is my hope,” Solis said. “To be so successful that we can expand to Seventh Street.”