Opening a few weeks ahead of last year’s schedule – and extending the market by four weeks total – the Oakdale Farmers Market kicked off Wednesday, May 4.

It has returned to the downtown area that drew shoppers in the past, moving back there from a one-year trial run at the Oakdale Town Plaza adjacent to the Gene Bianchi Community Center.

Courtney Smith of Bloomingcamp Ranch, which has taken over running the weekly market, said they decided to offer it for 22 weeks, starting May 4 and running through Sept. 28.

“I’m pretty happy with the way things have gone so far,” she said of a decent turnout for the first night, which took a few people by surprise because of the early start. “We are missing a few vendors but it will fill in as we go.”

Vendors are still being accepted for the Wednesday evening market, which is set up along North Third Avenue between F and E streets, with many of the shops lining the streets also staying open later to accommodate the additional traffic. Farmers market hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We also have a website and we will put all our information, the different music we have lined up and special activities on there,” Smith said.

Also planned are some Library story time activities as part of the market and the chance for non-profit groups to come in and host a booth.

“We are looking for more farmers but we know it’s still early in the season,” Smith said. “We’re trying to make it more community-oriented.”

Visit oakdalecafarmersmarket.com for more information.