Vacation has a funny way of changing your priorities.

Back home, you’re rushing through the grocery store trying to get in and out.

On vacation, you’ll happily spend an hour wandering a farmers market with a cup of coffee in hand, sampling homemade salsa, picking out fresh peaches, and chatting with people you’ve never met before.

That’s exactly what makes the farmers markets of the Laurel Highlands so special. They’re more than places to shop. They’re places to slow down, meet local farmers and artisans, and discover the flavors that make this region feel like home.

Whether you’re looking for breakfast ingredients, a one-of-a-kind souvenir, or simply a relaxing way to spend the morning, here are a few markets worth adding to your Laurel Highlands itinerary.

Rise and Shine… It’s Market Time

If you’re only visiting one farmers market during your stay, make it the Ligonier Country Market.

For more than 50 years, it’s been a beloved tradition in the Laurel Highlands. Today, the market is held on Saturday mornings on Ligonier Street in downtown Latrobe, where more than 120 local vendors offer everything from farm-fresh produce and flowers to artisan breads, pastries, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, handcrafted gifts, and ready-to-enjoy foods.

It’s the kind of place where you tell yourself you’re “just going to look.”

Then somehow you leave carrying sourdough bread, fresh peaches, homemade salsa, and a candle you likely didn’t need.

The best part? Every vendor either makes it, bakes it, or grows it, so you’re truly supporting local businesses with every purchase.

More Markets Worth the Stop

The Laurel Highlands has plenty more to offer beyond Saturday mornings.

If you’re staying near Seven Springs, make a stop at Pletcher’s Farm Market in Champion. Just minutes from the resort, it’s a favorite for fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, flowers, local products, and grab-and-go treats before heading back to the mountain.

Exploring the Greensburg area? Check out the Farmers Market at All Saints Brewing Company, where local farmers and artisans pair fresh produce with food vendors and a laid-back brewery atmosphere. Or visit Sarver Hill Organic Farm, known for its organically grown vegetables, herbs, flowers, and farm-fresh seasonal offerings.

Over in Somerset, Cascio’s Fruit Market has become a longtime local favorite. While it’s more of a farm market than a traditional weekly market, it’s packed with fresh produce, Pennsylvania-made products, baked goods, and specialty foods that make it well worth the stop.

Part of the charm is that every market has its own personality, so no two visits ever feel exactly the same.

Build the Perfect Market Morning

If you ask us, a farmers market is just the beginning of a great day in the Laurel Highlands.

Start with a fresh cup of coffee, wander the vendor booths at your own pace, and then spend the afternoon exploring nearby attractions. Browse the shops around The Diamond in Ligonier, tour Fort Ligonier, take a scenic drive through the mountains, or head toward Ohiopyle State Park for an afternoon hike.

Depending on when you visit, you may even find live music, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, or seasonal festivals happening alongside the markets. Summer brings fresh berries, tomatoes, sweet corn, and flowers, while fall fills the tables with crisp apples, pumpkins, cider, squash, and homemade pies.

Honestly, that’s a pretty good Saturday if you ask us.

Finds Worth Bringing Home

One of the best souvenirs from the Laurel Highlands isn’t something you’ll find in a typical gift shop.

It’s the jar of local honey that reminds you of breakfast on the porch. It’s the loaf of bread you couldn’t resist. It’s the homemade jam that somehow disappears before you get home.

Pressed for time? Here’s the Breakdown:

• Visit the Ligonier Country Market on Saturday mornings for one of the region’s best selections of local food, flowers, and handmade goods.
• Explore nearby favorites like Pletcher’s Farm Market, Farmers Market at All Saints Brewing Company, or Sarver Hill Organic Farm.
• Turn your market visit into a full day with stops in Ligonier, Fort Ligonier, Ohiopyle, or a scenic drive through the Laurel Highlands.

And when you’re ready to experience it for yourself, SNOWBALL PROPERTIES gives you a comfortable home base close to the markets, mountain towns, and outdoor adventures that make the Laurel Highlands so memorable.

Because around here, the sweetest souvenirs are usually the ones you can taste.

Come Have A Ball In The Laurel Highlands!

– Ginger & Hunter Harrelson