Every Wednesday, Folly Beach is host to a community farmer’s market. The Folly Beach Farmer’s Market molds itself perfectly in the Island Bar and Grill’s parking lot, where locals and visitors flock to taste and enjoy vegetables from local farms, food and other refreshments provided by vendors, and crafts from other artisans on display. The Folly Beach Bluegrass Society entertained us as we walked through and perused each of the delightful offerings in each stall.
The first stop was at the King of Pops. The day was rather warm, and the idea of a cold popsicle delivering sweet tasty goodness to our mouths seemed like a great idea! The icy popsicles were created by a trio of brothers from Atlanta who escaped the corporate bureaucracy that had entangled their careers. One was a lawyer, another endured a corporate layoff, while the third brother has been a constant base of innovation with creating new ideas for the exotic fruit pops that we love so much today. Our choices for the day included one chocolate raspberry and two coconut banana orange pops. They delivered exactly what was needed on that bright and sunny day.
We stopped next at the Black Tie Soap Company. A scintillating aroma hit our senses as we approached the table to view handmade soaps. The soaps are carefully made with limited ingredients as to protect your skin from losing its natural oils. Lightly scented with essential oils, the soaps provide a safe and organic alternative to the harsh mainstream soaps found in most stores today. We perused through various soaps, like Citrus Scrub, Mintchouli, Orange Spice, and Rosemary and Mint. Our favorite was the Peppermint, and we plan on keeping a variety of these wonderful soaps in stock.
Chase E. Barker, a local photographer, set up a beautiful display of local art. One of his collections focuses on the rustic boats commonly found around Crosbys Seafood. Through Chase’s vantage point, the boats come alive with serene backdrops and colorful sunsets lighting up the pictures. Simple yet complicated, his photography offers a unique insight to common items found on Folly Beach. This booth was one of our favorites, and we can’t wait to see more of Mr. Barker’s work in the future.
We then stopped at Olinda Olives and Olive Oil and tasted some of the most exquisite salty treats in town. The olives are flown in from the family’s farm in northern California, and the process of blending and marinating begins. The delicious treats are processed for up to six months before they’re brought to the farmers market tables, along with silky and delicate olive oils flavored to perfection. It is easy to see why Olinda Olives and Olive Oil has been the beneficiary of many awards throughout the years. The olives were crunchy and fresh with the perfect hint of salt and tanginess to tantalize your tastebuds.
Our next stop was at A Touch of the Coast, where we dabbled and checked out quaint décor items such as bottle stoppers, palm tree stylized bowls, and napkin rings. A Touch of the Coast boasts that the items are exclusive to this store. Cute pineapple stoppers caught our eyes as did a silver sea turtle. We ventured over to check out some of the other baubles and happily considered purchasing a flip flop dish for M&Ms. “The kids would like that,” we said. Of course, they would.
After all the shopping and looking around, we made our way over to our final stop at the refreshment tent, set up by the Bar on the Edge. Adult beverages, ranging from IPA’s to stouts, rum to vodka, and other liquid delights were generously poured. In all, this was a perfect day, and the Folly Beach Farmer’s Market had everything necessary to complete a wonderful stay at the beach. We will most certainly be back.
