The Great South Amana Swap Meet and Farmers Market will open its second season on Friday, May 31. Iowa County locals and visitors to the Amana Colonies are invited to enjoy free music, flea market and farmers’ market items, food and beverages every Friday in the village of South Amana starting May 31 and running through August 30.  Hours will be 4:30 – 8:30 pm, with live music from 6 – 8 pm each Friday evening. Sponsors of the Market are Tom Johnson, owner of Johnson’s Lower South Antiques, and Bill Tomson, owner of the South Amana Mercantile. The Iowa Theatre Artists Company (ITAC) will once again sponsor the live music. The Market is located on the Mercantile property in South Amana next to the post office.  

The Swap Meet and Farmers Market will feature vendors of a wide variety of merchandise including antiques, collectibles, produce, re-purposed furniture, and other handcrafted items.  Anyone wishing to buy, sell or trade garden goods, garage sale items and other used items are also invited to set up free of charge at the markets. Vendors must call ahead and reserve a space.  Co-sponsor, Tom Johnson, stated, “The process can be as simple as folks driving up and opening up their car trunks or dropping the tailgates of their pickup trucks and selling to anyone interested. There is space for tables as well. Produce will be available as the season allows. We are certain that there will be a treasure out there for everyone.” 

For those who might get hungry or thirsty while they enjoy the outing in South Amana, “picnic style” food, Iowa wine, beer, soft drinks, and sweets will be available on the grounds on Friday evenings.  

The Season begins with the Riverbottom Ramblers playing  “traditional and contemporary bluegrass, gospel, old country songs, ballads and tunes we like to ‘bluegrassify.”  Meg Merckens, ITAC Artistic Director, explains, “There is so much talent in our part of the state, we are proud to offer an outdoor venue where everyone can get together, sit back and enjoy wonderful music.  Last year’s number of attenders and enthusiastic response exceeded our expectations. It didn’t take us long to decide to undertake the Market again this year!” Other musicians and groups performing include: The Great Bluegrass Herons, Bob & Kristie Black and Banjoy, Straightback Chair, Castle Ridge, Marc & Brandi Janssen, Mark Wilson and Randal Sandersfeld. A schedule of musical groups and solo artists will be posted on the ITAC website:  iowatheatreartists.org 

Vendors interested in participating, or anyone with questions about the Swap Meet should contact Tom Johnson at: (319) 551 6691 or at tomp@southslope.net.