Middle of the week or middle of the weekend, you’ll find the River Market teeming with people enjoying local food, entertainment and recreational respite. The Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is a particularly peaceful – and photogenic – spot along the Arkansas River.

Bring out the birthday candles!

The River Market is celebrating 20 years in the heart of Little Rock with a bang. To mark the occasion, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau has cooked up a day full of free family fun and activities on Saturday, July 9.

Here’s the lineup for the big day:

7 a.m. — The River Market Pavilions will open for the Little Rock Farmers Market, where more than 70 vendors will line up with farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, handmade goods and more.

9 a.m. — The Little Rock Farmers Market’s Second Saturday events will begin with the Garden Gourmet Chef Series (9 – 10 a.m.) Master Gardeners of Little Rock, Central Arkansas Library System and Rock City Rescue. Along with a visit by the LRFM’s very own, Dean the Bean.

Also at 9 a.m. — The Indian Percussion Ensemble of UALR will perform until 10 a.m. and the Red Cross will hold a blood drive until 1 p.m. More entertainment will follow throughout the afternoon both at the Little Rock Farmers Market and inside Ottenheimer Market Hall.

12 p.m. — Family-friendly activities continue with train rides through Riverfront Park for kids and adults alike, various bounce houses for both little and bigger kids, slides from All Day Bounce & Play and a climbing wall from Leaps & Bounds until 5 p.m. (All will be located just behind the Farmers Market Pavilions.)

5 p.m. — SynRG will kick off an evening of free live music, followed by Rodney Block and the Big Dam Horns all at the First Security Amphitheater until 9:15 p.m. Once the music starts, food trucks will offer eats and drinks and concessions will be available for sale at First Security Amphitheater (5 – 9:15 p.m.). You can also purchase a first run, limited edition 20-year anniversary tee shirt for $9.99.

To learn more, visit RiverMarket.info.