The Original Farmers Market and The Grove

The Original Farmers Market and The Grove sit side by side at 6333 W 3rd Street in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, California. The Farmers Market opened in 1934 as a place where farmers sold produce from their trucks, and it has grown into an open-air complex of produce stands, butchers, bakeries, candy shops and food stalls beneath a landmark clock tower. Entry is free, and meals typically cost about 10 to 20 dollars. Visitors can sample gumbo, tacos, crepes, doughnuts, fresh juices and international dishes, eating at shared outdoor tables that fill on weekends. Next door, The Grove is an outdoor shopping center designed like a town square, with a central fountain that performs a choreographed water show, a seasonal events lawn and a vintage-style trolley that runs between the two sites. Shops, a movie theater and restaurants line its streets, and holiday decorations in winter make it especially popular. A typical visit takes one to two hours, longer for shopping or a meal. Crowds are largest on weekend afternoons and during the holidays, while weekday late mornings and lunchtimes are calmer. Hours run roughly from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with some variation by vendor. The site is a short walk from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Petersen Automotive Museum, so it fits into a Miracle Mile itinerary. Metro bus lines serve Fairfax Avenue and 3rd Street, and paid parking is available with validation at some vendors.