photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Opening day of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, April 12, 2025.

The Lawrence Farmers Market will partner with local chefs to host a farm-to-table dinner fundraiser that will help support its program, missions and search for a new permanent location.

The market announced in a press release Friday it will be holding its second annual Sustainable Supper on Oct. 2 at Irvine’s Just Beyond Paradise, 13561 246th St. in Lawrence. The event is a progressive five-course dinner that will highlight the culinary talents of five local chefs, each crafting their own course using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

The chefs involved with the dinner are T.K. Peterson of Good Company Hospitality and former owner of Merchants; Nathan Desetti, the Executive Chef of Merchants Pub and Plate; Ryan Young, the chef of Mass St. Fish House; Simon Bates, the chef and owner of Bon Bon, Burger Stand, Taco Zone and Cider Gallery and Louis Wigen-Toccalino, the chef and owner of Cellar Door.

Each course will include a cocktail or wine pairing from Irvine’s Just Beyond Paradise, along with a non-alcoholic crafted drink alternative. The event will also feature a silent and live auction with one-of-a-kind experiences, items from local businesses, and art.

Proceeds from the Sustainable Supper event will help support the Lawrence Farmers Market programs, mission, and the search for their new permanent location. As the Journal-World reported, the market has been searching for a permanent location in downtown Lawrence and has recently been hosting public feedback events and hopes to have a location picked out by the end of the year.

Alongside the announcement of the fundraising event, the market confirmed it will host a community town hall on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Carnegie Building’s Heritage Room at 200 W. Ninth St. The release noted it will be the first opportunity for the public to see a presentation of location options. Refreshments will be provided by various market vendors.

More information about the market’s search for a permanent location is on its website, https://www.lawrencefarmersmarket.org/, and it will also update the site when there are other community engagement activities. Additionally, the website has a link to purchase tickets to the fundraising dinner.