Manhattan Beach Certified Farmers Market

Tuesday isn't the day most people plan around food, but in downtown Manhattan Beach it's market day. The Manhattan Beach Certified Farmers Market sets up in the Civic Center parking lot and plaza every week, and this Tuesday, September 29, it runs from 11am to 3pm. It's a small, neighborly affair compared to the big weekend markets, which is a lot of the appeal.

Where it is

The market sits between the Police/Fire Facility and City Hall, just north of where it used to run on 13th Street. If you remember the old spot, walk a little further up. You're a few blocks up the hill from the pier, so a lunch-hour loop from the sand to the stalls and back is easy.

What you'll find

South Bay community outlet Local Anchor, which keeps a running list of the area's markets, describes it as produce-first: premium locally grown fruit and vegetables, sustainably sourced fresh seafood, and a set of artisan food stalls. Late September is a good window for it. Stone fruit is on its way out, apples and pears are coming in, and the tomatoes are usually still worth buying.

Beyond the food, there are booths from community groups and local businesses that rotate week to week. Kids get their own activities, and there's live music, so it's easy to bring a stroller and stay a while. "Certified" means it's a California Certified Farmers Market, where growers sell what they grew themselves.

It won't rival the sprawling LA food festivals for size, and it isn't trying to. Think of it as a good weekday errand that happens to come with a band.

Practical info

• When: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 11am to 3pm (the market runs every Tuesday)
• Where: Civic Center Parking Lot and Plaza, downtown Manhattan Beach
• Cost: The listing doesn't give an entry price. Budget for whatever produce and lunch you end up buying, and bring cash in case a smaller vendor doesn't take cards.

Because the market takes over part of the Civic Center lot, parking right there gets tight. Downtown Manhattan Beach has metered street parking and public lots nearby, and walking or biking in from the Strand is often faster than circling. Bring your own bags. A cooler in the car helps if you're buying fish.

Worth the trip?

If you live or work in the South Bay, yes. It's the kind of small, regular thing that rarely makes a roundup of things to do in Los Angeles, but it's a pleasant way to spend a lunch break. Grab some fruit, get something to eat, listen to the music for a song or two, and you're back at your desk by one.

For more, browse the food and drink events we cover, or see what else is Things Happening In Los Angeles on our Los Angeles neighborhood page.