Small Town Market
A seasonal market on the grounds of Okines Community House at Dodges Ferry, run as four editions a year that each mark the turn of a season.
About this market
The Small Town Market is built around the calendar in the oldest possible sense: it runs four editions a year, each one marking the turn of a season, on the grounds of Okines Community House at Dodges Ferry. Editions have gone out under the summer, autumn and winter names, with the earliest documented one in December 2023, and entry has always been free.
Four Sundays a year, deliberately
Running quarterly rather than monthly is a choice with consequences. It means the market has to be worth a trip rather than a habit, and the format reflects that: local artisans and food producers alongside workshop facilitators, live musicians and activities for children, curated as one outdoor event rather than a row of tables. The producers come from South Eastern Tasmania, the growers, cooks, brewers and makers of the coastal strip between Sorell and the Tasman Peninsula, which is a specific enough catchment that the stall list changes noticeably with the season it is named after.
Market at a glance
It is run by Small Town Experiences, a Tasmanian operator whose stated brief is community, art, culture and nature, and the market is the most public thing it does. Workshops sit alongside the stalls rather than as a separate program, which is unusual for a market this size and is part of why the event runs closer to a small festival than a shopping morning.
The market names its dates after seasons rather than months, and it does not skip the cold one. A winter edition ran in the middle of June, on open ground on an exposed stretch of the south east Tasmanian coast, with the same artisans, food producers and live music as the summer market. The published editions run summer, autumn and winter, so the change of season is treated as the reason to gather rather than a constraint on when the market can be held.
Good to know before you go
Check the date, because there are only four a year and no monthly rhythm to fall back on. Entry is free and the market is held outdoors on the grounds of Okines Community House at 540 Old Forcett Road, so dress for Tasmanian weather whichever season the edition is named after, and expect grass underfoot. Dogs on leads are welcome. Bring cash and a bag. Dodges Ferry is around 40 minutes east of Hobart past Sorell, and the beaches at Carlton and Park Beach are a few minutes further on if you want to make a day of it. This is Paredarerme country.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often is the Small Town Market held?
- It runs as seasonal editions, roughly one every three months, on a Sunday. Past editions have been named for summer, autumn and winter, so the dates track the turn of the season rather than a fixed weekend.
- Where is it held and what does entry cost?
- On the grounds of Okines Community House at 540 Old Forcett Road, Dodges Ferry. Entry is free.
- Are dogs allowed?
- Yes, friendly dogs on leads are welcome. The market is an outdoor event on open ground with children's activities running alongside the stalls.