Draper Village Heritage Market

The allure of a farmer’s market is in the unique blend of nostalgia, sustainability, heritage, fresh-from-the-farm food, community connection, creative crafts and functional artifacts. The newly launched Draper Village Heritage Market promises to deliver on all fronts. The first Saturday of every month April to December, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., people from all over the New River Valley and beyond will roll into Merc Farms to the sounds of live music and jovial laughter. There’s plenty of parking at the Heritage Market, and it’s easy to walk everywhere in Thee Draper Village. Each month embraces a different theme, and the local YMCA is hosting the kids’ corner. For more than 135 years, with a few pauses along the way, the Draper Mercantile has beckoned locals, travelers and regional crowds. Since the mid-2000s, Draper Village has been offering creative shopping and dining experiences, along with special tea events, an ice cream parlor and walking, jogging, bicycling and horseback riding along the adjacent New River Trail, a 57-mile rails-to-trails pathway.Draper Village is a unique destination in and around a small, historical town revived across the past two decades to meet up with contemporary times – preserving its Appalachian culture while offering whole vacation packages with modern amenities. Charming cabins and waterfront rentals along the New River and Claytor Lake book early through newriverretreat.com. This enchanting community attracts all ages – for a day, a weekend or a week or more. It is a perfect “staycation” destination in the New River Valley where you can spend your time relaxing, walking or bicycling, shopping, dining and people-watching from rocking chairs instead of hours on the highway putting miles on your tires. Mark your calendars now for the first Saturday of every month for the rest of 2025. Must go to Draper Village Heritage Market. Gather a few friends and/or some family folks and show up and have a wonderful day in Draper! www.Draperisfordreamers.com Text by Joanne M. Anderson Quick Facts and Figures about Draper. Draper Mercantile: 3054 Greenbriar Road, Draper Draper Village Heritage Market: 2980 Brown Road, Draper Off I-81: Exit 92 Coordinates: 37.0009° N, 80.7420° W Population: 458 give or take Official status: Unincorporated community County: Pulaski Geographic size: 39.23 square miles of land; 1.14 square miles water Special qualities: History, charm, natural beauty, friendly folks, rural America