Downtown

Discover Grand Forks had a booth on July 24 and August 14, 2021, at Market on Market. This was an exciting time to talk to locals and travellers alike about our area, trails, recommendation and more! We had so much fun and took the chance to photograph the day.

Thank you to all the amazing vendors that allowed us to take photos, shop and chat!

Though the vendors often rotate, the photos below give anyone a great idea of what to expect, and what to find on Market Ave Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. We hope to see you there!

July 24 – 2021

August 14 – 2021

Grand Forks is a mixture of unique cultures, from First Nations to pioneers, prospectors to farmers, and the unique Doukhobors, there is always something special to explore. 

After the great copper boom of the late 20th century, the Doukhobors arrived from Russia. They introduced their communal way of living with flourishing farms around the city. The Doukhobors are heavily pacifist and extend their anti-violence values to not eating meat, however, they make up for this by eating very rich foods with butter and creams. Many of their family recipes are still around today and have made their way into commercial kitchens in town.

To learn more about their storied past visit the former Fructova Schoolhouse, now known as the Boundary Museum & Interpretive Centre. This fantastic museum captures the vibrant history of the Boundary area, from the ghost town of Phoenix to Christina Lake and everything in between. The building has re-opened on Tuesday, Aug 17 for 2021. Be sure to stop by! 

Borscht is the most common menu item, and while most associate borscht with the Ukrainian beet base, traditional Doukhobor borscht is based heavily on cabbage and tomatoes, giving the soup an orange colour. Check out The Borscht Bowl on Market Avenue for a hot bowl served with fresh bread, as well as traditional crafts and delicious desserts.

Another great dish is Pyrahi. These are Russian tarts with vegetarian fillings like peas, beans, sauerkraut, and dry cottage cheese. They are best eaten hot (freshly baked or baked from frozen) with melted butter or sour cream. Don’t mix up your “Pyrahi” and “Pirozhki”; Pirozhki is a sweeter dough filled with fruit and often the top is left a bit open to reveal the sweet filling.

These great eats are perfect for adding a bit of culture to the weekend. Whatever your taste buds, you’re sure to find something yummy! To try Doukhobor food out yourself, visit our dining directory at discovergrandforks.ca/directory/dining.

For locals and visitors alike, the different Markets of Grand Forks offer a vibrant sense of community.

The mainstay being the Grand Forks Farmers Market. Taking place every Tuesday and Friday, you will find farm fresh food that was picked that morning, handmade crafts, coffee, beauty products, spirits, the occasional food truck, and even live music. The market also includes some regional vendors from throughout the Kootenays. Taking place at Gyro Park, right along HWY 3, downtown Grand Forks, this market is hard to miss. Spring right through Fall, you will find it running twice a week, from 8am until 1pm.

The summer of 2020 now also features Market on Market. Every second Saturday our local artisans are setting up right on the road downtown, creating a large open pedestrian friendly market place. Artisans mixed in among our brick and mortar store fronts with some fresh popped kettle corn and mini donuts. A wonderful combination of the best Grand Forks has to offer. This market will be running July and August of 2020.

Market Ave

Last but not least – Market Ave. Essentially, this is downtown Grand Forks’ “Main Street”. It’s vibrant tree lined design and pedestrian friendly walkway make it a great place to relax and grab a coffee. The cafe’s and eatery’s are entirely one of a kind. From the Boardroom Cafe (where you can play hundreds of different boardgames while you eat) to the Borscht Bowl (who offers the most authentic Russian cuisine you will find in Canada) there is truly something for everyone. Market Ave is also home to some awesome retail shopping including: bike and sport, gifts, wellness, health foods, ice cream, cannabis, clothing, comics, electronics and much more.

While the options are endless, a day on Market Ave might just look like this… A breakfast “Sandy” with local produce from the Wooden Spoon. Followed by shopping for some new swimwear at Work n’ Play. Then some time running through the spray park with family to cool off, or perhaps a quick float down the river. After that, over to Jogas for some of the best coffee around, with a smoked salmon bagel and some homemade borscht for lunch. Wrapping up just in time for an afternoon movie at the GEM (arguably one of the most unique independent movie theatres in BC). All capped off with dinner and drink at Clydes Pub (family friendly).

Amidst the revitalization of downtown Grand Forks – all things “Market” are thriving, and are of the truest small town summer experiences.