Best Of The North Asheville Tailgate Market: A Local’s Guide

In operation since 1980, the North Asheville Tailgate Market (NATM) at the UNC Asheville campus is one of our favorite local weekend things to do. It’s what makes Asheville home. We head here Saturdays to support community artisans, musicians, and local farmers, shopping for produce, gluten-free and vegan baked goods, plants, ice cream, and more. Where else can you get a carnivorous plant, crispy kale, and a vegan Pride pop?! See our not-to-miss vendors and best tips for navigating this fantastic farmers market.

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All photos are our own as we’ve eaten our way across this market many times as Asheville locals.

Quick Contact Information

Get the latest updates on the official North Asheville Tailgate Market website.

Our Favorite North Asheville Tailgate Market Vendors

These are just a few of our favorite stops at the NATM. Many vendors post on Instagram if they’ll be at the market and what they are bringing.

Beverages

🧃 ​@immortaljuiceco​ – Cold-pressed juices.

☕️ ​@bridgetunnelcoffee​ – Delicious and strong coffee. Get a nitro brew, and get ready to shop.

Produce, Seafood, Meats, & More

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🥬 Ivy Creek Family Farm (website) – Find fresh, in-season produce like carrots, tomatoes, beets, lettuce, and flowers. We love their kale and potatoes.

🐟 Wild Salmon Co. – Frozen Sockeye salmon, Alaskan cod, Black cod, Nova lox, Ahi tuna burgers, smoked salmon dip, and more. Thaw for dinner the next day.

🫔 Cecilia’s Kitchen Food Truck (restaurant website) – Tamales, crepes, and empanadas. Discover even more of our favorite Asheville food trucks (rotating & permanent).

Gluten-Free And/Or Vegan Goodies

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As a part Celiac and lactose intolerant household, the North Asheville Tailgate has a large selection of vegan and gluten-free baked goods and desserts:

🍪 ​@dolcidimaria​ – Delicious GF/vegan cakes, cookies, muffins, biscotti, and more. You might see them in your favorite specialty grocery stores like EarthFare.

🍭 ​@buggypopsavl​ – Gourmet ice pops (with vegan options) from a small BIPOC woman-owned business. Coconut cinnamon is my favorite.

🥧 ​@hominyfarm​ – I love their vegan sourdough bread, especially the breads filled with potatoes or blueberries.

🍫 @silvermoonchocolate – Order a vegan chocolate coffee or a decadent chocolate bar.

🧀 @darevegancheese – Vegan cheeses and spreads, which you can try on the spot.

Plants

🌱 ​@blue.ridge.exotics​ – Get a little Audrey-triggered. We bought “Dewey” here, our little carnivorous Sundew plant. It’s great for fruit flies, and they sell a variety of exotic plants.

🌵 ​@tierrafertilcoop​ – I have their hardy cactus for my office, but they also sell farm produce.

More Vendors Our Readers Love

🍄‍🟫 @black_trumpet_farm – Gourmet mushrooms, medicinal mushroom and herb tinctures, and growing kits

🥟 @jchong_eats – Finalist from The Big Brunch (watch it on Max, starring Dan Levy) selling frozen Cantonese food like dumplings and wontons.

Top NATM Tips

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• If you have favorite vendors or must buy items, get there early.
• We like to park in further/less crowded designated lots and go mid-morning.
• There are portable restrooms.
• Bring a canvas tote for your goodies and boxes for plants.
• It grows hot in the summer – with rain showers – so dress accordingly.
• You’ll see loads of Asheville’s pooches, and vendors sell treats just for Fido.
• Afterward, explore more of North Asheville, including our favorite North AVL restaurants, Beaver Lake, or the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.

Let us know your favorite vendors or any tips we missed in the comments.