After a long hiatus, Sydney's most popular weekend market is finally set to return. The weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market will reopen on Saturday, August 8 and resume operation every Saturday from 8am–1pm. Many of your favourite stallholders will return, slinging organic produce, artisanal bread, single-origin coffee and freshly cut flowers to the socially distant masses.

But it won't be quite as you remember, with new COVID-safe hygiene measures, capacity limits and 'shop-and-go' rules all in effect. For starters, the market will now be takeaway only, with public seating (and all milk crates) removed and no food consumption allowed on premises.

Carriageworks has also increased the space between stalls and is limiting the number of patrons to 350 at a time — which is still a whole lot, pandemic considered. Tastings and reusable coffee cups are no longer permitted either, while card payments and hand sanitiser (provided at entry) are highly encouraged. As is wearing a mask.

Other than that, the market will remain a Saturday hub of fresh bread, fresh flowers and fresh cuppas. On the opening lineup, you'll find luxe fungi at Hartley truffles, small-batch crumpets from Crumpets by Merna, reusable face masks from Big Bite Eco and Roasters with Altitude, organic fruit and veg from Kurrawong Organics, award-winning cheese from Vannella, butter from Pepe Saya, single-origin coffee from Single O, Smoking Gun Bagels, Westmont Pickles, Olsson's Sea Salt and Mimosa Rock Oysters. You can check out the full lineup over here.

This news comes just weeks after Carriageworks was saved from voluntary administration by a multimillion-dollar lifeline, thanks to a group of philanthropists. Alongside the markets, the multi-arts centre will also reopen with new exhibitions starting next week.

Crumpets by Merna

Carriageworks Farmers Market will reopen on Saturday, August 8 and be held weekly on Saturdays from 8am until 1pm. For more information on social distancing guidelines, head to the website.

Images: Jacquie Manning