The scene at the Royal Oak Farmers Market early morning Sept. 6 was hardly an average Saturday morning.

Vendors had been hauling in everything from baked goods and produce to baseball cards, handmade crafts and hand-me-down books since 5 a.m. Crowds started to fill the 20,000 square foot Civic Center.

“When I say I got here early, I mean four in the morning,” said Market Master Gwen Ross who oversees all of the building activity during the market hours each week.

With over 80 vendors and stands that have sprawled out to the parking lot, the Royal Oak Farmers Market has come a long way since its humble beginning as a truck stand in 1925.

Open Fridays through Sundays, the market gives the community the chance to buy farm-fresh produce and other assorted grocery items. It also allows them to support local farmers and entrepreneurs while keeping the small community feeling in an otherwise hip and growing city.

“The Market is the heart of Royal Oak. Everything spills out from here. It’s not like a store; people come here for years, then raise their families and bring them,” Ross said of the market environment. “It’s social as well.”

Ashley Smoger, who was handing out samples of homemade gnocchi from Clinton Township-based Tracina’s Gourmet Specialties, has worked the Royal Oak Farmers Market as well as a handful of other local markets.

“This market is great. Without farmers’ markets we [Tracina’s] wouldn’t have business,” Smoger said. “We are only in select stores and do most of our selling out of markets.”

In addition to veteran vendors, the Royal Oak Famers Market continuously brings in new merchants and products to increase shopper interest and diversity.

“I’ve been coming here for over 20 years. There is always something new,” said Pat Holmes of Birmingham.

“I don’t drive anymore, but I get out here whenever I can,” added Holmes, who was joined by her daughter Liz Carter.

“I live in Kentucky and have never been to the market. We haven’t bought anything yet, but we have our eye on some things. We won’t leave empty handed,” Carter said.

Dorothy Rehm, founder of Sunbears Just Bones gourmet dog treats, was a first-time seller in the Royal Oak Farmers Market this past weekend.

“I lost my job back in October and in November I was feeling down and I looked at my dog and he seemed to be sad too,” Rehm said. “We decided to make some treats.”

Rehm makes her five different flavors of dog treats without artificial flavoring and sells them at markets in the surrounding area.

In addition to the usual Friday and Saturday market, on Sundays the building transforms into what resembles an enormous garage sale for the weekly flea market.

“Every Sunday, aside from holidays, for the past 35 years we have had vendors wanting to be a part of the flea market,” Ross said.

Next month the market will celebrate its 84th anniversary at the annual Oktoberfest celebration Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

The party will include live music by The Good Times Orchestra, a silent auction, food and locally brewed beer from Lily’s Seafood Grill & Brewery.

Tickets for the celebration are $5, available at the market office and proceeds benefit Boys and Girls clubs of south Oakland County.

The Royal Oak Farmers Market is located inside the Civic Center, at 316 E. 11 Mile Road.

For information on the farmers market including hours of operation and other upcoming events, visit http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/farmersmkt or call (248)-246-FARM.