The Windmill Farm & Craft Market

The Windmill Farm & Craft Market brings more than 175 indoor and outdoor shops together on 44 acres just south of Penn Yan. Large market buildings and outdoor lanes hold farm produce, baked goods, handcrafted furniture, quilts, clothing, home décor, artwork, gifts, local beverages, and enough food options to make lunch part of the experience.

The scale distinguishes The Windmill from a traditional farmers market. You can pick up seasonal vegetables and local honey, browse handcrafted woodwork and household goods, sample Finger Lakes wine and spirits, and stop for anything from a full breakfast to barbecue, kettle corn, or a cider donut—all without leaving the grounds.

Shopping at The Windmill

Each building and outdoor aisle has its own mix of merchants. Farm stands sit alongside bakeries, furniture makers, artists, antique and resale dealers, specialty-food producers, wineries, and small shops selling clothing, jewelry, books, garden items, and gifts.

The variety rewards wandering, but the market covers a substantial area. If you are looking for a particular merchant or type of product, review the current vendor directory before your visit. Otherwise, allow time to move through the buildings and outdoor streets at an unhurried pace.

Produce and plant selections change with the growing season. Spring brings flowers, vegetable plants, and early crops; summer fills the stands with berries and garden produce; and autumn shifts toward apples, pumpkins, preserves, and seasonal decorations.

Food and Drink

Food is a substantial part of a Windmill visit. The market includes restaurants, food stands, bakeries, and snack shops that serve breakfast, lunch, desserts, and take-home food.

The aromas change as you move through the grounds—fresh bread and pastries in one building, barbecue or fried dough outdoors, and kettle corn and cider donuts farther along. Local wineries, a brewery, and a distillery also operate tasting locations at the market.

Because each business sets its own menu and availability, specific offerings can change during the season. Arriving early provides more time to compare breakfast and bakery options before the market becomes busier.

A Yates County Tradition

The Windmill grew from an idea shared by Bill and Ruth Gunderman, Pat Gunderman, and Ron Nissen after a 1978 visit to a farm market in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Community interest led to the purchase of a site between Penn Yan and Dundee, and the market opened on June 27, 1987.

That first market included 64 vendors in two enclosed buildings and another 25 outdoor vendors. Nearly four decades later, The Windmill remains a place where farmers, craftspeople, food producers, and other small-business owners gather in one location.

The mix reflects the agricultural and craft traditions of Yates County, including the work of Amish and Mennonite farmers and makers from the surrounding area. The Windmill also serves as a longstanding Saturday gathering place for residents, seasonal visitors, and merchants.

Events at The Windmill

Live music, demonstrations, car shows, historical programs, and other special events appear throughout the season. The schedule changes from year to year, so check the Windmill Farm & Craft Market website before choosing a date.

Special-event days can be particularly busy. If the program is not your main reason for visiting, consider arriving when the market opens to give yourself time to park, eat, and browse.

Know Before You Go

Address: 3900 New York State Route 14A, Penn Yan, New York 14527

Hours: Open every Saturday from the third Saturday in April through the last Saturday in November, plus Memorial Day, July 3 and 4, Labor Day, and Black Friday.

Admission and parking: Both are free.

Accessibility: The Windmill describes the market as wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available at the information booth. Because the shops span 44 acres across indoor and outdoor areas, visitors should plan to cover a fair amount of ground.

Weather: Some vendors and walkways are outdoors. Bring rain protection or sun protection as conditions require, and remember that outdoor merchant participation may vary with the weather.

Make a Day of It

The Windmill is about five miles south of downtown Penn Yan. Before or after the market, consider stopping at Oak Hill Bulk Foods, where you can browse pantry staples, baked goods, and specialty groceries or have a meal at the Oak Leaf Cafe.

In Penn Yan, walk part of the Keuka Outlet Trail, explore the shops and restaurants along Main Street, or visit the Yates County History Center. The trail follows a former canal and railroad corridor between Penn Yan and Dresden, passing waterfalls, mill ruins, and wooded sections along the outlet.

For a longer outing, continue south to Hammondsport at the southern end of Keuka Lake. The walkable village, lakefront parks, Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Finger Lakes Boating Museum, and nearby wineries offer several ways to extend the day.

Treat these ideas as flexible additions rather than a schedule. The Windmill itself can easily fill several hours.

Have you visited The Windmill?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.