It’s a crisp September Monday on the grounds of the Rye Tavern (517 Old Sandwich Rd.) in Plymouth, and a lively one.

In booths edging the property, local farmers, purveyors and artisans display their wares. There are unique spice blends from Hippy Pilgrim (https://hippypilgrim.com/) and visitors can chat with the owner and creator about recipes they work well in. You can stock up on soothing soaps from Sun Time Soap (https://suntimesoap.com/), made right down the road in Manomet.

There’s face painting and kid’s games. A musician strums and sings, and in the middle of it all, the restaurant’s outdoor tables are jammed.

At the Rye and across the Bay State, it’s prime Farmers Market season.

From the Cape to the North Shore, in the city and out in the Berkshires, Farmers Market choices are plentiful. And while they all share similar characteristics, each one has its own setting and vibe. For a family time, a meet up with friends or just some time to savor on your own, a trip to a Farmers Market in harvest season is a fun escape.

The Rye Tavern – one of the nation’s oldest tavern buildings, is tucked into the thick woods of Pine Hills in Plymouth and worth the drive – Old Sandwich Road is narrow and woodsy and feels like what it is: one of the oldest roads in America. Their Farmers Market runs every Monday from noon to 3 p.m.  https://theryetavern.com/

On Tuesdays, cross over the Sagamore Bridge (no worries; tourist season is quieter now) and head to the Sandwich Farmers Market located on the grounds of the Sagamore Inn Restaurant (1131 Sandwich Rd), just on the other side of the bridge. From 9 a.m. through noon each week you’ll find homemade toffee, fresh veggies, fresh cider doughnuts, wind chimes and more. Everything you’ll find there is locally grown, curated or made. https://www.sandwichfarmersmarket.com/

On Thursdays you can head to the Salem Farmers Market at 32 Derby Square from 3-7 p.m., a tradition that began in – get this – 1634. The market showcases local farms, organic produce, fresh bread, fresh seafood and art. https://salemfarmersmarket.org/

On Fridays you can head smack into the middle of Boston for the Copley Square Farmers Market at 227-230 Dartmouth St. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features more than three dozen local-sourced vendors offering fresh produce, flowers, crafts and more.

There’s even a chance to celebrate and support Farmers Markets. On  Oct. 17 The Boston Public Market (100 Hanover St.) will host their seventh annual Harvest Party. With a theme of “Carnival Edition,” the event features a farm-to-table dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (served in a tent right across from the Rose Kennedy Greenway), followed by carnival games, live music and dancing, a silent auction and photo ops with “the official pumpkins of Boston.” Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at https://bostonpublicmarket.org/harvestparty. Proceeds benefit the Market’s Community Engagement Fund.

There are hundreds of other options across the state. You can find them all – even sort them out by location, day and time – at  https://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/. Most run through late fall. All offer that special vibe, scene and taste that’s truly New England.

Farmers Markets often feature non-produce items as well, such as the Sun Time Soap for sale at the Rye Tavern market. (Photo Moira McCarthy)