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Events

Permanent Locations:

Upcoming Events

THE LENEXA FARMERS MARKET – SATURDAYS
25
Apr

THE LENEXA FARMERS MARKET – SATURDAYS

◷ 04-25-2026 @ 08:00 AM - 10-31-2026 @ 12:00 PM
📍 Lenexa civic campus, 17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS
THE LENEXA FARMERS MARKET – TUESDAYS
26
May

THE LENEXA FARMERS MARKET – TUESDAYS

◷ 05-26-2026 @ 08:00 AM - 08-25-2027 @ 01:00 PM
📍 Lenexa civic campus, 17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS
STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – July 3, 2026
03
Jul

STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – July 3, 2026

◷ 07-03-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 07-03-2026 @ 09:00 PM
📍 Historic 18th & Vine District Kansas City, MO
STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS -August 7, 2026
07
Aug

STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS -August 7, 2026

◷ 08-07-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 08-07-2026 @ 09:00 PM
📍 Historic 18th & Vine District Kansas City, MO
Parkville Days
21
Aug

Parkville Days

◷ 08-21-2026 @ 10:00 AM - 08-23-2026 @ 10:00 PM
📍 104 Main Street, Parkville, MO
STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – September 4, 2026
04
Sep

STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – September 4, 2026

◷ 09-04-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 09-04-2026 @ 09:00 PM
📍 Historic 18th & Vine District Kansas City, MO
Spinach Festival
12
Sep

Spinach Festival

◷ 09-12-2026 @ 09:00 AM - 09-12-2026 @ 04:00 PM
📍 Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 8801 Greenway Ln., Lenexa, KS
Heartland American Elderberry Co. Invited to Present at Urban Food Systems Symposium
14
Sep

Heartland American Elderberry Co. Invited to Present at Urban Food Systems Symposium

◷ 09-14-2026 @ 07:28 PM - 09-17-2026 @ 07:28 PM
📍 Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street Kansas City, MO
STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – October 2, 2026
02
Oct

STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – October 2, 2026

◷ 10-02-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 10-02-2026 @ 09:00 PM
📍 Historic 18th & Vine District Kansas City, MO
STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – November 6, 2026
06
Nov

STRENGTHEN THE VINE – FIRST FRIDAYS – November 6, 2026

◷ 11-06-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 11-06-2026 @ 09:00 PM
📍 Historic 18th & Vine District Kansas City, MO

Past Events

Nourishing Change Emerging Brands Conference
02
Jun

Nourishing Change Emerging Brands Conference

◷ 06-02-2026 @ 07:30 AM - 06-04-2026 @ 03:00 PM
📍 730 3rd Street Des Moines, Iowa
Festa Italiana 2026
29
May

Festa Italiana 2026

◷ 05-29-2026 @ 05:00 PM - 05-31-2026 @ 05:00 PM
📍 Zona Rosa (North Park), Kansas City, MO
LionBerry Regenerative™ at Stems: A Garden Soirée
16
May

LionBerry Regenerative™ at Stems: A Garden Soirée

◷ 05-16-2026 @ 07:00 PM - 05-16-2026 @ 07:33 PM
📍 Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8909 W. 179th St. Overland Park, KS 66013
5th Annual Love Your Mom Event
09
May

5th Annual Love Your Mom Event

◷ 05-09-2026 @ 09:00 AM - 05-04-2026 @ 03:00 PM
📍 1901 N Kansas Ave Topeka, KS
NRGS (National Rural Grocery Summit)
05
May

NRGS (National Rural Grocery Summit)

◷ 05-05-2026 @ 11:32 PM - 05-07-2026 @ 11:32 PM
📍 3803 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103
2026 Spring Chick Event
02
May

2026 Spring Chick Event

◷ 05-02-2026 @ 10:00 AM - 05-03-2026 @ 04:00 PM
📍 Town Center Plaza (North Parking Lot) 119th Street between Roe & Nall Leawood, KS
Spring KC Metaphysical, Lawrence
24
Apr

Spring KC Metaphysical, Lawrence

◷ 04-24-2026 @ 07:36 PM - 04-26-2026 @ 07:36 PM
📍 Douglas County Fairgrounds- Building 21, Lawrence, KS
The JET Spring Farm Fest
18
Apr

The JET Spring Farm Fest

◷ 04-18-2026 @ 10:00 AM - 04-18-2026 @ 06:00 PM
📍 26617 Tonganoxie Rd, Leavenworth, KS
KC Mystic Fair April April 12th
12
Apr

KC Mystic Fair April April 12th

◷ 04-12-2026 @ 11:00 AM - 04-12-2026 @ 06:00 PM
📍 18011 Bass Pro Dr, Independence, MO
KC Mystic Fair April 11th
11
Apr

KC Mystic Fair April 11th

◷ 04-11-2026 @ 11:00 AM - 04-11-2026 @ 07:00 PM
📍 18011 Bass Pro Dr, Independence, MO
KC Mystic Fair April 10th
10
Apr

KC Mystic Fair April 10th

◷ 04-10-2026 @ 03:00 PM - 04-10-2026 @ 08:00 PM
📍 18011 Bass Pro Dr, Independence, MO
LIONBERRY at The Eat Local & Organic Expo
04
Apr

LIONBERRY at The Eat Local & Organic Expo

◷ 04-04-2026 @ 09:00 AM - 04-04-2026 @ 01:00 PM
📍 9301 Pflumm Rd, Lenexa, KS
LENEXA FARMERS Winter Market
28
Mar

LENEXA FARMERS Winter Market

◷ 03-28-2026 @ 09:00 AM - 02-28-2026 @ 01:00 PM
📍 Lenexa Public Market 8750 Penrose Ln. Lenexa, KS 66219
KC WINE CO Sip & Shop
21
Mar

KC WINE CO Sip & Shop

◷ 03-21-2026 @ 12:00 PM - 03-21-2026 @ 06:00 PM
📍 13875 South Gardner RoadOlathe, KS
LIONBERRY & The Heartland Elderberry Collaborative AgriCluster 
18
Mar

LIONBERRY & The Heartland Elderberry Collaborative AgriCluster 

◷ 03-18-2026 @ 06:33 PM - 03-18-2026 @ 06:33 PM
📍 Kansas State Capitol
The 2026 KC Metaphysical 
13
Mar

The 2026 KC Metaphysical 

◷ 03-13-2026 @ 02:00 PM - 03-15-2026 @ 06:00 PM
📍 Harrah's Kansas City Casino & Hotel, 1 Riverboat Dr, North Kansas City, MO 64116
LIONBERRY & The Heartland Elderberry Collaborative AgriCluster
07
Mar

LIONBERRY & The Heartland Elderberry Collaborative AgriCluster

◷ 03-07-2026 @ 08:00 AM - 03-07-2026 @ 03:00 PM
📍 509 E. Chippewa St. Paola, KS
LENEXA FARMERS WINTER MARKET 
28
Feb

LENEXA FARMERS WINTER MARKET 

◷ 02-28-2026 @ 09:00 AM - 02-28-2026 @ 01:00 PM
📍 Lenexa Public Market 8750 Penrose Ln. Lenexa, KS 66219
KC LOVE EVENT KC UNION STATION KCMO
14
Feb

KC LOVE EVENT KC UNION STATION KCMO

◷ 02-14-2026 @ 10:00 AM - 02-15-2026 @ 04:00 PM
📍 30 West Pershing Road Kansas City, MO 64108
4th Annual Valentines Sip & Shop by JennyMacs
07
Feb

4th Annual Valentines Sip & Shop by JennyMacs

◷ 02-07-2026 @ 10:00 AM - 02-07-2026 @ 03:00 PM
📍 The Woodshed 1901 N Kansas Ave Topeka, KS 66608
2026 GREAT PLAINS GROWERS CONFERENCE
08
Jan

2026 GREAT PLAINS GROWERS CONFERENCE

◷ 01-08-2026 @ 08:00 AM - 01-10-2026 @ 04:00 PM
📍 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO
LENEXA FARMERS MARKETS HOLIDAY MARKET 
20
Dec

LENEXA FARMERS MARKETS HOLIDAY MARKET 

◷ 12-20-2025 @ 09:00 AM - 12-20-2025 @ 01:00 PM
📍 Lenexa Public Market 8750 Penrose Ln. Lenexa, KS 66219
HOLIDAY FLING
13
Dec

HOLIDAY FLING

◷ 12-13-2025 @ 09:00 AM - 12-14-2025 @ 04:00 PM
📍 One Expocentre Drive Topeka, KS 66612
Old World Christkindlmarkt at the Flint Hills
05
Dec

Old World Christkindlmarkt at the Flint Hills

◷ 12-05-2025 @ 05:00 PM - 12-06-2025 @ 09:00 PM
📍 28139 Mt Calvary Rd, St Marys, Kansas, 66536
Old World Christkindlmarkt at the Flint Hills
28
Nov

Old World Christkindlmarkt at the Flint Hills

◷ 11-28-2025 @ 05:00 PM - 11-29-2025 @ 09:00 PM
📍 28139 Mt Calvary Rd, St Marys, Kansas, 66536
Kansas City Holiday Boutique
20
Nov

Kansas City Holiday Boutique

◷ 11-20-2025 @ 10:00 AM - 11-23-2025 @ 05:00 PM
📍 6000 College Boulevard Overland Park, KS 66211
Holiday Boutique 
14
Nov

Holiday Boutique 

◷ 11-14-2025 @ 10:00 AM - 11-16-2025 @ 05:00 PM
📍 455 N. 10th Street Omaha, NE 68102
KC Local Craft Fair Holiday Market
08
Nov

KC Local Craft Fair Holiday Market

◷ 11-08-2025 @ 10:00 AM
📍 11184 Lackman Rd, Lenexa, KS 66219
Holiday Boutique – Des Moines Iowa EMC Expo Center
07
Nov

Holiday Boutique – Des Moines Iowa EMC Expo Center

◷ 11-07-2025 @ 10:00 AM - 11-09-2025 @ 05:00 PM
📍 730 4th Street Des Moines, IA
Schwarz General and Feed Store Halloween Event
31
Oct

Schwarz General and Feed Store Halloween Event

◷ 10-31-2025 @ 04:00 PM
📍 408 S Kansas Ave Lane Ks 66042
LENEXA FARMERS MARKETS HOLIDAY MARKET 
28
Oct

LENEXA FARMERS MARKETS HOLIDAY MARKET 

◷ 10-28-2025 @ 07:37 PM - 10-28-2025 @ 07:37 PM
📍 Lenexa Public Market 8750 Penrose Ln. Lenexa, KS 66219

We are thrilled to return to the Lenexa Farmers Market in 2026!

Live Simply. So others can simply live.

Meet Raeyn, a Sustainable Agriculture Student and your Elderberry Cinderella. 

More Past Events

2025

Maple Leaf Craft Fair
Baldwin City, KS
October 18–19
Moonlight Market
Shawnee Town Hall
October 18
Burgfest Street Fair
Warrensburg, MO
October 10–11
Fall Chick Event
Town Center Plaza, Leawood, KS
October 4–5
KC Metaphysical Fair
Lawrence, KS
September 26–28
44th Annual Cider Days
Topeka, KS
September 20–21
Kansas State Fair
Hutchinson, KS
September 5–14
Lenexa Spinach Fest
Lenexa, KS
September 5–6
Just For Her Event
Overland Park Convention Center
June 20–21
Smithville Lake Festival
June 14–16
KC PRIDEFEST
June 7–9
Meadowbrook Park Festival
ChargePoint
June 7
ISINAGLASS Estates Winery Artisan SIP & SHOP
May 31 – June 1
Rustic Treasures Market
Burlingame Rodeo Days
May 17
Mother’s Day Event
Crown Center Westin Hotel
May 10
Spring Chic Event
Town Center Plaza
May 3–4
Lenexa Farmers Market
Lenexa Civic Campus
Every Saturday April 26 – October 25
Wichita Women’s Fair
Century II Performing Arts Center
April 25–27
Zona Rosa Spring Festival Pop-Up
April 19
The Spring Fever Event
April 18–19
Sip & Shop
Coffee Grounds Farm
April 12
Easter Small Business Pop-Up Shop
Sand Creek Event Center
April 12
Lenexa Farmers Market
Lenexa City Hall
March 29
RiverCity Tattoo & Lifestyle Expo
Wichita Century II Center
March 14–16
2025 Open Championship & Spring Innovative Choreography College Combine
Olathe East High School
March 2
KC Home and Flower Show
Bartle Hall
February 28 – March 2
KU Sip and Shop
Kansas Memorial Union
February 23
Lenexa Farmers Market
Lenexa City Hall
February 22
GALLANTINE’S Event
Pink Rodeo Boutique
February 21
KC Love Event
Union Station Grand Hall
February 15–16
3rd Annual Sip and Shop
Woodshed Event Center
February 8
KC PINNERS
Overland Park Convention Center
January 31 – February 1
Lenexa Farmers Market
Lenexa City Hall
January 25
The Johnson County Home + Remodeling Show
Overland Park Convention Center
January 24–26
Lincoln Women’s Expo
Sandhills Global Event Center
January 18–19

2024

Lenexa Holiday Farmers Market
December 21
Coming Soon Event
December 14–15
JINGLE at the Legends
December 12–31
Wichita Holiday Fair
December 7–8
Kansas Holiday Market
Flint Hills Discovery Center
November 30
KC Holiday Boutique
Overland Park Convention Center
November 21–24

METABOLIC RECOVERY – The Next Phase of the GLP-1 Conversation: Metabolic Recovery

Lionberry 's Weekly Delusion and Re-illusion Update.

For the last two years, we’ve been talking about GLP-1 drugs.

Ozempic. Wegovy. Zepbound.

They work.

They reduce appetite, improve blood sugar regulation, and are reshaping metabolic health at scale. This is one of the most significant shifts we’ve seen in decades (Wilding et al., 2021).

But a quieter question is starting to emerge:

What happens after?

Because many people eventually discontinue these medications. They’re expensive, often require ongoing use, and studies have shown substantial weight regain can occur after discontinuation of GLP-1 therapies (Wilding et al., 2022).

Not because people failed.

Because the system that was being supported… is no longer being supported.

I believe we’re entering a new phase of this conversation.

Not just weight loss.

Not just appetite suppression.

But metabolic recovery.

What does the body need to help maintain stability after intervention?

The Washington State University elderberry study led by Professor Patrick Solverson and colleagues, published in 2024, caught my attention immediately (Solverson et al., 2024). Last summer, I also had the opportunity to hear the research presented during the International Elderberry Symposium.

As both an elderberry farmer and a value-added product maker, I was excited to see rigorous science emerging around American elderberry — but also genuinely curious why it wasn’t making larger headlines.

Because the findings were interesting.

In the randomized controlled trial, participants consuming 100% American elderberry juice for one week demonstrated:

  • Reduced blood glucose
  • Lower insulin levels
  • Increased fat oxidation
  • Measurable shifts in gut microbiome activity (Solverson et al., 2024)

Not a miracle.

Not hype.

But a signal.

Because the mechanism matters.

One detail that makes American elderberry especially interesting is that its anthocyanin profile appears to differ from many other dark berries.

American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) contains significant amounts of acylated anthocyanins — particularly acylated cyanidin-based compounds connected to hydroxycinnamic acid groups (Lee & Finn, 2007; Özgen et al., 2010). These acyl groups alter the chemistry and stability of the anthocyanin molecule.

Why does that matter?

Research suggests acylated anthocyanins demonstrate greater resistance to heat, oxidation, light degradation, and digestive breakdown compared to many non-acylated anthocyanins commonly found in fruits such as blackberries and in many European elderberry varieties (Sadilova et al., 2006; Fuleki & Francis, 1968).

That stability may matter biologically because it potentially allows more intact anthocyanin compounds to survive processing, storage, digestion, and interaction with the gut microbiome.

European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) contains a different anthocyanin composition, dominated more heavily by non-acylated cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-sambubioside compounds (Lee & Finn, 2007). Other berries absolutely contain beneficial anthocyanins too — but American elderberry appears to possess a somewhat distinct anthocyanin architecture that researchers are still working to fully understand.

Researchers believe these anthocyanins interact with the gut microbiome, helping generate short-chain fatty acids and downstream metabolites associated with insulin sensitivity, inflammation regulation, and endogenous GLP-1 signaling pathways (Chambers et al., 2018; Solverson et al., 2024).

Not synthetically.

Endogenously.

Through food and the gut microbiome.

To me, this is where the conversation may be heading next.

Not:

“What replaces GLP-1 drugs?”

But:

“What helps support the body alongside them — and after them?”

Or even:

“What supports metabolic health for people who never start them at all?”

For too long, metabolism has been framed as something we “fix.”

I think we’re moving toward something different:

Metabolism as something we support daily — through food, hydration, gut health, and the biological systems we nourish over time.

For the past year, I’ve been quietly studying this space and building around one core idea:

There may be a meaningful role for real functional food in the GLP-1 era — not as a replacement for medicine, but as nutritional support alongside metabolic health journeys.

Not a shortcut.

A system.

We’re still early in this conversation.

But if the last few years were about intervention…

the next few may be about recovery.

Curious what others in food, agriculture, metabolic health, and functional wellness are seeing emerge in this space.

— Bevin Brooks

References

Solverson, P., Teets, C., Rust, B., Johnson, S.A., et al. (2024). A One-Week Elderberry Juice Intervention Augments the Fecal Microbiota and Suggests Improvement in Glucose Tolerance and Fat Oxidation in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 16(20), 3555.

Wilding, J.P.H., Batterham, R.L., Calanna, S., et al. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989–1002.

Wilding, J.P.H., Jacobsen, L.V., le Roux, C.W., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553–1564.

Lee, J., & Finn, C.E. (2007). Anthocyanins and Other Polyphenolics in American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Cultivars. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 87(14), 2665–2675.

Özgen, M., Scheerens, J.C., Reese, R.N., & Miller, R.A. (2010). Total Phenolic, Anthocyanin Contents and Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Elderberry Accessions. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 6(23), 198–203.

Sadilova, E., Stintzing, F.C., & Carle, R. (2006). Thermal degradation of acylated and nonacylated anthocyanins. Journal of Food Science, 71(8), C504–C512.

Fuleki, T., & Francis, F.J. (1968). Quantitative Methods for Anthocyanins: Stability of Elderberry Pigments. Journal of Food Science, 33(1), 72–79.

Chambers, E.S., Preston, T., Frost, G., & Morrison, D.J. (2018). Role of Gut Microbiota-Generated Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health. Current Nutrition Reports, 7, 198–206.