There’s a particular kind of satisfaction in knowing exactly where your food comes from — the farmer who grew it, the season it ripened in, the few miles it traveled to get to your table. At Overland Ranch, that kind of grocery shopping isn’t a once-in-a-while treat. It’s a short drive away, every week, all summer long.
Southlands Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday from May 9 through September 26, the Town Square at Southlands Shopping Center transforms into one of Aurora’s best weekend traditions, the Southlands Farmers’ Market. From 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., local farmers and makers set up around the plaza with fresh, seasonal produce, baked goods, honey, salsas, and handmade crafts. It’s walkable, dog-friendly, and genuinely community-driven — the kind of market where you end up chatting with the person who grew your tomatoes.
Regulars rave about the variety at the market. Bavarian Sausage Express brings the kind of sausages that need no introduction. Wave the GRAIN covers the gluten-free crowd. And depending on the week, you might catch live music drifting across the plaza while you fill your tote bag. It’s the rare errand that feels more like an outing — pack the stroller, bring the dog, and make a morning of it.
Southlands sits just off E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, a short and easy drive from Overland Ranch — close enough to make it a real weekend habit rather than an occasional trip.
Natural Grocers — Aurora South
For the days that aren’t Saturday, Natural Grocers at Tower Road and Hampden Avenue rounds out the natural foods picture. It’s built around the basics done right: 100% organic produce, clean meat and dairy standards, an impressive bulk foods section, and body care products that meet the company’s notoriously strict ingredient standards.
What sets it apart is the education built into the shopping experience. The Aurora South location has a Nutritional Health Coach on staff, free in-store nutrition classes and cooking demos most weekends, and Sample Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. if you want to taste before you buy. It’s less a quick grocery run and more a standing resource for anyone trying to eat a little cleaner without overhauling their entire life and budget to do it.
Cherry Creek Fresh Market
About 30 minutes from the new homes at Overland Ranch in Southeast Aurora is the Cherry Creek Fresh Market. For nearly 30 years, this market has showcased locally-grown, raised, and thoughtfully made goods within the city’s premier shopping district. Bag up fresh produce, savor bites from vendors like Maria Empanada and Black Box Bakery and browse a range of pop-up boutiques. Those on the market’s email list receive a weekly barcode for free parking.
The Cherry Creek Fresh Market is held Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the east side of Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 100 S. Steele St., Denver.
A Lifestyle That Comes Standard
Between a Saturday morning at Southlands and a stocked-up trip to Natural Grocers during the week, eating well at Overland Ranch doesn’t take extra effort. It’s just how the neighborhood works — fresh, local, and close enough to make it part of your normal routine instead of an occasional occasion. Find your fresh and local new homes at Overland Ranch this year, with move-ins targeted for 2027. Get on the VIP Interest List to be the first in the know about this fall’s Grand Opening of Pioneer’s Row, the Model Home Hub.
