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The Olney Farmers and Artists Market will return Sunday for its third season, featuring more vendors, entertainment and special events than before, organizers said.

The season will kick off with Mother's Day treats, including free massages, hourly drawings, a chef's demonstration featuring Kay Karim, the author of an Iraqi cookbook, and a children's mosaic activity by Ali Mirsky.

The time and location remain the same for the season — Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Olney Town Center shopping center, located at the intersection of Olney-Sandy Spring and Spartan roads in Olney.

The event will continue each week through Nov. 8.

The market was the brainchild of Olney resident Janet Terry, who, after visiting a similar event in Charleston, S.C., was inspired to bring the concept to Olney.

An abbreviated season was held in 2007 to see if the market would take hold. Organizers say last year's first full season was a bug success.

"We're really excited about this season," she said. "During these tough economic times, we think it's a great place for families to spend some quality time enjoying free entertainment, free goodies and experience lots of healthy items."

Twice as many farmers will participate this year, but most of their produce will not be available until later in the growing season.

"The response has just been amazing," Terry said. "I am not sure if it is just people trying to make extra money wherever they can, but we've had many new farmers contact us. One of the new additions this year is a dairy farmer."

While some favorites, like the southern fried peanuts and the sweet hot pickles, will again be offered, there will be several new unique delicacies, she said.

New specialty vendors include The Crab Ladies, offering frozen crab cakes, and Ole Pioneers Kitchen, providing frozen Argentinean and Italian sausages and bacon.

There will be new non-food items as well, such as purses made from tractor-trailer tires and tote bags made from onion and potato sacks.

Another new addition this year will be the Community Table. The Olney Farmers and Artists Market will pay the licensing fee and each week a different person in the community will sell baked goods.

"This gives someone the chance to make a little extra money and show off their culinary talents," Terry said.

Also new this year is the Fresh Give program. Local businesses will be able to purchase a booth where they can hand out promotional information. The fee collected from the business will allow the Olney Farmers and Artist Market to purchase the remaining food from the farmers and vendors each week to be used by Manna Food Center to feed county people in need.

"It's a great program; it benefits the farmers and helps the needy," Terry said.

A variety of free musical entertainment will be offered weekly, with café seating available.

Student from Sherwood High School's music department have agreed to set up and take down the musical equipment and manage the season's entertainment.

"We've already booked musical acts for most of the season," Terry said.

Terry said her volunteers have worked hard to make this the most successful season to date.

"We are really excited," she said. "We've never had as much interest as we have this year. We hope the community will continue to support us, and that people will tell their neighbors, too."

The Olney Farmers and Artists Market is looking for volunteers and musicians who want to be part of the festivities this season.

Volunteer duties include setting up and taking down tents, signs and tables; staffing market booths and providing information to customers; helping with activities in the children's booth, or providing assistance in the "Chef's Tent." To help, call Marlene Zaborsky at 301-774-1311 or send an e-mail to mzaborsky@wspnet.com.

Musicians are also needed to perform 10-11 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. each Sunday. To sign up, call Paula at 301-325-8828 or send an e-mail at ccaomcnt@verizon.net.