LEWISTON — Sweet potato cinnamon bread. Pumpkin dog biscuits. Live lobster. Irish music. A can’t-miss-it spot at the foot of Longley Bridge.

All fixings for a new farmers market that organizers hope will offer an alternative to shopping away. The Lewiston Farmers Market at Bates Mill No. 5 debuts Sunday near the new city parking garage on Lincoln Street.

“There are a lot of weekend markets in Maine down south — Portland, Brunswick,” said Sherie Blumenthal, food access coordinator for Lots to Gardens and the St. Mary’s Nutrition Center. “We wanted to see if we could create a market that kept people in the area.”

The new market is Lewiston’s third. The Kennedy Park farmers market, Tuesday afternoons since 2004, is a neighborhood draw, she said. The St. Mary’s market, on Wednesdays since 2009, was born from a healthy hospitals initiative and serves that area.

A survey over the winter found interest in creating a “bigger, more destination” market, she said, that was, importantly, on weekends.

“I really would love to see a couple hundred people stop by,” she said.

The Bates Mill No. 5 market, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, will open with 15 to 20 vendors. L/A Arts will have a table for kids to make art for dad in honor of Father’s Day. The Milliners, a Portland-based Irish music band, will play from noon to 2 p.m.

Vendors will have access to a wireless machine that accepts credit, debit and EBT cards.

Brenda Snowdeal, master baker and co-owner of Bread & More Bakery in Mechanic Falls, said having a booth at the market is a way to get a little closer to customers.

“It’s an excellent location,” said Snowdeal, who makes her pies and pastries — and breads in flavors such as dill pickle, black bean and salsa, and sweet potato cinnamon — from scratch.

“Peanut butter is always, always, always a good seller,” said Anne Tolman of Doggie Delights, which makes all-natural, no-preservative dog biscuits in Lewiston.

People shopping healthy for themselves are often in the market to shop healthy for their pets, she said. She has fielded more requests for pumpkin dog bones lately. They’re high fiber and low fat.

“I’m pretty excited about (Sunday),” said Tolman, who, like Snowdeal, had a booth at Lewiston’s winter farmers market. “I love meeting the people. I love them talking about their dogs.”

Lisa Bryant of Harpswell, co-owner of Luscious Live Lobsters, said she liked the Lewiston market’s emphasis on healthy eating. She’ll be in her booth trying to get the word out that lobster and seafood should be anytime food, not just for special occasions.

Her partner catches the lobster they sell. Going straight to market keeps the price lower, Bryant said. She spotted live lobster selling at Walmart this week for $9.50 a pound, while theirs was selling for $6.

“We’re trying to reach out to everyone,” she said. “To be able to bring more to people so they can eat healthy without having to pay astronomical prices to get it.”

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Hours, new programs

The Lewiston Farmers Market is launching a new Market Rewards Program this season that works like a punch card: Log five punches after stopping at the markets five times and earn a $2 gift certificate to spend with the vendors.

It’s also extending the Double Value Coupon Program for those shopping with WIC funds or EBT cards (formerly known as the food stamp program.) Spend up to $10 and earn up to $10 more to spend on fruits, vegetables, or, new this year, meat and seafood at the market. It works at all three markets; the maximum coupon value is $10 per week. The program, supported by the Wholesome Wave Foundation and the Maine Health Access Foundation, will last until the funds run out, organizer Sherie Blumenthal said. In 2010, it stretched the entire summer.

Lewiston Farmers Market hours:

Bates Mill No. 5: Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; opens June 19

Kennedy Park: Tuesdays, 2 to 4:30 p.m.; opens June 21

St. Mary’s: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; opens June 22