If you’re looking for things to do in Des Moines, Iowa this summer, checking out the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market is a must! Now open every Saturday from 7am to noon throughout the summer and into the fall, come visit Des Moines’ Historic Court District downtown to shop from an incredible selection of local vendors.
The Des Moines Farmers’ Market is ranked as the second best farmers’ market in America by both Daily Meal and Shape Magazine. We promise you, you do not want to miss out on this Midwestern classic!
Since its inaugural year in 1976, the Des Moines Farmers’ Market has been a large gathering space for local Iowans to promote their goods to the ever growing community. The large selection of fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, flowers, crafts, wine and more is accompanied by fun, family friendly activities that allow visitors to stay a while and enjoy the day with their family and friends.
Vendor Information
There are too many vendors to list them all here, so I’ll just talk about a few that I’m most excited about. First up, we have Dogpatch Urban Gardens. In addition to their menu of fresh produce, Dogpatch will also be selling fresh flowers and plant starters, so you can start your own garden right in your own backyard! The next one might be my favorite. Holy Biscuits, a ready to eat food stand, will be selling their own from-scratch biscuits alongside jam, honey, eggs, gravy, coffee and freshly squeezed juices. There’s nothing I love more than some good comfort food! Lastly, let’s talk about Papercake Creations. This unique arts and crafts vendor sells handmade journals, book-themed pillows, mixed media art and more- all made with or inspired by vintage books. Be sure to be on the lookout for these three vendors, but remember that every vendor is fantastic and will have their own specialties to bring to the market!
Get Involved
Not a vendor, but looking to still get involved? Join the volunteer list! The Des Moines Farmers’ Market volunteers work with the Greater Des Moines Partnership to collect fresh food donations from vendors every Saturday and distribute it to local food pantries as part of the Meals from the Market program. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community.
To learn more about the Des Moines Farmers’ Market, visit the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
