Opening Day at the 2026 Downtown Farmers' Market: What to See, Eat and Do

The Downtown Farmers' Market is back this weekend!

Are you ready to whip up a spring recipe with fresh ingredients, stock up on beautiful locally grown flowers and stock up on Iowa-produced meat? Farmers' Market season is here, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership is ready, with plenty of new vendors to explore, a new photo op for attendees, brand-new merch and so much more. Here's what to expect in 2026:

Schedule Highlights

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, join UnityPoint Health in a countdown to the ringing of the opening bell at 7 a.m., marking the return of one of Downtown Des Moines' favorite weekly events. The first 200 attendees will receive free bells and be first up to purchase new merchandise, including a new Jute bag, shirt design and stickers.

Check out The Market's new merch!

What's New

Meet Market Vendors

On Opening Day, the vendor booths listed below are just a few of the options to choose from to shop local! There are more than 300 vendors who will be at The Market this season, including Agriculture vendors selling produce and other farm products, including:

• Crooked Gap Farm: Located at booth 2S-02.
• Grade A Gardens: Located at booths C-200 and C-202. 
• Oakview Produce: Located at booth C-420. 
• Prairie Lake Acres: Located at booth C-330. 
• Ray Family Farms: Located at booth 4S-25.  
• Savaj Gardens: Located at booth 5N-01.  
• Shutt's Garden Center: Located at booth C-120.  
• Storybook Orchard: Located at booths 4S-39, 4S-41 and 4S-43.  
• Thill's Produce: Located at booths 4S-01, 4S-03, 4S-05 and 4S-07.  
• and so many more!

And don't miss the Prepared Food, Food Truck and Beverage vendors and Specialty Artisan Food vendors.

• Arepa DSM: Located at booth 3N-03.
• Batch Balanced: Located at booth 4N-12.
• Breann's Bread Box: Located at booth 5N-03.
• Iowa Coffee Company: Located at booths 3S-17 and 3S-19.
• Mae's Bagels: Located at booth 4N-04.
• Naturally Juiced: Food truck located at FT-04.
• Pupusas - El Salvador: Located at booths 3S-18 and 3S-20.
• Strudl Haus: Located at booths C-422 and C-424.
• Tami's Tarts: Located at booth 4S-45.
• Tarboosh: Located at booth C-316.
• Dave's Mini Donuts: Food truck located at FT-05.
• Vander Ploeg Bakery: Located at booths C-108 and C-110.

Use the interactive map to find booth locations for the vendors below.

The Tarboosh booth at The Market

Don't Miss Out on Market Programming

Throughout the season, you'll have the chance to meet 22 on-site Spark DSM vendors who will rotate through each week. See the full list of Spark DSM new and early-stage businesses from across the region who you can support and see flourish on Saturday mornings in Downtown Des Moines (DSM).

Spark DSM businesses at The Market

What else can you expect at this weekend's Market? Live entertainment from 4Neys, Brownian Motion, Professor Von Air, Sharane Calister and The Beggar's Bargain and special programming/deals from Renewal by Andersen and VEG ER for Pets are on the schedule, while the Community Corner will welcome Des Moines Christian Church to share community resources, too.

See the latest news, tips and photos that will have you heading Downtown on The Market's Facebook page!

All Season at The Market

Market Details

From May 2 - Oct. 31, The Market is open 7 a.m. to Noon (8 a.m. to Noon in October) every Saturday in Downtown DSM's Historic Court District. Download The Market's overview map and find out more about visiting The Market here.

Welcome Colin!

This season you'll see Colin Kriz, The Market's summer intern, supporting vendors on Saturday mornings. Be sure to wave or say hello if you see him around as you shop each week!

Colin Kriz, Market Intern

Pro Tips

New to The Market or haven't attended in a while? Here are a few ways to make the most of your visit:

1. Arrive early: Come for the bell ringing, stay for the produce, breakfast, entertainment and more!
2. Bring bags: Don’t forget to bring your reusable bags. However, if you forget, there are options at the Market Resource Tent sponsored by Principal Foundation for sale, including the new jute bag of the season.
3. Come hungry: There are multiple vendors at which to enjoy your breakfast, snack, coffee, lunch from so come ready to walk around and enjoy a treat!
4. Meet your local farmers: This week is the start of supporting the region's farmers all summer long (and into the fall!). Buy your plant starts at The Market or purchase ingredients that you'd usually get at the grocery store. Get to know the vendors growing your food — it's a connection that builds community, and it's healthy, too!

Did you know that Food & Wine Magazine named the Downtown Farmers' Market #8 on its 2025 list of America’s Must-Visit Farmers Markets, From San Francisco to New York?

To learn more about The Market, visit desmoinesfarmersmarket.com. Check out the video below to learn how to start your Saturdays fresh at Des Moines' Downtown Farmers' Market.

 

Keep up with the momentum that's happening in and around Greater Des Moines (DSM) when you subscribe to one or all of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's newsletters — they're packed with the latest news, highlighting everything from upcoming events to development projects to policy updates. Join the mailing list to connect with The Partnership and help amplify stories from around the region.