Summertime Events Spotlight: Downtown Farmers' Market and Out To Lunch
As Co-Chair of the Downtown Community Alliance Board and a Downtown Des Moines (DSM) employee, I enjoy so much of what Downtown offers year-round. Summertime is no exception; warmer weather in Downtown Des Moines means dozens of great outdoor events. Included in this list are the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market and the Out To Lunch series, both produced by the Downtown Community Alliance, part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
The Downtown Farmers' Market presented by UnityPoint Health — Des Moines opens for its 42nd season on Saturday, May 6. The Market is one of the crown jewels in our great City, and specifically, in Downtown DSM.
Farmers' Market Favorites
The Market is a place for our 80,000-plus Downtown DSM employees to return back to on Saturdays and experience their Downtown in a new, exciting way. For me, that means picking up my favorites: breakfast burritos, chai tea lattes, fresh flowers and more. And, the live music — I love it! We always love to bring visitors with us to The Market so they learn to love it as much as we do.
Nearly 300 vendors from 50 Iowa counties will participate in the 2017 season including:
- 97 farmers, producers and growers
- 25 vendors selling baked goods
- Nine local wine producers
- Five artisanal cheese makers
- 59 food artisans and gourmet food producers
- 47 new vendors
The Downtown Farmers' Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers. Today, an estimated 40,000 shoppers typically visit on Opening Day and key peak dates throughout the season. The Downtown Farmers' Market has been recognized nationally by publications including The Daily Meal, Shape Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine and Country Living Magazine.
The Market takes place every Saturday morning from May 6 through Oct. 28, 2017. Hours are 7 a.m. to Noon, with a later start time during October when hours are 8 a.m. to noon. New this season, The Market has partnered with Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) to offer extended Saturday service for The Market. In the months of May through October, the Downtown D-Line will start Saturday service at 7 a.m. Learn more and view the full list of vendors at DesMoinesFarmersMarket.com.
Out to Lunch Series Events
The Out To Lunch series is a great way to enjoy different areas of Downtown DSM over your lunch break. The series includes four different events that take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on each date:
Thursday, May 18 sponsored by Wells Fargo
Walnut Street between 6th and 7th Streets
Wednesday, May 31 sponsored by Hubbell Apartment Living
Western Gateway Park: 13th Street between Locust Street and Grand Avenue
Thursday, June 15 sponsored by Hubbell Apartment Living
Walnut Street, between 8th and 9th Streets
Thursday, July 13 sponsored by Hubbell Apartment Living
Western Gateway Park: 13th Street between Locust Street and Grand Avenue
Let's take a deeper dive into the first Out To Lunch event, on Thursday May 18. Walnut Street has experienced great momentum, with the new Wells Fargo History Museum, Art Route and Walnut Street Development projects. The May 18 Out To Lunch event features live music by country band Randy Burk & The Prisoners, as well as Mediterranean cuisine from Karam’s Grill, Jamaican food from Miss Molly’s Jamaican Patty, hand-pressed pizza from 515 Pi, Say Cheese grilled cheese and Patton’s Southern cuisine.
Stay tuned for more food vendor and band announcements for the remainder of the series! Want even more events? Visit DowntownDesMoines.com/events for our full events calendar.
Hallie E. Still-Caris
Hallie Still-Caris is a shareholder of Nyemaster Goode and practices in the firm's Business, Finance and Real Estate Department. Her practice is concentrated in the area of commercial real estate finance, in which she represents a number of insurance company lenders. She also advises businesses on compliance with environmental laws, as well as antitrust laws. She serves as the 2017 Co-Chair of the Downtown Community Alliance Board.