This Week at The Market: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
The Downtown Farmers' Market presented by UnityPoint Health returns this Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 from 7 a.m. until Noon in the Historic Court District of Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Meet up at the corner of 3rd Street and Court Avenue for The Market's ringing of the Opening Bell. Then, explore Market vendors, enjoy live entertainment and chow down on some local eats.
Vendors to Visit
With many families getting ready to return to school next week, your Saturday morning at the Downtown Farmers' Market in Historic Court District is an opportunity to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies to send in school lunchboxes and items like journals, teachers gifts and more. Take a look at the seven recommended vendors below! You can also check out the complete list of Market vendors for Aug. 22 here.
- Bridgewater Farm: The flowers from Bridgewater Farm make a beautiful gift for your child's teacher. These fresh stems say "Have a great year!" in the most stunning way. Visit booths C-114 and C-116 to make your purchase.
- Caroline Freese Designs: Coffee mugs in cool folk designs make a unique teacher gift. At booth 5N-09, pottery as well as greeting cards and more await.
- Mai Lor's Vegetables: Fill up your family lunchboxes with fresh veggies from Mai Lor's this year. Booths 3S-09 and 3S-11 have what you need!
- Papercake Creations: Booth 4N-27 offers handmade journals, fun paint kits, pens and pencils that are perfect for back-to-school season. See the booth here!
- Schoolhouse Sweets: Custom cookies and baked goods from Schoolhouse Sweets are flavorful desserts anyone would love, including students and teachers! Get yours at booth 4N-08 this Saturday!
- The Side Garage: Connect with The Side Garage at The Market! Booth C-304 has got locally inspired collections, including for Drake University students and families.
- Yang's Homegrown Vegetables: At booths 2S-10 and 2S-12, Yang's offers delicious in-season veggies grown in Pella. Keep it healthy this schoolyear, and stock up on tomatoes, peppers and more.
You won't want to miss this week's Spark DSM Vendors either. Located on Court Avenue between Second and Third Streets, check out Nana's Kitchen/Local Bites Collective and Om Ayman's Kitchen.
Schedule Highlights
This week, join presenting sponsor UnityPoint Health to visit with the Medication Assistance Program. Live entertainment from Lauren Igou, Mia Prosperi and more will perform as you shop, and you can find resources from Renewal by Andersen, Simply Loved Nonprofit, Des Moines Kennel Club and NAMI of Iowa at The Market's Community Corner. A full list of entertainers and other programming is available here.
Plan Your Visit
Through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, 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.
This Saturday, weather is expected to be in the mid-60s at 7 a.m. and mid-70s by Noon as The Market wraps up. See the latest news, tips and photos on The Market's Facebook page!
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