This Week at The Market: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
It's harvest season, and you know what that means ... autumn goodies are beginning to appear at the Downtown Farmers' Market presented by UnityPoint Health. From seasonal produce like squash and sweet potatoes to fall treats like baked apple pie, find fresh fall options this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 from 7 a.m. until Noon in the Historic Court District of Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Members of the Greater Des Moines Partnership Boards will ring the Opening Bell at the corner of 3rd Street and Court Avenue. Hear the iconic Market Cowbell mark the start, then fill your shopping bag and enjoy the morning by visiting your favorite Market vendor booths.
Vendors to Visit
Fall produce and other seasonal products await at The Market this weekend. Check out seven recommended vendors before you go, or find the complete list of Market vendors for Sept. 12 here.
- Cedar Street Rustics: Find handmade fabric pumpkins in an assortment of patterns at booth C-330 to dress up any room in the house with these seasonal accessories!
- Grade A Gardens: Looking for seasonal produce? Grade A Gardens will have what you need, and with a hardworking team like this, you'll want to add booths C-200 and C-202 to your Market route.
- Iowa Pepper Company: Check out the hottest Iowa peppers around at The Market when you visit booth 4N-19. And don't miss the upcoming Hot Pepper Eating Competition hosted by Iowa Pepper Company at the Historic Valley Junction Farmers' Market on Thursday, Sept. 17 in West Des Moines.
- Madison County Winery: Fall is the perfect time of year to enjoy a glass of wine on the deck as the sun sets and the temps cool, and Madison County Winery offers local wines like Vignoles, a dry white, or Midnight Rain, a semi-dry red. Stop by booth C-312 to purchase one!
- Pie Mates Australian Bakehouse: So many pies, so little time to enjoy all the varieties! But you're in luck, Pie Mates are now being sold at Hy-Vee, so you can get your favorites any day of the week, but we still suggest visiting booth C-209 this Saturday for a delicious pie as you make your way through The Market. Sweet pies like the Spiced Apple Crumble Pie and Bourbon Pecan Pie are a must-try this fall!
- S & S Acres (Donna Jean's Old-Fashioned Rolls: At booth C-414, take a minute to enjoy a warm, buttery treat — you can't go wrong with the Classic Cinnamon Roll. A variety of fall flavors from Pumpkin Pie to Apple Pie to Apple Crisp elevate a simple cinnamon roll to simply scrumptious.
- Timeless Prairie Orchard: Back at The Market for the rest of the season, Timeless Prairie is an apple orchard located in Winthrop. Evercrisp, Honeycrisp and Pink Lady apples will be at booth C-311 this Saturday, along with apple cider, too.
You won't want to miss this week's Spark DSM Vendors either. Located on Court Avenue between Second and Third Streets, check outBrooklyn's Designs, Soil to Soul and Women of the World.
Schedule Highlights
Join presenting sponsor UnityPoint Health visit team members from Behavioral Health and Powell CDC. Live entertainment from Professor Von Air, The Travelers and more will perform as you shop, and you can find resources from the Iowa Atheists & Free Thinkers and Christmas with a Cause 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 high 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!
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.