Probably the biggest farmers market I've been to! There are food options for everyone, and the best coffee ever (ugh I can't remember which stand) This was a very impressive farmers market that we were lucky to be in town for! read more

Probably the largest farmer market in the USA! This was a really fun experience to walk through all of the stalls, zigzaging from one spot to the next. From vendors, to information booths, to lots of food...it was all really awesome to see. If you're in town and especially because of a race, check this market out! read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Yum! - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

The Farmers Market this year has been awesome. With the extra blocks of vendors and the excessive amount of vendors offering free samples & just generally offering great service. There are so many options of food & drinks. Alcohol and non alcohol, coffee & boba. Varieties of plants & flowers & live flower bouquets. Different seasonings & jams & jellies. Jerky. Dog treats. Steak & various meats. Vegan & vegetarian options as well. Lots of dogs being walked. Very well behaved. Seemed a lot cleaner this year and so far no sink holes (I had the experience of witnessing that event live a few years ago, it was handled very well by everyone there). Lots of porta potties. There are musicians speckled about playing tunes the entire time as well. Lots of options to entertain the kiddies. Lots of space to take a break when you're having a bite to eat or sipping a drink. Always enjoy going when I have an extra Saturday off. Definitely recommend and if you haven't been this year it's almost the best I've seen. If you've never been, you are missing out. I also advise going so you're there at 7am when it starts. As sometimes by 11am if it's packed it IS packed. I'm sorry everytime I go I have such a great time I forget to take pictures. I promise to try to remember next time lol read more

Wow! This farmers market has everything you'd hope to find and more! Worth the trip!

SO MANY VENDORS! It's huge and so many beautiful and delicious things. I'd be there every weekend if I was local. Great variety of offerings. read more

Crazy, large and entertaining farmers market. Looks to be a huge number of options with some really good produce, vendors galore, and entertainment options. Right in the heart of the city pretty cool read more

Great way to spend a Saturday morning! The downtown Farmer's Market is a great event to walk around, get some fresh flowers or produce, and enjoy being outside. read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

SUCH a cute farmers market in the heart of downtown Des Moines! The main "complaint" if you can even call it that is that it's all outdoors, no coverings or anything, so the festivities of this farmers market are definitely heavily influenced by the elements. But other than that, this farmers market is FABULOUS! It spans four whole city blocks and then some because at each side street, the market will go down a block on each side as well! There are vendors lining both sides of every street selling all different kinds of goodies. Plenty of produce vendors, but also hot foods, artists, artisans, and many other kinds! There's a few live music performers and just a ton of great vibes here, rain or shine! I'm thoroughly impressed with this farmers market and I am a huge farmer market lover and visitor! This one definitely sits at the top of the list as one of the better ones I've been to! read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Des Moines Farmers Market - leads right up to the historic courthouse - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

I absolutely loved this market. The location was Downtown Des Moines. We got there early . It opens at 7a and closed at noon. It was a nice crowd at 7am . It was blocks and blocks of stations to stop at. They had food, vegetables, home goods , bakery, drinks, seasonings, outdoor pottery etc. they had blocks of entertainment as well. I could have walked these blocks all day. Weather was beautiful, location was 10 mjn from my hotel and parking I had shuttle service yay. If you are in that area I say go to that market and bring a cart for all your goodie's. read more

See all

What a great wide variety market! The smells from the variety of food vendors and the beautiful array of fresh flowers to the gorgeous bounty full produce is absolutely amazing! The vendors are helpful, prompt and friendly.... Wish we had this in the Phoenix area! read more

Excellent service, and food- very busy!! Prices are fair, wide variety of options!!!! read more

The Des Moines Farmers Market is a great start to any given Saturday. Stocked with fresh and locally produced fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses, and more, the DSMFM provides great options for healthy, organic goods. Not to fear, if you are thinking that you need something a little less good for you, there is no shortage of bakeries, coffee operations, jams and jellies makers, wineries, salad dressing makers, honey producers, and so on for you to indulge your tastes as you make the rounds. If nothing else, grab yourself a breakfast burrito or three as you window shop and people watch through the market. If you have some sort of family event coming up the market is for you, too. Fresh cut flowers, home baked pies, and even home decor can be found. For some, the DSMFM is a pleasant opportunity to experience a morning spent with happy people, their children, and (sometimes) pets. For those more introverted, a quick hustle in at the opening bell followed by a hasty exit makes the day no less pleasant. There are so many businesses to be recommended at the DSMFM, which is fantastic for allowing me to buy local. I will take the opportunity to give a shout out to Chef Steve's Kabob for my weekly egg roll fix, and Grade A Gardens for my produce needs. Once you are done with your market activities, downtown Des Moines gives you easy access to the riverwalk, skate park, science museum, Polk County Heritage Gallery, the Des Moines Art Walk, and many other places worthy of a visit. Things you should know: Market vendors are not allowed to sell to the public until the market officially opens, usually at 8:00 a.m. (weather events, and as the end of the season draws near, hours are subject to change. It's a good idea to check their Facebook page to make sure you are up to date.). There is literally a shaking of the cow bells to signal the opening of the market each weekend. The market closes at noon. There are a couple of parking ramps and lots adjacent to the market. Parking is usually $5. Metered (after 9:00 a.m.) street parking is available, but not abundant. The DSMFM covers several City blocks. You will want to wear footwear to accommodate, and be sure to bring along your reusable shopping bags to load up. Have a great time at the DSMFM and downtown. read more

We love coming to the market on Saturday morning! So many fun finds. We tried Jambo African Cuisine today and were thrilled, one of the best vendors so far. The tamarind juice tastes very refreshing, the kabob was well cooked, the sides seasoned deliciously and the coconut pancakes sweet and satisfying. The biscuit truck has a long line but it worth it for the great biscuits and fresh juice and coffee! After eating we love to walk around and select some fresh veggies and cheeses to take home. Our fav must-buy is the "sneak" cheese Frisian farms! Our toddler always beelines over to the cupcake stand for a unicorn cupcake, and my husband loves the live music. There's something here for everyone! read more

I'm a farmers' market fanatic and have been to markets in San Diego, Boston, Portland, Seattle, Austin, Boise, Omaha, Madison, and Kansas City. This one is the largest and most well-organized that I have been to. Apparently, it's rated the #2 best farmers' market in the nation by multiple outlets. I was absolutely blown away by the size and selection of this market! There are seemingly endless rows of booths set against the backdrop of the beautiful courthouse. Things to know: - The market runs May through October. - Get to the market early to get parking. You may have to circle a bit to find parking. - Be prepared for long lines! Thankfully there's plenty of live music on every corner to enjoy as you wait. - The market is extremely dog-friendly. - Come hungry! I suggest trying to Bosnian food or the papusas stand! read more

See all

This is probably the best farmers market in the whole country. It's huge and there are over 200 vendors, a mix of bakeries, treats, food vendors, veggies. Samples galore- the jam booth and the kimchi booth are worth mentioning. They're both delicious. Only on Saturday mornings in the summer but worth the drive from MN. Bring a cooler to take home any perishable. read more

See all

Best Farmer's Market in all of Iowa. I love visiting and making a great morning with a visit to the farmer's market. Fresh local grown fruits and veggies. Makers of all kinds of crafts. Baked goods. Food venders. Entertainment. And more!! Those are just some of my favorites. Located on Court Ave easy to find right by the River Pub. Parking can be challenging to find if you visit past 8:30am. During the pandemic the farmers market has implemented barriers to direct traffic. Most visitors are not masked but ok to be masked. Most venders are not masked. Since this is outdoors there is plenty of space to walk around. The more crowded during the morning, it may be harder. Some of my tips: Visit early, smaller crowd...but still busy. Credit is accepted at most tents BUT bring cash for very few venders. Parking meters charge at 9am, so ok to park at a meter before then to avoid paying meter. I highly recommend visiting! Make it a date morning, family gathering, breakfast outing, you name it!! The farmer's market has it all read more

See all

This is likely the largest and most popular farmers market in the area. The space is relatively large and there are MANY vendors. Since the market is closed all winter, its opening always draws out a huge crowd, which is totally expected and understandable, it does make browsing challenging however as you work make your way through the streets. There are more food and "item" vendors than grocery vendors, which is disappointing, and the products are very seasonal so selection is limited. Parking can be busy but often available at the $5 city lots. Lots of great flower vendors too! Overall a good Saturday activity while the weather allows! - Pros: lots of food options, good for families and dogs - Cons: parking can be tough, very crowded, low on produce selection read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I just moved down a few weeks ago and I'd only heard good things about this market. Well, it blew my mind away. It's seriously like 5 blocks big and just an insane amount of vendors. I see why it's such a big deal. I have nothing but great things to say. Plenty of local businesses selling things and a wide variety of food and knickknacks to buy! read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Pastries from a stand - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A good farmers market is a sign of a healthy community, I know, I know, it is cheesy and I am disappointed in myself for saying that, but it is the truth!!!!! You do not see five blocks of happy smiling vendors and ten thousand people roaming through at 10 o clock on a Saturday morning if there isn't some semblance of community!!!! So, I think this Farmers Market says a lot about the state of Des Moines and well, it is thriving. read more

I come here every year and it is the best every single year! all the food and other stuff is just to die for! they have anyhring from lemonade to pepper jelly. nothing ever bad has happened i have no complaints. I would definitely recommend the farmers market read more

See all

Ok it's still one of the best in the nation for shizzle! But man this past weekend I was reminded how crazy it can be! 40 minutes in line for a coffee... WOWZERS! I did snag some Vegan donuts that were quite delicious! Still great samples, fun free music, lots of places to buy booze if you need it... which you might need it! It's crowded! But the kids loves the train what can I say! read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Hands down the biggest and best farmers market I've ever been too. Felt more like a street fair. Great food, friendly people, and extra dog friendly. Would recommend anyone to go. read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Fun day for the family and you can get green tomatoes if you look hard.

Holy crap! I've been across the spectrum from San Francisco to New York when it comes to farmer's markets, so imagine my surprise when I say Des Moines unironically takes its place as a king. First of all, it's objectively one of the biggest I've ever seen. Those aerial pictures you see on the Yelp page aren't exaggerated - cross sections with at least 3 different traffic lines means this market is incredibly long as well as wide. Some of the food I expect as standard fair: awesome selections from sausages, BBQ, breakfast sandwiches, even pupusas. I do not get Des Moines' obsession with egg rolls and crab rangoons, but I dig it. In terms of market fare that really stuck out to me, some of the stuff I brought home include plenty of Gouda variants, blue cheese, and even dry Thai chiles. There's plenty of craft goods as well - yarns, handcrafted bags, handkerchiefs, potato bags, and even a local knife company! It's kind of hectic starting 9 AM. If you can come first couple hours, you'll have the keys to the kingdom. Maybe 10 onwards stuff starts selling out from breads to cheeses to cupcakes. But if you're in town for the season, 100% have to stop by here Saturday morning. read more

You guys this is the biggest farmer's market I've ever been to. I thought if I just stopped by I could see everything in 30 minutes but I'm pretty sure this entire thing was 4 blocks by 2 blocks (is that even a metric?). You get the idea--it's big. I spent at least an hour here and whizzed by most stands. I'm pretty sure everyone in Des Moines has a dog. There are sooo many food stands, flower stands, locally handmade goods and all the good things for those who love shopping local. From egg rolls to pupusas, to donuts and smoothies--if only I could eat more I would've been so happy. Lucky for me La Mie had a stand here so I was able to try one of their infamous pastries. I ordered a pear danish. It was so flaky and the pear was so good. I love pear and this pastry was perfect for my pear loving heart. read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Now this is a farmers' market !! I thought Reno had a couple of nice ones, but nothing compared to this. Every Saturday morning May to October 6a to noon, you can enjoy 10 large blocks filled with hundreds of vendors. It wall take almost that entire time to thoroughly check out all those vendors. Incredible choices of fresh baked goods, local produce, butchers, wineries and food options. Foods from around the world are available for purchase to eat right on the spot. I really liked how spread out the market is. You can walk the area and not be crowded. Getting into the various vendors was easy because each one had a nice area to work in. There are several free parking ramps available -Third Street and Court Avenue, Fifth and Walnut Streets and Fourth Street and Grand Avenue. If you're adventurous and ride your bike, you can park for free in the safe and secure bike valet inside the Terrus Real Estate Group parking ramp, located at the SE corner of 2nd and Court Avenue. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning downtown. read more

See all

A few tips for visiting the downtown farmers market in Des Moines: -Bring cash. Some vendors accept credit card and debit payments and some even accept Snap cards but most do not. -Be prepared to walk very, very, very slowly as you contend with thousands of people and many dogs trying to look at all of the vendors along with you. -It used to be that you had to come early for deals but anymore it is just as packed early as it is later. Come when you can there is always plenty to see, buy, and eat. -Parking is a nightmare. Be prepared to walk a bit if you drive because you will not be able to park nearby unless you want to pay. Also remember that you have to pay the meters. The best way to enjoy the farmer's market is to come on foot or on a bike or some other non-car alternative. -If you are coming for produce keep in mind that most of the vendors sell food and artisan type of stuff. There are not very many produce and plant-based booths. -If you have a well-behaved dog that likes people, children, noise, and crowds they are welcome. Some vendors sell stuff for dogs and even provide samples of treats and water. If your dog has a problem with any of the things I listed please leave them at home. Dog fights in the middle of crowds that include lots of little ones is dangerous. -Depending on when you come, dress in layers. Half of the market is in shaded areas and others are in the blazing sun. -Bring your own bags. Many of the vendors have plastic bags but why pollute the earth with more plastic? -It is loud! Every corner has a different musician and you also have people's voices yelling over that plus many businesses that have patios are open and are also playing music. If you are sensitive to lots of noise I recommend ear plugs. -Bring comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to stand. There is very limited seating around the market. -If you like something that you taste or see, make sure to ask for the dates they will be at the market. Not all vendors come every week. Many of them are scheduled for certain Saturdays which offers a great rotation of stuff, but if you come looking for something in particular you may not find it. - Be open to new flavors. There are more and more unique food vendors that you'll only find here. - Bring water. There are lots of vendors selling bottled water and many more that sell all kinds of drinks from coladas inside pineapples to flavored teas but you'll want to make sure to stay hydrated so I recommend bringing your own water bottle so you're not adding more plastic to the planet. - Allow some time to people watch. It is an interesting cross-section of all types. - Bring the kiddos. Some vendors have activities for kids and there are tons of food options to start opening their minds and pallets to new and creative ways of eating. - Enjoy! read more

Des Moines Farmers Market - Thousands of people pack the Court Avenue District every Saturday morning beginning in May and going until the end of October. - Farmers Market Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We loved the breakfast burrito bowl stall and the goat cheese ice cream stall. The ambiance was great as I love dogs! The service was very quick as all stalls cook quickly read more

Best Farmers Market I have been too. So glad to see everyone out and enjoying the place. This is our first time in Des Moines Farmers Market. We will definitely come back the next time we come visit our son. read more

See all

I made another visit to the farmers market this weekend. Despite the rain, there were still crowds and crowds of people! The food here is super delicious!! Its basically why I show up on Saturdays (I don't really buy veggies or fruits). My favorite vendors so far are: Tacopocalypse--two tacos for $5, I had the braised pork (w/o wasabi) and vegan chorizo Pupusa-El Salvador--one pupusa is $4 and comes with a side of slaw. Good big portions! Papilon Bosnian Food--my favorite are the cabbage rolls. They are cooked in front of you and steaming hot when you order them. Super delicious! Cost is $3 I can't wait to come back! read more

Second in the nation! There is something here for everyone. Dog friendly. Start of the season it's early rise to be here before the bell at 7. Parking is easiest if you go early. Blocks and blocks of fresh goods. Breakfast pizza . Breakfast anything really. Fresh produce. Early in the season it's Morales in season and then things change as the summer goes on. Always love to go down for the local entertainment on each corner and all the fun things to buy. read more

See all

I have arrived to Farmers Market heaven - - which is synonymous with my general vision of heaven. Just imagine it: pails upon pails of fresh cut flowers, fresh weisswurst on pretzel buns, pastries from La Mie Bakery, dogs everywhere and enough bloody Mary bars to knock Des Moines off its feet. This market is a great model for others to build upon - live music on every corner, shoppers throwing money around at every stall, the best people watching in all the land and free bicycle parking spread out upon closed block after block of downtown Des Moines. I can't wait to see the market in full swing when there is more seasonal produce available. But in the meantime, I'll sit back and enjoy my self-made Bloody Mary at Court Avenue Brewing Company for $5.50 (mmm carrot juice, a big dollop of horseradish, pickled onions, green beans, ginger, pepperoni and so on and so on). read more

See all

This is the place to be on Saturday mornings. People, dogs, handmade goods, produce, food and coffee. There's always a great deal and great people. read more

Des Moines...you sure know how to put on a farmers market!!! This is probably one of the largest farmers market. So many produce stands, food vendors and art tents...it made me giddy. The layout of the market works so even though there are a lot of people that attend the market it is not so crowded that you feel smothered. Dogs are allowed at the market and there were plenty of cute puppies and very behaved dogs. read more

See all

I had not been to the Farmers Market in years because it was so crowded. I went at 7am and that is the ideal time. The crowd was manageable and not the usual disrespectful crowd later in the morning. The vendors were good but if you are looking for deals this is not the place. The produce is fresh and looks really good. Generally it is from local producers too. It is fun to get your Day started early on a Saturday morning too. They also have great live music each week too. There is something for everyone! It is worth attending every week or just a couple times a season! read more

We have been visiting the Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market (DTFM) for years! It is one of our favorite things to do in the spring, summer, and fall months, and is part of the reason we moved to the metro area from West Des Moines. Typically, we miss only 1-3 Saturdays of every season. The market is open every Saturday from mid-May through early October, 7am-12pm, rain or shine, between 5th Ave & Water Street in the historic Court district. Parking suggestion from a local, die hard DTFM-goer: 4th & Grand garage, on the northwest side of the Civic Center. Free on the weekends, and even if you have to park at the very top, it's a short walk through pedestrian-friendly Cowles Commons, right into the market. If you're a cyclist, the Des Moines Bicycle Collective offers free valet bike parking on 2nd & Court, where your bike will be locked and monitored by one of their volunteers until you're ready to leave. It's a fantastic service! The market is family friendly, solo friendly, leashed dog friendly, kid friendly - everybody friendly. Whether you're looking for local eats, farm-to-table vendors, clothing, jewelry, plants, wines, live music/talent, drinks and brunch, or just a place to walk around and 'window' shop while burning some calories, the market has something for you. Also, with the addition of the 4th & Court Hy-Vee location, you can plan to get all of your shopping out of the way on each trip to the market. It's a great place to get out of the sun and heat in the warmer months and they offer an indoor restaurant, along with a soda fountain and some other great new Hy-Vee perks. It allows us to get all of our fresh produce and goods from the market, then finish out our weekly shopping right in the grocery store. You can't beat that experience! Bottom line: If you're looking for one single place to get a full sense of Des Moines culture and vibe, DTFM is where you need to go. See you there! :) read more

See all

Great perfect morning activity! The vendors are unique, the foods sample are tasty, prices are great for selected items. Bring your appetite and bags to carry all your treasures. People are manageable if you follow the foot pattern. Slow foot traffic. read more

This is my absolute favorite thing in the whole city! You'll find produce, pastries, flowers, crafts, live music and so much more. The market happens every week and takes up 8-9 downtown blocks. It's huge! In town for the weekend? This is a must stop. Take it from me. I'm a local and you'll see me out there almost every weekend all summer long! Some weeks I'm shopping, but other weekends I'll find a patio with some mimosas and just enjoy the atmosphere. read more

This Farmers Market is located in Downtown Des Moines in the historic Court District. I've been hearing so much about this Famers Market ever since I moved to Iowa. It's been described to me as a massive outdoor market that stretches block after blocks and one of the biggest in the country. Several friends have cautiously described its magnitude as "overwhelming" and not even the Farmers Markets I've visited in the past can come close to this. Based on their website, this market started in 1976 with 15 vendors and 200 shoppers that since have grown to more than 200 vendors and 18,000 shoppers per weekend. This year, there was a record of over 30,000 visitors at the first opening. This Farmers Market is open every Saturday from May through October every year. I never thought of myself as someone who is easily overwhelmed, but this market was so dispersed it took us over 3 hours to walk from one end to another. In her review, fellow Yelper Janet E estimated this market to take up at least 8 blocks as it covered multiple streets and major intersections. Hands down, this was bigger than most of the shopping malls and street fairs I've ever been to. There was something there for everyone as vendors sold exciting arrays of Meat and Cheese, Produce, Food, Craft, Pastries, Flowers, and Street Entertainment. One of the most striking things about this market was the number of vendors that were selling meat and cheese. This is a big meat and dairy state so it was easy to find steaks with a variety of fancy seasonings, German and Polish sausages, beef jerky, and other kinds of meat that were either hormone-free, smoked, grilled, pastured, or flax fed. One can buy all kinds of steaks, burgers and patties to cook at home, and there were also vendors that carry an assortment of chicken, pork, lamb, turkey and elk. Several vendors also carried pasture raised eggs which I wished I had bought a dozen to bring home. I was surprised to see several vendors that carried Asian produce where one can find bitter melon, watercress, basil, bok choy, and other types of herbs. This market also carried a range of produce that included corn, carrots, peppers, kale, eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, onion, garlic, squash, and much more. All were locally grown where some were organic but majority of them were chemical free. We also had the chance to sample an assortment of seasonal fruits such as watermelon, raspberries, peaches, plums, pears, strawberries, and apples. There were also several places that were selling homemade jams and jellies, salsa, olive oil, and barbeque sauces. I wished they have more outdoor barbeques. I also did not see any food trucks around even though few do visibly roam the streets of Des Moines. Some of the cuisines I saw included Amish, Bosnian, Chinese, German, Hmong, Indian, Mexican, Salvadoran, and Middle Eastern. There was a place that specializes in breakfast burritos and there were a number of coffee and beer stands. The food seems to lean on the expensive side with plenty of deep fried options. Hopefully by next summer I'll have more to report on some of the cuisines that I still need to try. Many people here seemed to be big on dessert so the number of pastry places was incredible. Pies, pies, whoopee pies, angel cakes, bacon dipped chocolates, breads, cupcakes, bread puddings, cinnamon rolls, red and black raspberry rolls, cookies, and cinnamon roasted almonds, cashews, and pecans--to name a few. Surprisingly, I was able to get a cup of taro boba which they called bubble tea here.The texture of the boba was decent but I wasn't too fond of the powdery milky taste. There were several flower stands, and those that were selling jewelries and crafts. The size of the sunflowers and dahlias were humongous, and there was a place for people to buy plants for the home. To add to the festivity, there were street performers such as balloon artists, evangelists, belly dancers, and bands that performed at opposite ends of streets and intersections. Some vendors accept credit cards and the ones I visited were very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Everything was locally grown so it was a great way to support local businesses while I gained a perspective about a very important part of the economy in the state. The atmosphere was vibrant, festive and friendly with lots of teens, young professionals, the elderly, and families with small children bursting everywhere. Best of all was the cleanliness and organizational layout that kept things orderly without feeling cramped or isolated. If there are areas to improve, it would be more table and chairs at designated places for people to hang out. I also wished similar types of vendors could be group together in the same area instead of having to run into them at random. There's nothing quite like this Farmers Market. I will definitely be back. read more

See all

This place is huge, like several streets full of vendors huge. This past weekend was my first time and was shocked to see how big they do it in downtown Des Moines!!!! They have a little bit of everything here food wise, they also have a little bit of general merchandise for sale as well. You can spend a good amount of time here checking all the vendors out. This a way above average farmers market, should be called a farmer multi block street festival, which would be a better description the massive collection of vendors. Great stuff all around! This is one more reason Des Moines is a wonderful emerging city, keep up the great work! Love to see events like this that can draw a large crowd weekly. read more