The cornfields may stretch to the horizon, but trust us—Central Iowans don’t live on sweet corn alone. When the muggy Des Moines summer hits and you’d rather fry an egg on Court Avenue than in your kitchen, farmers markets become equal parts grocery run and social event. Grab your reusable tote, muster your best “I totally know how to pick a ripe tomato” face, and let’s tour the markets that keep the metro’s veggie game strong.
Downtown Farmers' Market | 50th-season extravaganza
The granddaddy of them all shuts down the Historic Court District every Saturday, May through October, for a 7 a.m. to noon block party that now sprawls across a dozen streets. Celebrating its golden anniversary, the market has welcomed forty-eight fresh vendors this year—think beignet slingers, hand-rolled pasta, and an Asian-inspired ice-cream stand born from the Spark DSM incubator.
Expect roughly 275 stalls of produce, pastries, plants, and people-watching opportunities unmatched by anything outside the Iowa State Fair. Parking garages open early, but veterans know the DART Park & Ride saves headaches. Show up before 9 a.m. if you want peaches without elbowing strangers. Plot your vendor-by-vendor attack here.
Valley Junction Farmers Market | Thursday night street party
Historic 5th Street in West Des Moines morphs into a carnival every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., May to late September. Eighty-plus booths line the brick street, live bands anchor “Music in the Junction,” and 2025 ushered in a brand-new kids zone so parents can negotiate carrot sticks for swing-set minutes.
You’ll sniff out everything from Midwest peaches to the metro’s most brag-worthy onion rings. Street parking fills fast; ride-share to avoid parallel-parking trauma. See what’s playing and who’s frying what this week.
Beaverdale Farmers Market | Neighborhood picnic vibes
On Tuesdays, 4 – 7 p.m., Franklin Junior High’s west lot turns into the Beaverdale block party your extrovert neighbor dreams about. Farm-fresh eggs sit next to homemade pet treats, while local bands test the decibel limits of polite conversation.
Vendors skew small and scrappy, prices stay sensible, and everyone seems to know everyone else’s dog by name. Street spots ring the school, but biking in on the Neal Smith Trail earns style points. Check the week’s music lineup.
Global Greens Farmers Market | Refugee-grown goodies
Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., former refugee farmers transform the Polk County Health Department lot into an international produce buffet. Expect African eggplant, Burmese greens, and herbs your spice rack has never heard of, all Certified Naturally Grown.
SNAP, WIC, and Senior checks are cheerfully accepted. On-site parking is plentiful, but the reward for getting up early is snagging the rarer veggies before they vanish. Learn how to eat global while shopping local.
Brightside Market (Altoona) | Brewery-side browsing
Yes, Altoona counts—especially when your farmers market sits in a craft-brewery parking lot. Thursdays, 5 – 8 p.m., May 22 through August 28, Brightside Aleworks hosts vendors selling honey, produce, and enough knit goods to clothe a llama.
Snag a pint, wander under the bistro lights, and let your kids chase bubbles while you debate which zucchini is Instagram-worthy. Parking’s a breeze, and the beer garden seats beg you to stay. Scope this week’s vendor-and-beer pairings.
Johnston Farmers Market | Barn meets town center
From June 3 to September 30, Tuesdays 4 – 7 p.m., the new Johnston Town Center hosts a tidy lineup of growers, bakers, and food-truck favorites. A restored barn backdrop means your selfie game levels up automatically.
Free parking wraps the square, and picnic tables beckon for post-shop taco sessions. Kids gravitate to the splash pad; adults gravitate to kettle-corn samples. Peek at tonight’s food-truck roster.
Pleasant Hill Community Market | Monday kick-off
Why wait until midweek? Pleasant Hill jumps the line with a Monday 4 – 7 p.m. market, June 2 to August 25, in the Berean Church lot. It’s modest—think two dozen vendors—but sweet: free mini-train rides keep kids looping while you comparison-shop cookies.
Live acoustic sets float across the asphalt, and parking is as abundant as Iowa niceness.Catch their latest family-friendly perks.
Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market | Worth the short drive
A quick jaunt north rewards you with a sprawling Saturday 8 a.m. to noon market that anchors the Ankeny Market & Pavilion. Produce stalls mingle with woodworkers, goat-milk-soap artisans, and enough breakfast burritos to feed a Big Ten tailgate.
Live bands score your shopping, and the paved trail next door invites a post-peach stroll. Pack a cooler—leaving without farm-fresh cheese is practically illegal. Plan your Uptown adventure.
Farmers market pro tips (from a friendly know-it-all)
Arrive early for high-demand gems—heirloom tomatoes and sourdough loaves vanish faster than Cyclone tickets.
Bring small bills and patience; swiping a card is common, but cash keeps the line moving when networks hiccup.
Tote a cooler in the trunk. Nothing ruins local cheese like a 90-degree backseat sauna on I-80.
Chat with farmers. They’ll tell you which melon survived last night’s storm and how to roast a kohlrabi without Googling “what is kohlrabi.”
Many markets double SNAP dollars on fruits and veggies—ask at the info booth so your budget works overtime.
Leash your pups, carry water, and mind the asphalt heat on little paw pads.
Pace yourself. With markets running nearly every day of the week, you’re officially out of excuses for sad grocery-store lettuce. Embrace the bounty, support your neighbors, and remember: the best way to eat local is to show up hungry and curious.
