Holiday Markets in DSM Where You Can Shop Local for Christmas

Ho! Ho! Ho! Happy Holidays!! It’s time to brush off those wish lists and hit the stores. Christmas shopping is about more than clicking add to cart. It’s about discovering the perfect Christmas gift for a teacher or parent at an open house, holiday market or Christmas crafts sale. And there is so much handcrafted joy to discover in Greater Des Moines (DSM)!

Check out this guide to shopping locally for Christmas and find the best holiday shopping events of the season.

Shop Local for Christmas in Greater Des Moines

Nov. 10 – 12

Beaverdale Holiday Boutique (Friday, Nov. 10 – Saturday, Nov. 11)

Location: Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines
Description: Find charming hand-crafted and artisan-made goods at this classic Des Moines holiday market.
holytrinitydm.org/school/get-involved/beaverdale-holiday-boutique

Holiday Boutique (Friday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 12)

Location: Iowa Events Center in Downtown DSM
Description: Browse through more than 200 vendors to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
desmoinesholidayboutique.com

Junk Jubilee Jingles (Friday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 12)

Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines
Description: For flea market fun and one-of-a-kind finds, head to the Junk Jubilee at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
junkjubilee.com

Champagne & Mistletoe (Friday, Nov. 10)

Location: Uptown Ankeny in Ankeny
Description: Uptown Ankeny businesses are staying open later on Friday, Nov. 10, so you can shop, enjoy some holiday sips and take a carriage ride through the newly lit Winter Wonderlights displays from 5 – 7 p.m.
uptownankeny.org

Third Annual Shop Small Local Market (Saturday, Nov. 11)

Location: Newton Main Street
Description: Shop homemade products from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
newtoniowamainstreet.com/events/third-annual-shop-small-local-market

Nov. 16 – 19

Jingle in the Junction (Four Thursdays Minus Thanksgiving: Nov. 16 – Dec. 14)

Location: Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines
Description: Shop Historic Valley Junction businesses or enjoy dinner at one of the district's restaurants while horse drawn trolley rides, ice carvings, living snow globe photo ops and a tree lighting ceremony take place.
valleyjunction.com/valley-junction-events/jingle-in-the-junction

Downtown Winter Farmers Market (Friday, Nov. 17 – Sunday, Nov. 19)

Location: Hy-Vee Hall in Downtown DSM
Description: Stock up on late-season produce, holiday gifts, baked goods and more at this indoor farmers market.
dsmpartnership.com/desmoinesfarmersmarket/winter-market

Historic East Village Holiday Promenade (Five Fridays: Nov. 17 – Dec. 15)

Location: Historic East Village
Description: Starting on Friday, Nov. 17, visit the Historic East Village every Friday through Dec. 15 for holiday activities and shopping. The inaugural tree lighting ceremony will be held on Nov. 17 at Brenton Skating Plaza.
eastvillagedesmoines.com/event/2023-historic-east-village-holiday-promenade

The Holiday Bazaar (Friday, Nov. 17)

Location: Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown
Description: Shoppers can find gifts of handmade jewelry, arts and crafts and more.
business.marshalltown.org/community-events/Details/the-holiday-bazaar-981513?sourceTypeId=Website

Holiday Sip & Show (Sunday, Nov. 19)

Location: Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming
Description: Head to Middlebrook Mercantile on Sunday, Nov. 19, for home, beauty and apparel gifts.
middlebrookmercantile.com/events

Fall Maker’s Market (Sunday, Nov. 19)

Location: Jester Park Nature Center in Granger
Description: Shop more than 60 local makers and artisans at this free event.
jesterparknaturecenter.com/fall-makers-market

Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

Christkindlemarket DSM (Thursday, Nov. 30 – Sunday, Dec. 3)

Location: Principal Park in Downtown DSM
Description: This event is a German-inspired Christmas market whose goal is to educate and entertain the community by exposing them to European-style foods, products and activities. Learn more about this year’s events.
christkindlmarketdsm.com

Kerstmarkt: Pella's Dutch Christmas Market (Thursday, Nov. 30 – Saturday, Dec. 2)

Location: Molengracht Plaza in Pella
Description: Stroll along the Molengracht in Pella enjoying a warm beverage. Along this European style canal, you will find many holiday and Dutch-themed items available from local artisans.
visitpella.com/events/kerstmarkt_pellas_dutch_christmas_market/2023-11-30

Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa Holiday Market (Saturday, Dec. 2)

Location: Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa
Description: Attend the Holiday Market featuring gifts, treats, decorations and more from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Santa will be at the event from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and attendees can enjoy free face painting from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
iaccofia.org

Cookie Walk & Vendor Fair (Saturday, Dec. 2)

Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Indianola
Description: Holiday treats and local gifts are available for purchase at the Cookie Walk & Vendor Fair from 9 a.m. until Noon.
chamberorganizer.com/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=470388&org_id=INDI

Local Holiday Maker’s Market (Saturday, Dec. 2)

Location: Valley Community Center in West Des Moines
Description: Stop by the café for a snack and a warm mug of coffee or tea and shop for meaningful handmade gifts from local makers.
valleycommunity.center/makersmarket

Dazzling in The District (Saturday, Dec. 2)

Location: The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny
Description: Visit local shops and restaurants with lots of holiday specials from 2 – 6 p.m. Finish the evening with the mayor’s tree lighting ceremony in Town Square Park at 6:30 p.m.
facebook.com/events/714346953508717

German Christmas Service (Sunday, Dec. 3)

Location: Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in Des Moines 
Description: Fröhliche Weihnachten! Come and celebrate the birth of Christ during Des Moines' annual German Christmas Service at 5 p.m.! Throughout worship there will be songs and scripture in the German language. The service ends with a candlelight singing of "Stille Nacht." Following the service, all are invited to feast on traditional German Christmas treats!
facebook.com/events/707914701371523

Dec. 8 – 10

Winter Solstice Market (Friday, Dec. 8 – Saturday, Dec. 9)

Location: Winterset Courthouse Square in Winterset
Description: Handcrafted items await at this two-day indoor shopping market. Visit 26 vendors in Winterset’s newly restored Winterset Livery building.
traveliowa.com/calendar/winter-solstice-market/1647334

The Peppermint Trail (Saturday, Dec. 9)

Location: The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand and Roosevelt Cultural District in Des Moines
Description: This holiday event brings together 50+businesses to offer specials and deals during business hours, along with holiday activities and entertainment along the trail. New this year? The Bee-Merry-Line trolley, which will make stop along The Peppermint Trail from Noon until 4 p.m.
theavenuesdsm.com/peppermint-trail

Dec. 15 – 17

Sip & Shop Night at the Outlets (Friday, Dec. 15)

Location: Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona 
Description: Grab your spouse or closest friends, call a babysitter and come enjoy a night out of last-minute shopping with a drink in hand! Join us for a fun night of the best of both worlds — shopping and making a difference! Here's what you can expect:

• Your Private Bar will be providing beer, wine, mulled hot red wine sangria, holiday beers and hot chocolate
• Millstream Brewing Co. will be providing beer samples
• Lucky Wife Wine Slushies will provide wine slushie samples in flavors like homemade ice cream, strawberry, pina colada, mojito, wild berry and green apple
• The Midwest Local Vendor Market will also be at the event
• Several vendors will be donating a portion of sales to Make-A-Wish Iowa
• Tupelo Honey will be providing small snacks and drink samples
• Nothing Bundt Cakes will be selling bundt cakes with 10% of sales donated to Make-A-Wish Iowa

traveliowa.com/calendar/winter-solstice-market/1647334

The holiday season is the perfect time to shop local in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Support local businesses, creators and makers across the region. You can find ideas on where to shop using the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s #DSMlocal Guides and other regional business directories listed here.