Downtown Farmers' Market Makes Plans To Scale Up Beginning Memorial Day Weekend
DOWNTOWN DES MOINES, IOWA (May 10, 2021) — The Downtown Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is preparing to scale up the number of vendors and other activities beginning Saturday, May 29. The Market successfully kicked off its season in the Historic Court District with a scaled-back model.
Beginning May 29, The Market will increase from 115 to 165 on-site vendors, which will be about 75% of the normal number of vendors pre-pandemic. With this increase, The Market will welcome back many of the prepared food and local artist vendors. The Market will offer two limited seating and eating areas, one in the courtyard located at 100 Court Ave. and another on Court Avenue near Fifth Street. Additionally, The Market will host three-to-four entertainment groups to perform in open areas (down from the normal amount of seven), and phase in limited family and children’s activities.
“Safety continues to remain a top priority, and this represents an intermediate step between our scaled-back approach to begin the season and where we all hope to get to with a full, bustling market,” said Kelly Foss, Director of The Market. “We are so excited to welcome back even more vendors for the holiday weekend as well as elements that will safely make The Market feel even more like the event we remember.”
For the next two Saturdays before May 29, The Market will continue to allow for an extra booth-length distance between participating vendors. The Market continues to encourage attendees to adhere to the 6-feet social distancing guideline while shopping at The Market, and masks will be required for attendees and vendors until otherwise noted. Hand sanitizer stations will continue to be available throughout The Market. Customer walking traffic will also be limited to one-way paths to ensure a safe streamlined shopping process.
The Downtown Farmers’ Market will continuously evaluate protocols and programming throughout the season in response to the fluctuating COVID-19 virus infection levels and vaccination rates.
Find more information at desmoinesfarmersmarket.com.
About the Downtown Farmers’ Market
The Downtown Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday morning May – October in the Historic Court District in Downtown Des Moines. The Market also produces a Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market in November and December. Find more information at desmoinesfarmersmarket.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/DowntownFarmersMarket and on Twitter and Instagram at @dtfarmersmarket.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.