"On Saturdays from May to October, downtown Des Moines transforms into a sprawling open-air food fest spanning nine city blocks, attracting about 30,000 marketgoers and featuring more than 300 rotating vendors from across the state. The atmosphere is vibrant—with live bands, chef demos, and kids sampling fresh-picked berries—celebrating Iowa’s agricultural heritage and strong community spirit. Market staples I’d recommend are Uncle Dave’s Mini Donuts and summer peaches and cream corn." - Veronica Stoddart