(Des Moines, IA) -- The Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market will return to Court Avenue this season. The market is each Saturday From May through October. Organizers say the market will be scaled-back to follow COVID guidelines. The market was suspended for a while last year due to the pandemic. It later returned with a drive-through market.
Organizers say 110 to 115 vendors will take part in the market. Booths will be spaced out and people attending are will be encouraged to socially distance. Masks will be required and hand sanitizer stations will be available. Customer walking traffic will also be limited to one-way paths to ensure a safe streamlined shopping process.
Arts and crafts and prepared food vendors will not be participating to begin the season, nor will there be some other traditional elements of The Market, including seating areas, children’s activities and live entertainment options.
Vendors who will not appear at the in-person Market will still have the opportunity to have their products available for purchase on the Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace Online. Attendees are also highly encouraged to preorder items from participating in-person vendors on The Online Marketplace to ease the transaction process at The Market.
“We are so excited to begin to feel a sense of normalcy as we start the 2021 season in the Historic Court District,” said Kelly Foss, Director of The Market. “This is a starting point and we look forward to being able to add back more elements when the time is right that make The Market a world-class event.”