Des Moines Holiday Markets + Local Shopping
It is the time of year for all the holiday shopping. Holiday markets, Christmas markets, and craft shows are a great way to support local vendors, local businesses, local artists, and more. Forget the big box stores and head to one of these special events this holiday season. Whether you are looking for home decor, handmade items, unique gifts, vintage items, or artisan products, you will find something for all the friends and family in your life this holiday season.
Grab your friends and family for a fun market day below. A lot of these events include entertainment such as live music, food trucks, and more. Make it a whole day of crossing off your holiday shopping list while supporting small businesses.
Bookmark this list, save the date, and plan some fun shopping days while supporting locals and having a great time!
Shopping for holiday gifts? Check out these other guides to buying gifts this season:
Fall Makers Market – Locally Grown • Raised • Created | 2024 Sponsor
Jester Park Nature Center
November 24; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join Polk County Conservation on Sunday, November 19, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Jester Park Nature Center in Granger to shop for gifts or goods just in time for the holiday season! While there, explore the nature center’s exhibits, relax on the back patio in an Adirondack chair by the fireplace, and make sure to head over to the outdoor recreation center where more vendors will be located!
They have ensured a diverse representation of local makers, artisans, and/or handcrafters to bring you a variety of goods. Vendors will be added as they are confirmed. The Fall Makers Market is a FREE admission, family-friendly event.
A Little House Christmas
Little House on Main, Bondurant
November 1 & 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Joy-filled to announce the launch of our 2024 Holiday collection! Our 7th annual A Little House Christmas brings the celebration of all things magical, the season of miracles & gift-giving, live Christmas tunes, & the mission to give back. With you choosing to walk alongside of us, every purchase from Little House On Main impacts the lives of those around you as we intentionally share a percentage of every sale with causes in Iowa. We are so joyful to welcome the most wonderful time of the year with you!
Santa’s North Pole Village Craft Sale
Ankeny, Iowa
November 2; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Santa’s North Pole Village Craft Sale (SNPV) is one of the most popular craft shows in Iowa, featuring hand-crafted items such as jewelry, seasonal gifts, clothing, and holiday decor. Local non-profit organizations offer food and drinks for sale, and our shuttles will take you to each of our three schools all day for only a dollar! This event is the Ankeny Art Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year and has been an Ankeny tradition for 40 years.
Beaverdale Holiday Boutique
Holy Trinity Catholic School
November 8; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
November 9; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Come to the Beaverdale Holiday Boutique to shop amazing vendors, home goods, cinnamon rolls, enjoy gourmet foods at Mrs. Kringle’s bakery, and more! A $5 admission at the door helps support Holy Trinity Pre-K and K-12 students at Holy Trinity School in Beaverdale.
Holiday Open House
Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center
November 9; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come get geared up for the holidays with Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center at their annual Holiday Open House!
You’ll find plenty of festive inspiration and all the supplies you need to bring the holidays home, like fresh evergreen boughs and holiday decor. You’re bound to find the perfect gift with beautiful, handmade creations brought to you by talented, local artisans.
Junk Jubilee Jingles
Varied Industries Building
November 8-10
The ultimate vintage experience! For those who have a love for all things quaint, chippy, vintage, retro, industrial, rusty, galvanized, architectural, & farm fresh, JUNK JUBILEE is a show you will not want to miss! Their vintage market takes place in the Varied Industries Building, 110,000 sq ft, and is filled with more than 100 high-quality vendors from many states who share your passion for saving historical artifacts from previous generations.
Look Local First Holiday Sip n’ Shop
Des Moines Heritage Center
November 16; 3 to 7 p.m.
Look Local First has teamed up with Des Moines Heritage Center to bring you our first-ever Look Local First Holiday Sip n’ Shop!
Enjoy an evening of shopping, sips, photo ops, and more! More than 30 local small businesses will be present to help you jumpstart your holiday shopping before Black Friday! We’ll also have food trucks, a bar service, and a non-alcoholic beverage vendor! Our first 100 attendees will receive an exclusive swag bag packed with goodies, including a free drink ticket for our bar!
Our event is the perfect way to jumpstart your holiday shopping and support local BEFORE Black Friday! Admission is FREE!
Des Moines Holiday Boutique
Iowa Events Center
Friday, November 15: 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday, November 16: 9 am – 7 pm
Sunday, November 17: 10 am – 5 pm
The Des Moines Holiday Boutique returns to the Iowa Events Center November 15-17. Three exciting days of festive fun! Purchase tickets for this holiday shopping extravaganza.
Downtown Winter Farmers Market
Iowa Events Center
November 22-24
The hours will be Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market offers seasonal local produce, meat, cheese, eggs, jam, jelly, salsa and many other varieties of value-added farm food, local art, entertainment, as well as breakfast and lunch prepared food options and a variety of holiday products, too!
The Winter Market will take place in Hall C at the Iowa Events Center in Downtown Des Moines (DSM).
Paw-liday Market
Paws & Pints
November 23 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Get ready to shop ’til you drop at Paws & Pints’ Paw-liday Market! Join Paws & Pints for a festive and fun-filled evening of shopping, where you’ll find the paw-fect gifts for your loved ones—both humans and pups alike. Bring your furry friends along, but please remember they must remain leashed in the vendor area. Santa Paws will also be making a special appearance for holiday photo ops!
Holiday Sip & Shop
Middlebrook Mercantile
November 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Get into the festive spirit with some delightful holiday shopping, enjoy a seasonal drink, and have a blast with friends at our much-loved event!
This year, they are excited to showcase a diverse selection of vendors, including women’s and kids’ boutiques, unique jewelry, permanent jewelry, upcycled ornaments, delectable charcuterie meats and cheeses, and so much more!
Val-Air Holiday Fair
Val-Air Ballroom; 301 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines
November 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shopping small all year round is important but there is no better way to celebrate Small Business Saturday than with a bit of bonus fun with some of your favorite artists & fellow small biz owners. You can expect lots of the unusual vintage items you’ve come to love — from salt & pepper shaker plant pokes to food-themed pieces — along with some seasonal decor finds perfect for all of your holiday celebrations!
Kerstmarkt: Pella’s Dutch Christmas Market
700 Main St, Pella, Iowa
December 5-7
A Dutch Christmas Market in Pella, Iowa, hosted by Visit Pella! This festive event will be held in conjunction with Pella’s Christmas Tour of Homes. Inspired by outdoor markets in the Netherlands, this cozy market will fill you with holiday cheer. The market will be held on the Molengracht Plaza.
Locally Grown Showcase – Holiday Market
The Cellar Winery
December 8
Leisure shopping! Join Locally Grown Showcase for this amazing event and continue to support handmade businesses this Holiday Season.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines
Principal Park Parking Lot at 1 Line Drive Des Moines, Iowa
Thursday, December 5: 5 pm – 9 pm
Friday, December 6: 11 am – 9 pm
Saturday, December 7: 11 am – 9 pm
Sunday, December 8: 11 am – 5 pm
Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of the holidays as you participate in a 700-year-old traditional German-inspired Christmas market.
Shop regional vendors selling old-world, hand-crafted products from wooden vendor stalls; enjoy lively performances of polka music, traditional dance, and choirs in Yuletide Hall; participate in children’s activities; sip Glühwein (warm, mulled wine) and savor European-style Iowa craft beer.
Local Holiday Makers Market
Valley Community Center
December 7; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Give meaningful, locally crafted gifts to your loved ones this holiday season at this indoor market! Grab a cup of coffee, a latte, or tea at our café and shop at their local maker’s market. From jewelry to honey, dog biscuits to home décor – with over 80 local vendors, there’s something for everyone.
