August 30, 20118/30/11 Nicole Branstad 0 comments Share

Starting tomorrow Downtown Des Moines will have a new way to spend their lunch hour when the Downtown Farmers’ Market – Wednesday Market opens. The new six-week market will be held on Wednesdays, Aug. 31 – Oct. 5, 2011 in Western Gateway on Thirteenth Street, between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, in Downtown Des Moines. Hours are 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

It feature 30 vendors offering a mix of seasonal fresh Iowa fruit, vegetables, specialty and artisan food, local art and entertainment, and a variety of delicious lunch menu offerings.

• Meredith will open its renowned Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden during the Market on Aug. 31 and Oct. 5. It will also offer a Greek grilling class from Food Editor Carlos Acevedo and a bulb gardening class from Master Gardener and BHG.com Editor Justin Hancock.
• Wellmark will offer 30 minute group activities such as Yoga and Bootcamp led by certified instructors on the lawn west of the downtown Library.
• Nationwide will liven up the market with entertainment featuring bluegrass inspired performers each week.
• MetaBank will hold a weekly fresh and canned food drive called RE:plenish. The food will be collected and donated to DMARCS 10 central Iowa emergency food pantries, who distribute food to the homeless and hungry in central Iowa.