Beaverdale Farmers Market

Beaverdale Farmers Market frames itself around a healthier community and a resilient food system, giving this Des Moines Tuesday market a mission-forward identity alongside its weekly shopping routine. It runs in the Franklin Junior High West parking lot in the Beaverdale neighborhood, a setting that makes the market feel tied to everyday neighborhood patterns rather than a one-off festival site. The market’s regular summer schedule, SNAP/EBT acceptance, and local partnerships point to a market built for repeat visits through the season, not just occasional browsing.

Why it matters locally

The market is managed by a group of local volunteers who organize and plan during the off season, then handle setup, the market information booth, vendor support, and teardown during the summer market season. That volunteer structure roots the market in Beaverdale’s own neighborhood labor instead of a distant operator. The market also links itself to a wider Iowa and national food access network through partners including Iowa Healthiest State, the Farmers Market Coalition, the Iowa Farmers Market Association, Eat Greater Des Moines, and Local Harvest. Support from Polk County Community Grants and volunteer recruiting through United Way Volunteer Hub add another local-service layer to how the market operates week to week.

What you'll find there

The clearest on-site mix here is weekly market shopping paired with a performer calendar and a staffed information setup, giving the market a recurring Tuesday-event rhythm. Instead of highlighting a single signature product category, the market emphasizes its vendor roster, market map, and seasonal performers.

• -Shop the market’s vendor roster through its published vendor list and market map tools.
• -Browse products using the market’s interactive map and product search features.
• -Catch scheduled music sets including Scott Eggleston, Vintage Cafe / Ed Kelly, and Big Joe Kinser during the season.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed, which is the detail most likely to change how you plan a Tuesday visit. The market is held in the Franklin Junior High West parking lot on Franklin Avenue, so you’re heading to a school parking-lot setup rather than a park lawn or closed downtown street. Market operations include tents, tables, chairs, an information booth, and vendor support handled by volunteers, which helps explain the organized weekly footprint visitors encounter. If you need orientation once you arrive, the market also maintains a market map and information booth as part of the regular setup. There is no restroom listing in the market materials, so plan your stop around shopping and the Tuesday 4 to 7 p.m. window.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at Beaverdale Farmers Market, and the market partners with Iowa Healthiest State to offer Double Up Food Bucks for SNAP/EBT customers. To use the program, shoppers bring their SNAP EBT card to the market information booth, making that booth the key first stop for eligible purchases.