With the last of the Farmer’s Markets done with for the season you might be feeling a bit dismayed without your weekly supply of locally grown vegetables, fruits, and meat. Well, one of the advantages to living in a bigger city such as Des Moines is the availability of products and services that you would be unable to find elsewhere. One area where Des Moines shines in this department is in the health food and organic  market. Whether you’re looking for healthy, organic, vegan, or even just locally grown foods, you can find what you need here in Des Moines.

Although the Fall Farmer’s Markets may be done with for the year, there are still a few dates you can mark onyour calendar.  That’s because the third weekend in November and December mark the return of the Winter Farmer’s market.  For those of you that don’t want to break out your calendar that’s going to be November 18th & 19th, as well as December 16th & 17th.  The weekends before Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The Winter Market does a fabulous job of creating an ambiance that portrays the harvest, winter, and the holiday season in general while still providing ample locally grown food products.  More information can be found on the Des Moines Winter Market’s website.

If the winter markets are too long to wait, then in the mean time there are plenty of local grocery stores and co-ops that can provide you with your fix of of fresh produce and organic foods.  Trader Joe’s has a cult following across the nation, and after stopping in there, you’ll find out it’s for a good reason.  If you’re looking for someplace a little closer to downtown then you might be interested in checking out the Gateway Market which is located on Martin Luther King Parkway on the west side of downtown. Or check out Campbell’s Nutrition which has two locations, one in Urbandale and one in Des Moines near Drake University.  They sell local produce, organic groceries, gluten-free products, vitamins and supplements at each location. If you want to continue supporting local farmers you can actually order food from them at the Iowa Food Coop.  Just put in your food order online and then once a month stop into either their retail location in Merle Hay Mall, or their other pick-up locations in Ankeny and West Des Moines.

And if that’s not enough for you, Whole Foods announced they are coming to Des Moines.  They will be moving into the Water Tower Place in West Des Moines, with plans to open  in the spring of 2012.

One of the great things about Des Moines is the rich history of culture that permeates the city year in and year out.  Every year there are certain events that you can look forward to and expect to happen, and each year it seems as though new fun events also spring up.  Unfortunately for some of those events the time is nearly gone to enjoy them.  Here are just a couple of things with a limited time left to enjoy.

Saturday Farmer’s Market

This Saturday the 28th marks the last day for the fall Farmer’s Market.  This has been running since 1976 and has gotten bigger and bigger every year. This means you have one last chance to grab fresh meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, or hand-made items from any of the 200+ vendors.  If you haven’t made it out to check out the Farmer’s Market and experience the culture that lives and thrives there this is your last chance of the season.  However if you do miss it, have no fear, there are two Winter Market’s on November 18th and December 16th.  For more information on what can be found there check out their Winter Market website.

East Village Sunday Bazaar

One of the new events that sprung up this year was the East Village Bazaar.  Held noon-4pm on Sundays this is the last weekend to enjoy it as it ends on the 31st.  This is an excellent opportunity to check out Des Moines’ very own East Village.  Not only do a majority of stores stay open during the event, but the East Village will also play host to food vendors and live music, not to mention all the outdoor vendors selling vintage clothing, accessories, and home decor.  For more information on what they have to offer check out the East Village website.

One of the things we love about Des Moines is the special interest and excitement that gets built around some of the holidays here.  Halloween is coming up and it is no exception to this what with a Zombie Prom, a Zombie 5k Run, and of course the numerous haunted barns, corn mazes, and plethora of haunted houses in the area.  An informal list of haunted houses around Des Moines can be found here.

Zombie Prom

Hosted by the Val Air Ballroom this event is just what you’d think it would be.  A full on prom-esque dance in clothed in your favorite undead attire.  The event is October 22nd, with tickets costing $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event, $15 for each couple, and $40 VIP tickets.  More information and tickets can be found at the Val Air Ballroom website.

Run of the Living Dead 5k Run

Here we have a traditional 5k run mixed in with a little Halloween flair.  It’s a run through the woods like any other traditional 5k….. mixed in with zombies popping out of the woods in an attempt to pull off flags at your waist a la flag football style.

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park

Each year Sleepy Hollow turns it festival park into one of the largest Halloween attractions in the Midwest.  It features three haunted houses, two haunted walks, a 3-D gallery, a fog maze, marshmallow roasts, live music, and a selection of food and merchandise vendors.  One of the things that has been getting rave reviews is the Haunted Walk featuring the Zombie shootout.  Combining the scariness of walking through wide open woods, with zombies, with laser guns you can use to fight back against the zombies really makes for an adrenaline filled experience.  The really nice thing is having all these fun things to do in one location without the hassle of driving around from haunted house to haunted house.  Having an all inclusive spot helps build the atmosphere and mystery that is associated with Halloween.  Open October 20-23, and the 27-31 with gates opening at 7pm and more information can be found on the Sleepy Hollow website.

Trick or Treating Locations

And of course for the kids there is always the traditional trick or treating.  A full list of times and dates for cities in central Iowa can be found here on KCCI’s website.  Otherwise the Blank Park Zoo is hosting their annual Night Eyes event.  A family friendly affair that lets kids trick or treat through the zoo which has been given a Halloween makeover for the event.  Admission is $5 and more information can be found on On the Night Eyes website.