Illustration of a christmas market scene (The Peppermint Trail)
Christmas Markets

The Peppermint Trail

Visitors explore holiday shopping and dining specials across local businesses, restaurants, bars, and galleries. The districts feature festive activities including pop-up vendor markets, seasonal treats and cocktails, art exhibits, and holiday entertainment. Attendees can also hop on a free dedicated holiday trolley connecting stops along the route.

What to Expect

Holiday shopping, dining specials, and a free trolley across Des Moines districts.

Event Details

Ages

All ages

Neighborhood

The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand, Roosevelt Cultural District

Timed Entry

No

Organizer

The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand

Food & Drink

Participating businesses offer holiday food and drink specials across the districts; specific 2026 offerings are still to be announced.

Local Insight & Ratings

Family Friendly

🎄 🎄 🎄 ⚪ ⚪ (3/5)

Best For

Holiday shoppers and local explorers

Vibe

Festive and exploratory

Energy Level

Moderate

Photo Friendly

Moderate

Weather Sensitivity

Moderate

Location

The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand and Roosevelt Cultural District
Des Moines, IA

Know Before You Go

  • Hours: The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand: all day and night; Roosevelt Cultural District: all day. The page gives no overall opening or closing time for The Peppermint Trail.
  • Accessibility: Ingersoll Avenue features wide sidewalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian-friendly signals.

Tips & Advice

  • Ride the free Bee-Merry-Line between designated parking-lot stops along Ingersoll Avenue and Shops at Roosevelt Plaza to travel between districts.
  • Use the 280+ free on-street parallel parking spots along Ingersoll Avenue, and observe the two-hour limit from 9 AM to 4 PM.
  • Pick up a printed trail map at select stops on event day to find participating businesses across the route.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring businesses across both districts; use the trolley to reduce walking between stops.

Quick Actions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there transportation available between stops?

Yes, the free Bee-Merry-Line holiday trolley runs between designated parking lot stops along Ingersoll Avenue and the Shops at Roosevelt Plaza.

Where can visitors find a map of participating businesses?

Printed maps are distributed at select stops on the day of the event, and a digital version can be downloaded online.

What kinds of festivities and specials can visitors expect?

Participating spots offer seasonal food and drink specials, pop-up markets, crafts, discounts, and festive holiday entertainment.

Tags

holiday marketfamily friendlySanta visitsfestive foodholiday shoppingcommunity celebrationinteractive displaysartisanal productslive musicseasonal activities

More Christmas Events Near Des Moines

More Christmas Events near Des Moines

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Always check the official website for the most current information.

We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.

Contributors & Updates

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2026
Original Submitter: Sep 17, 2025 The Christmas Events Near Me editorial team