Gift & Specialty Items

Beautiful Life Atelier, Atkins, IA

Luxury home & body fragrances, thoughtfully handcrafted. Romantic, high end scents for everyday beauty. Phthalate-free • Cruelty-free. Welcome to your beautiful life.

Offering: Artisan perfumes, candles, wax melts, home cleaning supplies, room + linen sprays.

Price Range: $5 – $60

Years vended: 4

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

Good Moon Pottery, Windsor Heights, IA

Unique pottery to make your everyday rituals special!

Offering: Pottery and ceramic items: mugs, cups, bowls, Christmas ornaments, wall hangings, soap dishes, platters.

Price Range: $20 – $200

Years vended: 5

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: 2nd weekend only

DamonLayne Woodworking, Earlham, IA

DamonLayne Woodworking creates fun and unique wood carvings, ornaments, game boards, and cutting boards.

Offering: Cutting boards, charcuterie boards, cheese slicers, wooden game boards such as Cribbage, Chess, Aggravation, and Mancala, Wooden and hand-carved Christmas ornaments, hand-carved Santa figures.

Price Range: $5 – $325

Years vended: 9

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

Rusty Stars Alpacas, Winterset, IA

Rusty Stars alpaca farm offers a variety of popular alpaca products. Alpaca clothing is known for its softness, warmth and durability as well as a sustainable natural product. If you love visiting the alpacas at our farm you’ll love the selection of socks, hats, gloves, scarves, yarn and alpaca toys we have available at the Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

Offering: Stocking hats, headbands, gloves, mittens, socks, scarves, dryer balls, yarn, fur toys, blankets, ornaments, shoe insoles, hand woven mats.

Price Range: $5 – $200

Years vended: 3

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

The Kringle Man, Elk Horn, IA

I am a retired school teacher that was looking to fill some time and it has turned into a full time business with the unique Danish Baking products that I have been marketing. I enjoy the time in the bakery, but really I do this to meet new people and attend shows such as Christkindlemarket. The recipes are a combination of Danish Grandmothers sharing with me and searching old cook books and the internet to create the product that I market.

Offering: Danish Kringle, Danish Letters, Cream Horns, Krispies, Pastries, Eclairs, Stroopwaffle, Cream Cheese Danish, Weinerbrod

Price Range: $4 – $20

Years vended: 8

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

Schanz Furniture, South Amana, IA

Schanz Furniture is a family owned business located in South Amana, Iowa. They specialize in authentic handmade wooden products and plan to have an amazing selection of wooden gift items for you to choose from!

Offering: Wooden handmade Christmas trees & ornaments. Children’s Musical Marble games. One-of-a-kind charcuterie boards, cheese slicers & wine bottle caddies. Handmade cutting boards. Wooden spoons, rolling pins & serving utensils.

Price Range: $10 -$300

Years vended: 7

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: Both

Pam Hyde Pottery, Des Moines, IA

Functional, affordable, porcelain-based stoneware pottery for everyday use. Mugs, vases, spoon rests, etc. are created in my home studio near 37th and Ingersoll and stamped made in DSM.

Offering: Mugs, luminary trees, ornaments, magnets, spoon rests, garlic graters, oil dispensers, soap dispensers, vases, bowls, sponge holders, yarn bowls, utensil holders, bacon makers, salt cellars.

Price Range: $12 – $150

Years vended: 6

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, Venmo

Weekends Vending: 1st weekend only

Under The Bark Syrup Co, Lonsdale, MN

We are a maple syrup company that specializes in infused flavors of maple syrup.

Offering: Pure and infused maple syrup

Price Range: $16 – $38

Years vended: 4

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay

Weekends Vending: Both

Clay and Oil, Des Moines, IA

Clay and Oil is the name, pottery and oil painting is my game!  I have created this art business with a drive to bring the beauty, textures, and colors of the outdoors into our homes through visual and functional art.

Offering: Mugs, Ceramic Travel cups with leather straps, wood/ceramic games, handmade candles in ceramic vessels, ceramic wall art, art prints & paint kits all handmade by myself. 

Price Range: $5 – $150

Years vended: 1

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: 2nd weekend only

Nymph In The Woods, Boone, IA

Wearable art made from fused glass and wire wrapping – necklaces, earrings, rings. bracelets and headpieces.

Offering: Jewelry made from fused glass and wire wrapping – primarily necklaces, earrings, and rings.

Price Range: $15 – $500+

Years vended: 8

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: Both

Indianola Glass Creations, Indianola, IA

Bring color and charm to your world with handmade artwork crafted from glass and clay. Celebrate the seasons with vibrant Christmas ornaments and hand-painted cards paired with glass keychains—perfect for gifting or keeping. Our whimsical clay gnomes are sculpted, painted, or glazed by hand, adding a cheerful touch to gardens and homes alike. Every item is one-of-a-kind, made with heart, glazed with imagination, and designed to make every day spaces shine.

Offering: Stained and Fused Glass jewelry, panels, suncatchers, home decor, yard decor and Christmas ornaments. Hand painted cards with glass key chains. Handmade and painted or glazed Clay Gnomes.

Price Range: $10 – $200

Years vended: 10

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay

Weekends Vending: 1st weekend only

Carpe Macarons, Newton, IA

Handmade, small batch French macarons, macaroons, and macaron truffles made with the freshest ingredients. Beautiful and delicious, macarons make a luxurious gift or the perfect treat for yourself. Both gluten and soy free.

Offering: French macarons, macaroons, and macaron truffles

Price Range: $10 – $25

Years vended: 1

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay

Weekends Vending: Both

Yellow Canary Studio, Ackworth, IA

Unique wheel thrown ceramic gifts for unique people.

Offering: Ceramic stoneware wheel thrown, hand carved -mugs, ornaments, Christmas trees, noodle bowls, soup bowls, trinket dishes.

Price Range: $15 – $250

Years vended: 1

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: 1st weekend only

Rosemaled Creations by Maren, Gretna, IA

Handmade ceramics featuring handpainting and handcarving in the folkart style of Norwegian rosemaling. All pieces use food safe glazes so they are functional art!

Offering: Handmade mugs, cups, plates, trays, platters, bowls of all sizes, colanders, spoon rests, utensil holders, vases, lidded jars, canisters, figurines, luminaries, garlic holders, oil decanters, butter keepers, magnets and ornaments.

Price Range: $15 – $400

Years vended: 3

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal

Weekends Vending: Second weekend only

Danish Windmill, Elk Horn, IA

A nonprofit museum and Scandinavian store built around a historic windmill relocated from Denmark to Elk Horn, Iowa in 1976. We specialize in Danish imports, Scandinavian crafts, and European cultural traditions. Our selection ranges from advent and Christmas to specialty foods and candies to unique collectibles and decorations that embody Danish hygge.

Offering: Aebleskiver pans and baking accessories, books, hygge-themed card games and puzzles, candles, ceramic houses, holiday decorations, garlands, and ornaments, tea light and candle mobiles, wool slippers, socks, and sweaters, gnomes, Danish licorice and candies, winter hats, scarves, and gloves, bottled glogg concentrate.

Price Range: $0.50 – $300

Years vended: 8

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, Venmo

Weekends Vending: 1st weekend only

Lost Planet Forge, Des Moines, IA

Lost Planet Forge makes beautiful hand forged knives with a hammer and anvil, natural materials and passionate artistry.

Offering: Hand forged knives and tools as well as sheaths.

Price Range: $100 – $900

Years vended: 5

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

DSM Foundry, Des Moines, IA

DSM Foundry uses laser cutters to build classic German Schwibbogen and Pyramids, Scandinavian star lanterns (julstjärna), as well as ornaments and lanterns of our own design.

Offering: German Schwibbogen and Pyramids, Scandinavian Wooden Stars, Advent Calendars, Ornaments, Holiday Earrings, 3D Printed Toys, wooden city maps, Wood national/state park maps, wood sports stadium maps.

Price Range: $5 – $165

Years vended: 10

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay

Weekends Vending: Both

Wild Cherry Spoon Co., Rock Island, IL

Wild Cherry Spoon Co creates artisanal handcarved wooden utensils, cutting & charcuterie boards, barware, and home goods from sustainably sourced Iowan hardwoods.

Offering: Wooden utensils (spoons, spatulas, scrapers, spreaders, forks, coffee stir sticks, spurtles, aebelskiver sticks), Wooden cutting & charcuterie boards, Wooden barware (wine stoppers, bottle openers, shot cups, flight boards, kuksas), Wooden Table Runners, Wooden Table tops.

Price Range: $3 – $300

Years vended: 8

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

Quilted Gardens Nursery, Indianola, IA

Local Nursery and Christmas Tree Farm specializing in unique ornaments and decor, fresh greens, fresh-made wreaths, Christmas trees and items for the Holiday Season.

Offering: Fresh made Wreaths and Greens Bundles, Christmas Trees, Fair Trade Peruvian Gourd Ornaments, Glass European style Bird and additional ornaments, Iowa made Leather Door Bells and Straps, Scandinavian Wheat ornaments, Ice Globe making kits (from Minneapolis Ice Sculpture Artist), Quilted Christmas Stockings and Napkins (Created by quilter Larry Skellenger), Seasonal Holiday Specs (these are glasses that make lights look like a unique Holiday image and have been popular since the first Christkindlmarket with families, kids and those enjoying Yuletide Hall), Seasonal bulbs and plants (weather permitting).

Price Range: $10 – $75

Years vended: 10

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: Both

Pickle Creek Herbs, Fairfield, IA

At Pickle Creek, we use the herbs we grow on our sustainable Iowa farm to handcraft artisanal olive oils and vinegars, soaps, salves, and balms using our own original recipes.

Offering: Herb-infused olive oils and vinegars (including the Apple Strudel Balsamic we created especially for this event), soaps, salves, and balms that we handcraft ourselves using original recipes and the herbs and other produce we grow in our garden. We have festive gift packaging for all of our items as well.

Price Range: $3.75 – $35

Years vended: 11

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo

Weekends Vending: Both

Sugarplums Cakes and Confections, Altoona, IA

Sugarplums specializes in made from scratch traditional German gingerbreads, cookies and stollen. We also import traditional German Christmas ornaments.

Offering: Lebkuchen, pfeffernusse, spritz, Springerle, anise candy, stollen, sentimental heart and frosted heart cookies, sugar cookies, scotcharoos, cupcakes and ornaments imported from Germany.

Price Range: $5 – $75

Years vended: 10

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: Both

Fritz Toffee Company, Ames, IA

Handmade in small batches, this toffee cannot be ignored. Smooth & Buttery, crisp & crunchy, melt in your mouth toffee. One bite and we know you will be wanting more!

Offering: Toffee

Gluten Free (Preference)

Price Range: $7 – $65

Years vended: 7

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: 2nd weekend only

More Polish Pottery, LLC, Big Rock, IL

More Polish Pottery is celebrating 15 years in business and located in Illinois as a Midwest importer and retailer who works directly with the artists and factories in Boleslawiec Poland to provide a wide selection of products available at the market. Polish stoneware is made for everyday use for baking, serving and entertaining. Bring Joy to your everyday meals with a high quality world class handmade product. When you buy directly with More Polish Pottery, you may also learn how to use the products in multiple ways! Check out our hug in a mug, and our best bakeware pieces. Our products make great gifts too for those that want to share their Polish pride.

Offering: Polish Pottery, Polish Hats 

Price Range: $10 – $150

Years vended: 2

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card

Weekends Vending: First weekend only

Pinicon Farm Crafts, Pleasantville, IA

We sell handmade Nantucket baskets, Shaker boxes, and other wooden crafts.

Offering: Nantucket baskets, reed baskets, shaker boxes, wooden carriers, other wooden boxes, small end tables, jewelry boxes, wooden earrings, and other wooden signs.

Price Range: $5 – $400

Years vended: 4

Payment Methods Accepted: Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Venmo

Weekends Vending: First weekend only

Xperience Candle Bar, Prairie City, IA

Xperience Candle Bar is a creative, community-focused candle and home-fragrance business dedicated to turning everyday moments into memorable experiences. We specialize in hand-poured soy candles, wax melts, and thoughtfully crafted home and body fragrance products, and car fresheners all made with high-quality ingredients and carefully curated scents.

Offering: Candles, Wax Melts, Squeeze Wax, Candle Lamps and Wax warmers. Room and Body Spray. Lotions and Soap. We have a trailer and could also offer guests to make their own candle.

Price Range: $6 – $50

Years vended: 1

Payment Methods Accepted: Apple Pay, Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Google Pay

Weekends Vending: Both weekends