Historic Valley Junction

Fire and Ice Winter Pub Crawl
2026-01-24 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Historic Valley Junction Foundation Office, 137 5th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States
AN INTERACTIVE WINTER PUB CRAWL IN HISTORIC VALLEY JUNCTION
CITYVIEW brings its now legendary Valley Junction area pub crawl back again!

Fire and Ice is a hockey-themed liquor sampling event that will be sure to warm up your winter blues! With your event ticket, you will receive 10 individual drink tickets to sample some of the BEST winter cocktails from establishments in the Valley Junction area.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Participating establishments:

The Tavern
G Mig’s 5th Street Pub
The Winchester Public House
Bix & Co.
Rumley’s Reclaimed Things

Bring your friends, try new drinks and shop local in Valley Junction.
$25 in advance and $35 at the door.
Registration and check-in at the Valley Junction Welcome Center at 137 5th Street
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

DIY in the Junction
2026-02-21 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States
Saturday, February 21 | All day

Crafts | Make-and-Takes | Samplers
See what you can create and learn in Valley Junction. Classes run all day long!
HOW DOES THIS WORK? IT’S EASY!

Pick a class or two or three from the list below
Contact the store directly to register for the class (if required)
Show up for your class on Saturday, February 21
Create, learn, and laugh with your date, family, and friends

Schedule

MAKE YOUR OWN CAT TOY @ Coffee Cats (312 5th)
1pm – 3pm | $5.50Walk-ins only | All agesEach participant can make either their own cat wand toy and/or kicker stick filled with cat nip.
DIY PINS, MAGNETS, & KEYCHAINS @ Bing’s (213 5th)
10am – 4pm | Pins: $1.95 | Magnets: $2.95 | Keychains: $3.95!Walk-ins only | All agesMake your own pin, magnet, or keychain with a photo by coloring in one of our designs or by making your own!
CRAFTERNOON OPEN STUDIO @ MIX Creative Community (131 5th)
12pm – 4pm | FreeWalk-ins only | All agesBring in your own projects and spend a little time making progress alongside other crafters! Snacks, as well as a few crafty activities and prompts for inspiration, will be on hand! Feel free to stop in for a quick hang or stick around awhile! Seating space is limited, but everyone is welcome.
HIBERNATE & CREATE @ MITZI’S Kitchen & Cocktails (116 5th)
5pm – 8pm | $50.00 (includes one drink)Registration: Email | AdultsA Comfy night of painting, good cocktails, and great company. If you’ve been cooped up all January, this is the perfect date for you. Join us for this (mostly) self-led class with (a lot of) direction from the instructor Kristen Jones. Bring an idea or a picture to recreate & register by emailing KristenJonesDesign@gmail.com. All Supplies will be provided. (Aprons are not included)
DIP YOUR OWN TREATS – Guided by expert confectioners @ Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (113 5th)
10am – 5pm | See prices belowRegistration: Online | Walk-ins allowed | All agesGuests with reservations will dip a platter of goodies in a space away from public traffic. While supplies last, walk-ins may dip from the à la carte menu in our house blend of milk and dark chocolate with coconut oil.Platters for those with reservations: Dip and drizzle treats in your choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white confection. Add a caramel apple to any platter for $15.

½ Dozen Strawberries: $30.00 Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake
Berries & Cherries: $40.00 6 strawberries, 3 bunches of cherries
Sweet & Salty: $40.00 3 marshmallow skewers, 3 pretzel rods
3 Caramel Apples: $50.00 “Dress” caramel apples to make 3 popular varieties, the Apple Pie, Tiger Butter, and Pecan Bear Caramel Apple.

A la carte while supplies last.

Strawberry: $5.00
Pretzel Rod: $5.00
Skewered Marshmallow: $6.50
Cherry bunch: $5.00

DECORATIVE WOOD BURNING WORKSHOP @ Butterfly Cottage @ Memory Lane Antiques (208 5th)
11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm | $55.00Registration: Phone (515) 249-7495 | Email | Walk-ins allowed (if space available) | Teens & adultsDiscover the joy of Pyrography and burn your own unique Basswood Canvas Panel [12 x12 x1/4 inches]. Choose from 3 different designs and learn some tips and techniques from an experienced pyrography artist.

Level: Beginner
Supplies: Provided
Age: 13yrs+

CUSTOM BOOK SLEEVE W/ HANNAH BANANA FABRICS @ Reading in Public Bookstore + Cafe (315 5th, Ste. 100)
5pm – 7pm | $30Registration: Online | Teens & adultsCreate your own custom book sleeve using patches, paints, markers, and more! Hannah Banana Fabrics will supply all of the materials, and you’ll get 15% off everything in the store.
MARBLING KEYCHAINS @ The Blok DSM (204 1/2 5th)
11am – 4pm | $12Registration: Phone (515) 305-6404 | Walk-ins allowed (if space available) | All agesCreate your own marbled wooden bead keychain! Design and string your keychain, then transform it with our mesmerizing marbling technique. Watch as colorful paint swirls on water, then dip your beads to capture a one-of-a-kind pattern. Each piece becomes a unique work of wearable art!

Our retail shops and restaurants on and off 5th will also be open. Make it a day in Valley Junction!

Gallery Night
2026-04-17 17:00 - 20:00 | IA

Spring Sale-A-Bration
2026-04-25 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States

Valley Junction Farmers Market
2026-05-07 16:00 - 2026-09-24 20:00 | 100-300 Block of 5th St, 5th St. & Railroad Park, Des Moines, IA, United States
Every Thursday | May – September

VENDORS: Read our Farmers Market Vendor Handbook and then apply to be a vendor. Applications are due 2/28. All applications received after this date will be put on a waitlist.

NON-PROFITS: We offer non-profit organizations up to three free booth spaces each season. Spaces are limited. Apply here

NON-MAINSTAGE PERFORMING ARTISTS (BUSKERS): Musicians, dancers, and other performing artists can apply to perform at multiple spaces throughout the market. Apply here

Music in the Junction
2026-05-07 17:00 - 2026-09-24 20:30 | Railroad Park Stage, 425 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA, IA, 50265, United States

Valley Junction Arts Festival
2026-05-17 10:00 - 16:00 | 100-200 Blocks of 5th St, 100-200 Blocks of 5th St, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States
Applications now open
Artist application is open through March 6Artists apply here
Food vendor application is open through April 1 or until available spots are filledFood vendors apply here
Wanting to perform at the Valley Junction Arts Festival? Email Larry Kaster

Valley Junction Pride!
2026-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States

Vintage, Thrifted, & Handmade Fair
2026-09-13 10:00 - 16:00 | 100-200 Blocks of 5th St, 100-200 Blocks of 5th St, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States
Sunday | September 13 | 10am-4pm

Antiques and vintage shops, along with antique and art vendor fairs, have a long history in Valley Junction. The Historic Valley Junction Foundation brings Valley Junction’s new vendor fair, following in the district’s antique and vintage tradition. Valley Junction Vintage, Thrifted, & Handmade is a new vendor show highlighting vintage home decor & clothing, unique thrifted finds, and local handmade items from Iowa business owners. This show includes 50+ vendors and food trucks in the 100-200 blocks of 5th Street in the heart of Valley Junction.
Valley Junction Vintage, Thrifted, & Handmade strives to offer vintage and handmade vendors who create, curate, and captivate a chance to interact directly with central Iowa shoppers. Valley Junction is known as THE place in West Des Moines to find fun finds – all in a historic downtown in the middle of a big city.

Applications now open!
Market vendors: APPLY HERE
Food trucks/vendors: APPLY HERE

Gallery Night
2026-10-09 17:00 - 20:00 | 100-500 Blocks of 5th St, 100-500 Blocks of 5th Street, Des Moines, IA, United States

Pumpkin Walk
2026-10-25 14:00 - 17:00 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States

Jingle in the Junction
2026-11-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States

Small Business Weekend
2026-11-27 - 2026-11-30 | Valley Junction Main Street District, Valley Junction Main Street District, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States

Jingle in the Junction
2026-12-03 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-10 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-17 17:00 - 20:00 | 5th Street & Railroad Park, 401 Railroad Pl, West Des Moines, IA
