A Vibrant Arts Scene
Greater Des Moines boasts a vibrant arts scene and a collection of cultural events that invite you to explore their creative side. With so many ways to enjoy the arts, you might want to stay an extra day or two!
The Interrobang Film Festival made its debut at the Des Moines Arts Festival in 2008 as a way to celebrate creativity in the medium of film and video. The Festival combines a tradit onal film production competition with a public screening during the three-day event.
The music in Greater Des Moines celebrates local bands, while also bringing in headliners like The Flaming Lips, Bon Jovi and Keith Urban. A new music festival, 80/35, celebrates music, artists and fans. Making its debut in 2008, 80/35 is expected to continue to draw music fans for years to come. Blues on Grand is the city's best choice for blues acts and you can't go wrong with Blue Moon or Grand Piano Bistro, the city's newest dueling piano bars.
ArtStop, a celebration of local artwork, live music and dance, is a two-day open house of studios and shops in six Metro neighborhoods.
Several cultural festivals take place in Greater Des Moines throughout the year.
Festa Italiana, an annual Italian food festival, and CelebrAsian, an event that showcases history, food, performance artists, unites the Asian American communities in Iowa for this daylong event. The World Food Festival takes place in October and celebrates Iowa's unique and diverse culinary traditions.
Cultural expression and a commitment to the arts remains an important part of the city's vibrancy.
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Click here to enjoy the International Guide to Iowa!
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Art Galleries
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Des Moines Arts Festival
The Des Moines Arts Festival returns June 24-26, 2011, to Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines. The Festival features visual art, live music, performing arts and activities along with the Interrobang Film Festival, Sculpture Park, Jazz and Wine Pavilion and plenty of eclectic food booths providing guests with an extraordinary community arts and culture Festival!
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John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
In September 2009, the Des Moines Art Center and the City of Des Moines partnered to open a 4.4-acre sculpture park in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. It features 26 works of art donated to the museum by John and Mary Pappajohn from their renowned collection of contemporary sculptures, including a commission by artist Deborah Butterfield. For tour information, contact Jennifer Cooley at the Des Moines Art Center at (515) 277-4405. For event planning information, contact the City of Des Moines Information Center at (515) 237-1431.
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Craft Retreat
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Craft Cottage
The Craft Cottage is located in Van Meter, 20 miles west of Des Moines. It's a cozy home that provides space for scrapbooking, stamping and quilting. The Craft Cottage also works well for parties and club gatherings. You can rent the cottage for a few hours or for a weekend.
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Events
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Des Moines Arts Festival
The Des Moines Arts Festival returns June 24-26, 2011, to Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines. The Festival features visual art, live music, performing arts and activities along with the Interrobang Film Festival, Sculpture Park, Jazz and Wine Pavilion and plenty of eclectic food booths providing guests with an extraordinary community arts and culture Festival!
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Downtown Farmers' Market
Support local agriculture and buy direct from Iowa farmers while shopping the Downtown Farmers' Market. The Downtown Farmers' Market presents Iowa producers from 51 counties across Iowa, offering fresh fruit, vegetables and so much more. Come for the freshness and stay for the fun at the Downtown Farmers' Market.
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Iowa Events Center
Hy-Vee Hall, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Wells Fargo Arena and Polk County Convention Complex (Plex) comprise the Iowa Events Center in Downtown Des Moines. These facilities are well suited for conventions, trade shows, sports and entertainment. The $217 million center provides more than 300,000 square feet of connected space. Designed for convenience and versatility, Hy-Vee Hall and Veterans Memorial Auditorium offer general session seating for 500 to 17,000, 17 break-out rooms and trade shows hosting up to 1,020.
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Iowa State Fair
The annual August extravaganza inspired the internationally-acclaimed novel "State Fair," three motion pictures and a Broadway musical. Attracting more than one million people annually, the Iowa State Fair features the largest foods department of any state fair and one of the largest livestock shows in the world in addition to mouth watering foods, fabulous free entertainment and blue-ribbon competition. Special offers available for groups.
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Knoxville Raceway
For over 50 years, Knoxville Raceway has been entertaining people from around the globe with the most exciting open wheel and dirt track racing on the planet. From mid-April through September, Knoxville Raceway provides affordable family fun.
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Nitefall on the River
Nitefall on the River is a Thursday night concert series offering a variety of live music and entertainers at a low cost during the summer. Enjoy live music at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater.
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Principal Charity Classic, The
The Principal Charity Classic works to raise funds "Fore our Kids" by conducting an annual Champions Tour Golf Tournament held at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, May 30-June 5, 2011. All proceeds benefit children's charities in Iowa.
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Museums
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Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center
The museum honors black soldiers of WWI and female soldiers of WWII. The 20,000 square foot building features artifacts, photographs and interactive exhibits, situated on a referent five-acre park.
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Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, Iowa's premier veterans museum, displays artifacts and tells the story of Iowa veterans from the Mexican War of 1846 to present day. It also has a reference library on military subjects and Iowa veterans. This is the perfect venue for a two-hour outing.
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Iowa Hall of Pride
Experience Iowa like never before! Filled with dozens of hands-on interactive exhibits, the Iowa Hall of Pride tells the stories of Iowa's communities and their heroes. It's fun for kids, adults and families and a great venue for group meetings and events. All Iowa students, grades K-12, are admitted free.
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Living History Farms
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Salisbury House & Gardens
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Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater
This dynamic 110,000 square-foot facility features six interactive learning areas, live programs and hands-on activities encouraging learning and fun for all ages. With three theaters, including the Blank IMAX Dome Theater, cafe and gift shop, there's always more to explore at SCI! Facility rental, group sales and catering are available.
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State Historical Museum of Iowa
Iowa's history lives on in this modern granite and glass structure at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol. Unique, permanent and temporary exhibits explore the people, places, events and issues of Iowa's past. The museum features a genealogy and Iowa history library, museum store and an open atrium area under glass peaks. The on-site restaurant, Cafe Baratta's, serves homemade, seasonal, bistro fare.
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Performing Arts/Theater
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Ballet Des Moines
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Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines presents the best live professional theater direct from Broadway. Its President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, is a member of The Broadway League.
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Des Moines Symphony
The Des Moines Symphony is a not-for-profit, full-service professional orchestra formed in 1937 to enrich, educate and entertain the community. The Symphony Association includes the Symphony Academy of Music and its numerous education programs including four youth orchestras, the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra which performs seven pairs of Masterworks concerts, the traditional pops performance on New Year's Eve, education and family concerts and other special events in its home at the Civic Center. The Des Moines Symphony also produces and performs the annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert in July on the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol, which last year attracted over 125,000, the largest single day attendance of any event in the state.
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Hoyt Sherman Place
Since 1923, the 1,250-seat theater has hosted an array of national and local performing arts talents. Hoyt Sherman Place is known for excellent acoustics, balcony seating and unique historic interior. The theater is available for public and private performances and for corporate meetings.
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Temple for Performing Arts, The
The Temple for Performing Arts is a Des Moines Embassy Club location and the perfect site for the 'Wedding of your Dreams,' business lunch or dinner for up to 350. On the fourth floor, the Grand Ballroom boasts 27-foot ceilings, lighting, staging and antique stained glass features. A bride's room and recital hall that can be used for ceremonies or presentations adjoins.
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