80/35 is a multi-day festival celebrating music, artists and fans. A main stage features national bands, with regional and local supporting acts on smaller side stages. Making its debut in 2008, 80/35 is expected to continue to draw music fans for years to come.

ArtFest Midwest 'The Other Art Show' was initiated in response to several local artists’ requests for a show that would include more Iowa artists. Now the largest fine art show in Iowa, ArtFest Midwest features approximately 230 artists with the majority from Iowa and the Midwest. The show is held the same weekend as the downtown art show. June 23-24, 2012

Enjoy panoramic views of Downtown Des Moines and the state capital as you sample over 400 varieties of beers from more than 125 brewers including: craft and specialty offerings from brewers around the state, country and world; seasonal and rarely released beers; and ciders, fruit beers and malt beverages.

Each May the Iowa Asian Alliance unites the different Asian American communities in Iowa for a daylong event. Since its inception, CelebrAsian has fast become one of the year’s most anticipated events. CelebrAsian is the largest Asian American event in Iowa, showcasing cultural exhibits, history, food, performance artists, sports, martial arts, children’s villages and rides and other family-friendly activities.

The Des Moines Arts Festival returns June 22-24, 2012, 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, John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Jazz and Wine Pavilion and plenty of eclectic food booths providing guests with an extraordinary community arts and culture festival!

A progressive opera company that celebrates the arts through performance and composition for audiences of all ages. Three mainstage performances are shown through the Opera’s annual summer festival season.

Weekend-long festivities include a street party in the Historic East Village and a Pride Parade and festival. The celebration is annually held the second weekend in June.

Go back in time to an era when knights jousted and royalty ruled. The Des Moines Renaissance Faire offers demonstrations by glass blowers, blacksmiths, potters, wood carvers, potters and painters. The Faire runs for three weekends in September, beginning Labor Day weekend.

Attend this five-day event to see and bid on donated trees from local celebrities and community businesses.

HeartFest is a juried fine art show held at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines just in time for Valentine's Day gift-giving. HeartFest is a partner show to June's ArtFest Midwest 'The Other Art Show'. Featured are mid-western artists' works in metal, fiber, clay, jewelry, photography, painting and mixed media. February 11-12, 2012

Combining a traditional film production competition with a public screening during the Des Moines Arts Festival, the Interrobang Film Festival celebrates creativity, while promoting the widest array of film genres possible. Film categories include Feature, Mids, Shorts, Short Shorts, Documentary and Free Form.

The Latino Heritage Festival is the largest Latino Festival in the state, as well as the largest ethnic event in the state. The Festival offers traditional foods, authentic arts, crafts, cultural exhibitors, educational areas, entertainment and a Saturday night street dance.

"Nothing Compares" to the annual August extravaganza that inspired the novel State Fair & is featured in the New York Times bestseller "1000 Places to See Before You Die." The Iowa State Fair features one of the world’s largest livestock shows, mouth-watering foods, fabulous free entertainment & zany contests. Get ready to bite into all the food, fun and festivities August 9-19. It’s Fairlicious!

Enjoy a taste of Germany at Des Moines’ annual Oktoberfest! Featuring live polka music and dancing lessons, authentic food, tented bier gardens, bier maiden and stein holding contests and more. Enjoy free beer while it lasts as the event kicks off Friday afternoon with the ceremonial Tapping of the Golden keg. Rain or shine for two days.

Two of Iowa’s best tastes come together at the Annual Swine Festival. The area’s finest chefs prepare gourmet pork dishes for sampling alongside wineries, cheese and chocolate makers. Admission includes a bottle of wine to take home and live music is featured at this rain or shine event.

This taste event celebrates Iowa's unique and diverse culinary traditions. Held in the Historic East Village, the World Food Festival partners with The World Food Prize.

This annual Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa features live entertainment, imported Italian products and delicious food in Downtown Des Moines. Visitors can also register for bocce ball tournaments and other contests.

The wild rose is the official flower of the state of Iowa, a thing of beauty growing "in the wild." The Wild Rose Independent Film Festival is a celebration of the vast, diverse, bizarre, hilarious, beautiful cinema art being created by independent moviemakers outside the mainstream.