Fri, Jun 27
|Des Moines
Des Moines Arts Festival
Held annually over a three-day weekend in downtown Des Moines at Western Gateway Park, this is Iowa’s largest arts an cultura showcase, consistently ranked among the top festivals nationally. It’s free to attend, gathering around 200,000+ visitors each year.
Time & Location
Jun 27, 2025, 11:00 AM – Jun 29, 2025, 5:00 PM
Des Moines, 1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
About the event
Des Moines Arts Festival: Where Art Meets BBQ and Shenanigans!
Over the course of three days, the Des Moines Arts Festival transforms the typically serene Pappajohn Sculpture Park into a vibrant carnival of creativity, where close to 200 juried artists gather to showcase their masterpieces. It’s like a giant art party, but instead of awkward small talk, you get to admire paintings and sculptures while trying not to step on someone’s toe with your flip-flops!
Art and BBQ: A Match Made in Heaven
As you stroll through the festival, you might find yourself pondering the mysteries of modern art. “Is that a painting or did someone just spill paint on a canvas and call it abstract?” But fear not! Just when your brain starts to hurt from contemplating the meaning of life, you can follow your nose to the heavenly scent of Rockett Fuel BBQ. Seriously, this BBQ is so…