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Save the Date for 2021 DSM Book Festival Events

February 3, 2021

GREATER DES MOINES, IA (Feb. 3, 2021) – The DSM Book Festival will return in 2021 spread across four Saturdays in March and April. The Festival will feature nationally acclaimed authors, hands-on learning activities, writers’ workshops, children's activities and more in a hybrid in-person and virtual format for the 2021 event, following all COVID-19 pandemic health and safety guidelines.

The Festival will span the following Saturdays: March 27, April 3, April 10 and April 17. Each date will offer programming from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A Festival highlight will be the Prairie Meadows Author Series where a headlining author will give a virtual prestation each Saturday at 3 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

  • March 27: Tayari Jones, Author of “The American Marriage,” as part of the Des Moines Public Library’s Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series
  • April 3: Chuck Klosterman, Author of "But What If We're Wrong?," sponsored by Kum & Go
  • April 10: Lara Prescott, Author of "The Secrets We Kept"
  • April 17: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Author of “Daisy Jones and the Six”

More programming details will be announced in coming weeks. The DSM Book Festival has opened applications for authors, illustrators, publishers, non-profits and merchants to promote their books, goods or services on DSMbookfestival.com. Approved applicants will enjoy a free online listing from early March to Oct. 31. Applications are open now through Monday, Feb. 15.

In 2019, the inaugural DSM Book Festival received a positive response from the community followed by four awards from the International Festivals and Events Association including Best New Event. The 2020 event was canceled due to the timing of when the COVID-19 pandemic hit just a few weeks before the event was scheduled to take place.

“We are excited to bring back this event that experienced so much success and buzz in the community in 2019,” said Colleen Murphy, Downtown Events Director at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Although this year’s Festival will look different, it will provide opportunities for DSM residents to engage in the community during what continues to be unusual circumstances, and we hope it will inspire people of all ages to read and learn this winter heading into spring.”

The DSM Book Festival is sponsored by Prairie Meadows, John Ruan Foundation, Meredith Corporation, Kum & Go, Des Moines Public Library, Bankers Trust, Don and Margo Blumenthal, BH Companies, Des Moines Area Community College and the William C. Knapp Charitable Foundation. The DSM Book Festival has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The DSM Book Festival is produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Learn more at DSMbookfestival.com.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.