Programming At The Festival
Full programming for the 2022 World Food & Music Festival will be announced at a later date.
Cooking Challenge | Culinary Discovery Pavilion | Cultural Activity Pavilion | Front Porch
2022 Program Sponsors
2022 Contributing Sponsors
Festival Programming
The MidAmerican Energy Company Cooking Challenge pits four teams against one another in a high-energy, high-stakes race to assemble the perfect meal and prove their culinary prowess. Each team must impress an esteemed panel of celebrity judges utilizing ingredients purchased at the Downtown Farmers' Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines while navigating a few surprises along the way.
Join the excitement on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at The Festival Main Stage.
All weekend long, local chefs will demonstrate their culinary skills, offer samples of their delectable creations and share instructions for how to prepare them in the Dotdash Meredith Culinary Discovery Pavilion. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for anyone who enjoys live cooking demonstrations or is interested in expanding their recipe book.
Featuring a great mix of local ambassadors and fun activities, the Cultural Activity Pavilion presented by Global Atlantic Financial Group offers a virtual trip around the world with workshops, interactive presentations and hands-on activities. Each event is designed to expose visitors to authentic cultural experiences here in Greater Des Moines (DSM). In past years attendees learned about Taiko Japanese Drumming, created Zen Calligraphy Characters, participated in world trivia with foreign exchange students and met cultural ambassadors wearing traditional attire from other countries.
The Festival Front Porch presented by Veridian Credit Union is the premier gathering space to relax and take in the sights and sounds of The Festival. Just like the rest of The Festival, admission to the Front Porch is FREE.