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Join The Celebration

Why Should You Attend the World Food and Music Festival?

The World Food and Music Festival attendees will enjoy live music while they grab a bite to eat or watch professional chefs show off their skills at the Culinary Discovery Pavilion. Festival merchandise is available for purchase and photo opportunities are plentiful throughout The Festival grounds. All of this (and more!) takes place in the heart of Downtown Des Moines (DSM) each year.

The World Food and Music Festival welcomes:

Food Vendors: The Festival will feature local food vendors representing over 25 countries and culinary regions. Bite-sized samples, full meals and beverages are available to enjoy from each vendor.
Musicians: Each night of The Festival features a headlining musician that brings their own flavor to their set. Past headliners include: Flor de Toloache, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Parranderos Latin Combo, Vertical Horizon and Kat Perkins.
Merchants: Celebrate diverse, locally owned businesses whose products are available to purchase throughout the duration of The Festival.
Nonprofits: Nonprofits are on site each year, offering education and ways to get involved with their mission.
Cultural Activity Pavilion: A variety of workshops, interactive presentations, hands-on activities and authentic cultural experiences will be presented throughout the three-day Festival. Adventure Tents will feature different foods and cultures from around the world for a global food experience.
Culinary Discovery Pavilion: Local chefs will demonstrate their culinary prowess. Plus, a Cooking Challenge will bring spectators to cheer on their favorite team while vying for a taste of their creations.
Cultural Stage: The Culture Stage features musicians and dancers showcasing culturally diverse performances. From Polynesian Island Music to Irish Dance, this stages guests on a trip around the world.

Festival Merchandise

Share the spirit around town by wearing Festival gear! From T-shirts to bags and stickers, there's something for everyone. 2024 merchandise will be available for purchase during The Festival from Aug. 23 – Aug. 25.

Love BLOOMS Mural

Love BLOOMS was a mural created in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) for the World Food & Music Festival through support provided by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. The artwork was selected by a committee of individuals who have contributed to The Festival. These individuals included:

Joe D'Souza, Festival Event Team Volunteer
Kristi Idio, Festival Vendor, Lumpia & Co.
Sanjita Pradhan, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Vicente Rico, Nationwide
Bridgett Robinson, The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
Yoko Tanaka, CultureAll Ambassador

Prints of the mural are now available at The Festival for attendees to purchase.

Vendors

The Festival features over 50 food vendors that represent over 25 countries and culinary regions, all of which are considered small businesses. Information about the vendors for the 2024 Festival will be updated later.

Merchants

Stay tuned for more information on the 2024 merchant lineup.

Nonprofits

Learn more about the work that local nonprofits are providing to the region and our community and how you can get involved with their missions.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2024 nonprofits lineup.