Des moines world food and music festival
See the ceremonies, food and celebration that started the World Food and Music Festival
ENTERTAINMENT
From left: Toui Lo, Patty Louangsouvanh from Laos and Aieng Xayyvongsa take a selfie after a Naturalization Ceremony during the World Food and Music Festival on Aug. 22, 2025, at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ayrton Breckenridge/The Register
People walk down Locust Street during the World Food and Music Festival on Aug. 22, 2025, at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ayrton Breckenridge/The Register
Arlette Nkouendje from Cameroon stands and pledges an oath as a part of a Naturalization Ceremony while holding Khareem Nkouendje during the World Food and Music Festival on Aug. 22, 2025, at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ayrton Breckenridge/The Register
Flags from around the world are seen on the side of a display during the World Food and Music Festival on Aug. 22, 2025, at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ayrton Breckenridge/The Register
Arvin Sam serves food at Tikka Talk during the World Food and Music Festival on Aug. 22, 2025, at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ayrton Breckenridge/The Register
Tornado potatoes si
When is Des Moines' World Food & Music Festival? How to celebrate international culture
You can try different foods from around the world without leaving Iowa at the Des Moines World Food & Music Festival during the second-to-last weekend in August.
For 2025, the three-day event celebrates its 20th anniversary. So what better way to celebrate than to try food and beverage items from more than 25 countries?
The festival started as a two-dozen-vendor event in the Historic East Village, and grew into a festival with roughly 100,000 people taking to the streets of downtown to grub and groove.
When is the 2025 World Food and Music Festival?
Des Moines' annual World Food and Music Festival started Friday, Aug. 22, and goes until Sunday, Aug. 24.
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The festival began at 11 a.m. Friday, with a naturalization ceremony hosted by the U.S. District Court, where 50 people from around the world became United States citizens.
Where is the World Food & Music Festival?
The World Food and Music Festival is at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines.
What vendors are at the World Food & Music Festival?
The 2025 World Fo
World Food & Music Festival
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August 23, 2024 @ 11:00 am - August 25, 2024 @ 5:00 pm
Free
The 2024 World Food & Music Festival presented by Veridian Credit Union will make its return for its 20th year on Friday, Aug. 23 – Sunday, Aug. 25 at Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). The Festival runs from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Festival features more than 50 food vendors, representing more than two dozen countries. There’s also live music on the Main Stage and Cultural Stage, as well as family-friendly fun int the Cultural Activity Pavilion, Adventure Tents and check out live Cooking Demonstrations.
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World Food & Music Festival
The 2025 World Food & Music Festival, presented by Veridian Credit Union, will make its return on Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Western Gateway Park, in downtown Des Moines!
Friday: 11am – 10pm Saturday: 11am – 10pm Sunday: 11am – 5pm
The Festival began in October 2005 in the Historic East Village downtown. It featured approximately two dozen vendors and welcomed thousands of guests eager to explore the diverse cuisine. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines was there from the beginning to support The Festival and provide a solid base from which to grow.
Over the years, The Festival expanded its vendors, programming and entertainment and continued to see more guests enjoying the activities each year. To accommodate the growth, The Festival moved onto the downtown bridges for several years and in 2017 expanded into its current home in Western Gateway Park. Today, more than 90,000 guests visit The Festival each year to taste, see, hear and experience the many wonders of the World Food & Music Festival.
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