Cajun Fest: The Midwest Mardi Gras in Downtown DSM

Are you ready to spice up your summer? Join us at Cajun Fest, the ultimate Southern-themed food and music festival, right in the heart of Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Going into its sixth year, Cajun Fest will take place on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Cowles Commons and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

What to Expect

Enjoy some Cajun cuisine from local vendors, hurricanes and crawfish flown in straight from Louisiana. Camp Cajun returns this year with all the fun activities for your kids, including face painting, bead making, crown making and more. Plus, the NOLA Jazz Band, The Swampland Jewels and The Comancheros will take the stage, playing Southern tunes all day long. Due to request, we'll also continue our spicy food contest, a Mardi Gras bead throwing event and the second crowning of the Cajun Fest Court.

Tickets

General admission for Cajun Fest is $40, which includes all-day admission, access to all events and an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil. VIP tickets are $100, which also includes a private space to enjoy the festivities along with table service, private restrooms, spots to throw beads to the crowd and, as usual, first drink with specialty beads on us!

Find out what to expect at this year’s event by watching highlights from Cajun Fest Iowa 2023:

 

For more information about Cajun Fest, check out cajunfestiowa.com. You can also find updates on Facebook and Instagram.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses or events specific to Downtown DSM.

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a growing, vibrant community that offers the energy, sophistication, housing and attractions of a burgeoning city with a brilliant future. It’s also easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options.