Take a Trip Around the World at These 5 Upcoming Events in Downtown DSM
Take a trip around the world this week in Downtown Des Moines (DSM), with these events celebrating global culture, music and dance, plus international food and drink, too!
Oktoberfest
Friday, Sept. 22 – Saturday, Sept. 23 | Water Works Park
Prost! In its 19th year, celebrate German traditions in style with thirst-quenching Bavarian beer, delicious eats like bratwurst, schnitzel, giant pretzels — even sauerkraut! — plus competitions, games and live music. Dust off your dirndl or leiderhosen and get ready to polka-dance the night away!
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Alfredo Rodriquez Trio and Jorge Luis Pacheco Trio
Friday, Sept. 22 and Thursday, Sept. 28 | Des Moines Temple Theater
The coming week means two chances to enjoy incredible live Cuban piano music in Downtown DSM. On Friday, catch Alfredo Rodriquez, an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist hailing from Havana, Cuba. Then Thursday, Jorge Luis Pacheco’s “flying hands” (pictured below) on the piano will bring together the sounds of Cuban jazz, Afro Cuban, American jazz and classical music with a touch of contemporary pop and soul, too. You’ll be toe-tapping along in no time at all.
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Latino Heritage Festival
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Sunday, Sept. 24 | Western Gateway Park
The FOMO is real! You won’t want to miss out on this two-day Latino festival taking place in Downtown Des Moines’ Western Gateway neighborhood. With tons of insanely yummy food vendors, a full line-up of Latin music and entertainment, cultural booths, children's activities, art displays and so.much.more! Snag yourself a free parking spot courtesy of Nationwide.
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Des Moines Symphony: Discover Fandango!
Saturday Sept. 23 – Sunday, Sept. 24 | Des Moines Civic Center
Are you ready for the 86th season of the Des Moines Symphony? A special Opening Night Celebration event takes place prior to Friday night’s show at the nearby Renaissance Des Moines Savery hotel, complete with live music, cocktails and dinner. Then the season begins just down the street at the Des Moines Civic Center, where the Symphony will create rhythm and music with roots from Mexico and Spain from Arturo Marquez’s Fandango, featuring world-renowned guest violinist Anne Akiko Meyers.
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Peace Day
Sunday, Sept. 24 | Mainframe Studios
Presented by the Iowa Resource for International Service, this family-friendly event brings a mix of international art, dance and music, cultural booths, food trucks, live performances and fun activities — free to the public. Join in the celebration of cultures promoting peace, love and art.
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And just outside of Downtown Des Moines, don’t miss an event taking shape in the nearby River Bend neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24: The Historic Home Tour highlights a diverse mix of families in some of the oldest homes in the city, dating as far back as the 1870s.
Looking for even more Downtown events and happenings? Here’s a look at 5 free things to do in Downtown Des Moines during September!
For these upcoming events and more, find tips on Downtown Des Moines (DSM) parking and navigation. For additional upcoming events, visit the Downtown DSM events calendar. Plus, follow @downtownDSMUSA on Instagram for more epic, things-you-just-can’t-miss happening around Downtown.
Greater Des Moines Partnership
DSM USA is the regional identifier for Greater Des Moines (DSM). DSM USA is a bold statement to the world: This is a welcoming, diverse and vibrant community with affordable and accessible amenities for residents and businesses. This regional identifier is the result of significant quantitative and qualitative research.
The Partnership will champion the DSM USA message, and encourages its Investors, its more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and DSM USA Ambassadors to help share the region's story with One Voice.