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Headline Acts Announced for the World Food & Music Festival Sept. 14 - 16

August 15, 2018

DOWNTOWN DES MOINES, IOWA (Aug. 15, 2018) – The headline acts for the 14th Annual World Food & Music Festival have been announced: Kat Perkins and the Tony Bohnenkamp All Star Band. The Festival will be held at Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) on Friday, Sept. 14 – Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. They will join the more than 50 food vendors representing more than 25 countries and culinary regions being featured at DSM’s premier food and music festival.

Kat Perkins, a semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” will headline Friday night on the Polk County Board of Supervisors Main Stage. The singer/songwriter’s first single, “Fearless,” hit number five on the iTunes charts and has had more than 250,000 streams and digital downloads.

Headlining Saturday night is the Tony Bohnenkamp All Star Band. Tony Bohnenkamp is a veteran of countless piano bars, music venues and private functions across the Midwest. His performances are driven by audience requests and participation, and draw from his massive and diverse catalog. When he ads his three-piece band to the mix, expect to hear all of these songs at their rocked out best.

In addition to the headliners, the Polk County Board of Supervisors Main Stage will feature Lily DeTaeye, Joshua Sinclair, The Sheet, The Maytags, Girls Rock! Des Moines, Punching Pandas, Parranderos, Birdchild, NOLA Jazz Band, the Brazilian 2wins and David Zollo and the Body Electric. 

“On behalf of my colleagues, we are proud to support the World Food & Music Festival,” said Angela Connolly, Polk County Board of Supervisors Chair. “Our region has a reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community and this has not happened on accident. This Festival is one of many ways we can showcase the diversity that makes Polk County the place that we all love to call home and we are proud to share this home with friends and businesses from around the world.”

More Event Highlights

  • New this year, The Festival is adding a second stage to highlight culturally authentic music and dance performers. The Principal Cultural Stage will feature a variety of local artists throughout the weekend including Foy Irish Dance, Gateway Dance Theatre, Soten Taiko, Salsa Des Moines and the Allionce, Lion Dance Team.
  • A Naturalization Ceremony for the U.S. District Court will be held on Friday, Sept. 14 at 11:30 a.m. on the Polk County Board of Supervisors Main Stage.
  • Meals from the Heartland will package more than 60,000 meals during The Festival to be sent to people in need around the world.

A variety of volunteer shifts are available throughout the weekend in several different areas as part of The Festival Volunteer Program, sponsored by Bankers Trust. To sign up for a volunteer shift, click here.

The World Food & Music Festival is sponsored by Prairie Meadows, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Principal, Nationwide, Stella Artois, Bravo Greater Des Moines, Meredith Corporation, Voya Financial,  MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa Arts Council — a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wells Fargo,  SHIPT, WHO-HD 13, The Des Moines Register, More 104.1, Bankers Trust, Community Choice Credit Union, Hy-Vee Inc., Lasik Vision Institute,  Pella Windows and Doors of Central Iowa, Raising Cane's, Renewal by Andersen, Veridian Credit Union and Vero. 

For more information on the World Food & Music Festival, visit worldfoodandmusicfestival.org.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 340 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.