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New Offerings Abound at the 2017 World Food & Music Festival

September 8, 2017

DOWNTOWN DES MOINES, IOWA – The 13th Annual World Food & Music Festival — set for Friday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 in Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines — will offer several new highlights at the 2017 event including new adventure tents, drinks, cooking demonstrations and viewing space. The World Food & Music Festival is Greater Des Moines’ (DSM’s) premier food and music festival that celebrates cuisine and entertainment from around the world. In 2017, The Festival will contain 52 food vendors representing more than 25 countries and culinary regions around the world.

Additional highlights include:

  • Principal’s Spice Adventure and Voya Financial’s Fruit Adventure Tents. The new fruit tent gives attendees a chance to taste and experience exotic fruits like dragon fruit, rambutan and jackfruit. The new spice tent includes olive oil tastings and hands-on demonstrations learning about curry and paprika. The Chocolate Adventure returns as a destination for children to make chocolate lollipops. 
  • New cocktails include the Georgia Peach Mule and Sakazuki Mule. New beers include Backpocket Raygun IPA, Coralville, IA; Golden Road Wolf Pup IPA, Los Angeles, CA; Kona Wailua Wheat, Kailua-Kona, HI; Pfungstädter Radler, Germany; Rogue Dead Guy, Newport, OR; Sierra Nevada Side Car, Chico, CA; Spiked Seltzer Grapefruit, Norwalk, CT; Tallgrass Blueberry Jam, Manhattan, KS; Urban Chestnut Schnickelfritz Wheat, St. Louis, MO; Veltins Pilsner, Germany.
  • Meredith Culinary Discovery Pavilion — New cooking demonstrations include Fresh Express Mediterranean, Dirt Burger, Granite City Food & Brewery, Smokey Row, Hello Marjorie and Sweet to Eat Baker and Cake Shop.
  • The Festival Front Porch is the new viewing space, featuring pristine views of the Main Stage, seating, beverage services and a comfortable patio atmosphere.

Cultural Discovery Experience will feature performances and activities highlighting cultures from across the globe. This year the tent is made possible through a grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. CultureAll is assisting with the programming.

Friday, Sept. 15 programming:

  • Kenyan Traditions from Noon to 2 p.m. (music/dance)
  • My Nigeria from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (storytelling)
  • Artesanias from 4 to 5:30 p.m. (art)
  • Japanese Kanj from 6 to 7:30 (writing)

Saturday, Sept. 16 programming:

  • Classical, folk and Bollywood dances from Noon to 2 p.m. (learn various dances)
  • Tropical Steel from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (music)
  • Chinese New Year Celebration from 4 to 5:30 p.m. (storytelling)
  • Japanese Drums and Dance from 6 to 8 p.m. (music/dance)

Sunday, Sept. 17 programming:

  • Greetings from the Islands from Noon to 1:30 p.m. (learn greetings/music)nds from Noon - 1:p.m.
  • gramming includes;
  • tine views of the Main State, seating, beverage services and a
  • Cumbia from 2 to 4 p.m. (dance)

As part of Welcoming America’s National Welcoming Week on Sept. 15 through 24, The Partnership, through its Global DSM: International Talent Strategy, is presenting an interactive performance highlighting the diverse communities that make the region truly global, vibrant and thriving. Attendees are invited to come, view, chant, sing, dance and celebrate at the Main Stage at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Festival will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday — one hour later than in previous years — and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. 

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, Principal, Stella Artois, Bravo Greater Des Moines, Community Choice Credit Union, Meredith Corporation, MidAmerican Energy Company, Nationwide, Voya Financial®, Bankers Trust, Polk County Board of Supervisors, AllSpice Culinarium, Beaverdale Confections, Lasik Vision Institute, More 104.1, WHO – HD and The Des Moines Register. This project is supported, in part, by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and The National Endowment for the Arts.

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

About the Downtown Community Alliance

The Downtown Community Alliance (DCA), part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, cultivates a shared vision for Downtown Des Moines through leadership, initiative, advocacy, partnerships and shared solutions. As part of its dedication to cultivating a vibrant Downtown Des Moines core, the DCA produces events that promote Downtown and enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of our community. Visit downtowndesmoines.com for more information.