It’s a special weekend in Des Moines, so that calls for a special weekend guide! The Des Moines Arts Festival is back again and we couldn’t be more excited. 

The Des Moines Arts Festival is one of the world’s most respected festivals, hosting 160 of the nation’s top artists June 25-27, 2021 in the beautiful, urban setting surrounding the 4.4 acre John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the newly-constructed Krause Gateway Center. Keep reading for what we think you can’t miss this weekend as you navigate all the amazing events associated with the festival! 

Miss our normal guide? No worries, check out our Instagram stories where we’ll be sharing all the other events going on around town as well.  

Disclaimer: Events are subject to change. For the most up-to-date info, please reference the Des Moines Arts Festival’s full events calendar. All photos used with permission of Des Moines Arts Festival. 

✨7 Things To Do At the Des Moines Arts Festival✨

Watch the Artist Demonstrations

What’s better than seeing art? Seeing art come to life. Professional and emerging artists will be sharing their knowledge and passion for their work throughout the weekend with live demonstrations. They’ve truly got everything from an embroidering demonstration, to live water color painting, to melodic percussion instrument performances. There’s tons of opportunities to watch these, so check out the lineup at the button below to find the one you’re most excited for!

Check out the full 2021 lineup.

Grab Your Favorite Craft Beer + Cider at the Curated Crafts Tent

The Curated Crafts tent will be open throughout the festival serving all your favorite Iowa craft beers and ciders that you would expect from an epic Des Moines event. Visit the tent any time from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. The tent is located to the north of the Hy-Vee Main stage! There will also be eclectic food booths and food trucks for all your munchie needs before, during, and after your third beer. 

Interrobang Film Festival

  • Central Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. all weekend!

We’ve missed watching movies with more than just our dog. Just us? The Interrobang Film Festival, the film arm of the Des Moines Art Festival, is here to get us caught up after the long pandemic hiatus. Cinema enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike can experience curated screenings from artists around the globe in the comfort of the air- conditioned South Wing of the Des Moines Central Library. This year’s Film Festival highlights include 48 selected films, chosen from 215 submissions representing 27 countries. This is the perfect activity for when the weather gets a little rainy or humid this weekend!

Check out all the films and showtimes!

Free Live Music All Weekend on HyVee Main Stage + Roots Stage

Yes, it’s literally all free. All weekend. It’s incredible! We’re excited to see lovelytheband and Here Come The Mummies on the Hy-Vee main stage. You might know lovelytheband from their catchy “Broken” that debuted in April 2017 and became the longest running #1 track on Alternative Radio in 2018.  You’re definitely going to want to see Here Come The Mummies – an eight-piece, funk-rock band of 5,000 year-old Egyptian Mummies with a one-track mind. Their “Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave” is sure to get you into them (and possibly vice versa).

The Hy-Vee main stage is in Western Gateway Park, and the Roots Stage is behind Des Moines Radio Group at 1416 Locust St.

Learn more about the lineup.

Yoga in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park with Yoga + Co. 

  • Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • Saturday, June 26, 9:15 a.m.

Meet outside of Nomad on the south side of the sculpture garden to join Yoga+Co, a donation-based studio here in Des Moines, in a morning flow! Lindsay is an amazing instructor who will help you cultivate the energy you need to start out this epic weekend on a great note.

Check out the event listing.

Shop Emerging Iowa Artists for art on a budget!

Emerging Artist: Christian D’Cruz

Shopping for art on a budget? Make sure to check out the Emerging Iowa Artists located at 12th and Grand for a showcase of promising visual artists from Iowa, showing their work alongside the Festival’s 160 professional artists. Eight students from Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, and Grand View University were selected for this year’s Festival, so if you want to feel incredibly old and blown away by young talent, definitely go say hi. 

All the details.

Habitat for Humanity’s “Blitz Build” Home Tour

  • Sunday, June 27, 11 a.m. 

If you’re not sufficiently filled with warm fuzzies by the end of this weekend, this last suggestion will put you over the edge. Habitat for Humanity is back for their fifth “Blitz Build” at the Des Moines Arts Festival.  Yes, volunteers literally build a house over the course of the weekend. The first wall be raised at 11am on opening day, you can stop by throughout the weekend to see the progress, and then finish the weekend by touring the home at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 27. 

All the details.
Still need some convincing to get down there? PARKING IS COMPLETELY FREE!

Nationwide Insurance provides free parking starting Friday after 11:00 a.m. in their ramp at 1100 Walnut Street (between 10th and 12th streets). Enter at the south entrance off Mulberry Street. Please carpool if possible, as the streets on and around the Festival site are closed, and it will take you extra time to park on Festival days. 

Being very on-brand for Des Moines and riding your bike? They got you covered too. 

Take your favorite trail and ride it downtown, knowing you can valet your bike for free! Just take your bike to the bike
corral hosted by Friends of Central Iowa Trails at the intersection of Locust Street and 16th Street.

See you there friends!