Top 8 Things to Do in Des Moines in August
Get ready to eat your meals on sticks at the Iowa State Fair, enjoy sweet Iowa corn at the Adel Sweet Corn Festival, and experience food and music from around the world at the World Food & Music Festival. Plan your August in Des Moines today with these top 8 things to do in Des Moines in August!
Ingersoll Live 2024 | Sponsor
Address: 2300 Block of Ingersoll
When: Saturday, August 24 from 3 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Ingersoll LIVE, presented by Bankers Trust, will celebrate its 20th annual event on August 24. The family-friendly block party will be hosted in the 2300 block of Ingersoll Avenue – a new location for the event! The community is invited to enjoy two stages of live music, entertainment, vendors, and kids activities between 3-10 p.m. Don’t miss the free Kids Zone including inflatables, mini golf, face painting, balloons, art station, and a mini train. Food trucks, a beverage tent, and vendors featuring local businesses, artists, and nonprofit organizations will be part of Ingersoll LIVE.
Grain Harvest at Living History Farms
Address: Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
When: Saturday, August 3rd, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Cost: Adults (13-59): $19, Children (2-12): $12, Seniors + Military + AAA: $18
It’s time for Grain Harvest at Living History Farms. Help the historic interpreters at Living History Farms thresh grain using historical methods. Then check out Dr. Savage’s traveling medicine show at 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM behind the Flynn Mansion.
Iowa State Fair Parade
Address: The parade starts at the State Capitol Complex and marches west on Grand Ave to 15th Street.
When: Wednesday, August 7th at 6:15 PM
Cost: Free
Let’s kick off the Iowa State Fair with a Parade! Pick a spot along Grand Avenue and watch for over 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty, and performing units.
Iowa State Fair
Address: 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
When: August 8th-18th
Cost: Ticket options
- Advance Adult Admission (Ages 12 and up): $11
- Advance Child Admission (Ages 6-11): $7
The Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in Iowa and for good reason too! Enjoy plenty of new (and old) rides, agricultural activities, and plenty of food on sticks. Join the Blue Ribbon Kids’ Club for different activities each day of the fair. Children, ages 2-10, will love Little Hands on the Farm where they will get to collect and sell farm items at the Farmers’ Market and then they can spend a little hand dollar to get a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream sandwich. The Grandstand features famous artists such as Foreigner, Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett, Motley Crue, The Avett Brothers, Ne-Yo and so much more. Elwell Family Park hosts ATV/UTV races, truck and tractor pulls, and motorsports demolition derby. The fair is partnering with Child Serve for a second year to host a sensory-friendly morning at the fair on Wednesday, August 14th, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. Click here for all the best tips for visiting the fair.
Squonk Brouhaha Performances
Address: Cowles Commons, 221 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When:
- Friday, August 9th – 6:30 PM
- Saturday, August 10th – 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 6:30 PM
- Sunday, August 11th – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Cost: Free
Squonk Brouhaha is an outdoor performance that will get you up and dancing. The squonkcordion is an enormous musical instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells. Be prepared to participate in this spectacular performance as the audience is asked to join in!
Adel Sweet Corn Festival
Address: 801 Court St, Adel, IA 50003
When: Saturday, August 10th,
Cost: Free admission
Iowa is known for its delicious sweet corn. Come enjoy some at the Adel Sweet Corn Festival. Start Saturday off with the Sweet Corn Festival 5K. Afterward, enjoy the parade at 9:30 AM. A street party will be held from 6:00 PM to midnight. Enjoy live music, drinks, and food. Check out the cars at the car show. The fun begins Friday, August 9th at 4:30 PM for the husking of the corn at the south side of the police/fire department station.
World Food & Music Festival
Address: Western Gateway Park, 1205 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When:
- Friday, August 23rd, 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
- Saturday, August 24th, 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
- Sunday, August 25th, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
Cost: Free
The World Food & Music Festival is back for its 20th year! The festival features over 50 vendors with food and beverages from across 30 different countries. Throughout the festival, you can listen to a variety of musical performances, purchase products made by locally owned businesses, learn at the Cultural Activity Pavilion and so much more. Get all the details here.
Taste of the Junction
Address: Valley Junction, West Des Moines, IA 50265
When: Saturday, August 31st, 2:00 PM-10:00 PM
Cost: Free Admission
Visit Valley Junction for the annual Taste of the Junction. This festival is to celebrate the unity and solidarity of the historic history of Valley Junction. There will be live music, food trucks, and a kid’s fun zone. This is a great chance to learn more about the history of the Historic Valley Junction.
