Sorry, no festivals here.
With over half a million people milling about in the Des Moines metropolitan area, Iowa’s capital city can have the feeling of a big city. But it’s also a cozy place—the small town feeling hasn’t been lost one bit. And there’s plenty of fun stuff to do in Des Moines. Tramp through a variety of trails, kick back at a brewery or experiment with matter at the Science Center of Iowa. There is also a solid mix of festivals in Des Moines, from music and art festivals to car shows and food festivals. Prominent Des Moines festivals include the Iowa State Fair and the 80/35 Music Festival. The latter is known to attract tens of thousands of attendees and has featured prominent acts, such as the Wu Tang Clan and Modest Mouse.