Des Moines

Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named after the Des Moines River, likely derived from the French Rivière des Moines meaning 'River of the Monks'. Wikipedia

Population 214,133 (Wikidata)

Live guide From your hotel
Photo · Commons

Before you go

Emergency numbers in United States

Visas and entry What your passport needs for United States
Daylight 9 h 11 in Dec, dark by 15:45 · 15 h 10 in Jun
  1. January: 9 h 30 of daylight
  2. February: 10 h 37 of daylight
  3. March: 11 h 54 of daylight
  4. April: 13 h 20 of daylight
  5. May: 14 h 31 of daylight
  6. June: 15 h 10 of daylight
  7. July: 14 h 54 of daylight
  8. August: 13 h 52 of daylight
  9. September: 12 h 30 of daylight
  10. October: 11 h 08 of daylight
  11. November: 9 h 52 of daylight
  12. December: 9 h 11 of daylight

Getting there

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

  1. CelebrAsian

    May

    (May), Western Gateway Park: A festival focused on Asian culture, with lots of food, as well as music and dance performances

  2. Capital City Pride Festival

    June

    (June), East Village: A large LGBT celebration with a parade, music and drink

  3. Des Moines Arts Festival

    June

    The Des Moines Arts Festival is an arts festival held every June in Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The three-day festival frequently draws in excess of 200,000 people and has been ranked among the top festivals in the United States.

    Official site Wikipedia

  4. Iowa Craft Brew Festival

    June

    (June), Western Gateway Park: Showcases local and regional craft breweries. (At other times of the year, you can always sample beer from every Iowa craft brewery at the Iowa Tap Room in East Village)

  5. Iowa State Fair

    Iowa State Fair

    August

    The Iowa State Fair is a state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa, every August. The first fair began in 1854 in Fairfield and has been held in the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886.

    Official site Wikipedia

  6. World Food & Music Festival

    August – September

    (August/September), Western Gateway Park. Taste diverse cuisine from around the world prepared by more than 50 food vendors

  7. Latino Heritage Festival

    September

    (September), East Village: Celebrates Latino culture with music, food, and dance. Food vendors set up on one of the bridges over the Des Moines River

7 events here have no dates for this year yet. We can look them up on each event's own site.

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Des Moines); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Eating nearby

All 4 places to eat

Somewhere to run

Getting around

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Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 17 October 2026. Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.