Raise a glass at Oktoberfest, the popular festival turns downtown Des Moines into the largest bar in the world. Festival goers drink lots and lots of ice cold German beer, eat German food and check out bier maidens and dance a lot of polka! Come celebrate a beery good time!
Art connoisseurs flock to the Des Moines Art Center to appreciate world-renowned artworks on permanent display from artists such as Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Andy Warhol and Georgia O'Keeffe. Enjoy an art museum dedicated to engaging local and international audiences through prominent paintings, sculptures, modern art and mixed media.
Honor the first African American US Army Officer Candidate Class at the Fort Des Moines Museum. Visit the national attraction filled with artifacts, exhibits, photographs and period art defining the history of heroes who brought gender and racial equality to the US Army during the great world wars.
See the buffalo roam at the Prairie Learning Center, gateway to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Discover over 5,000 acres of scenic prairie tallgrass, home to herds of buffalo, pheasants as well as native wildflowers and plant life. Visit the world-class 13, 000-square-foot nature center and the Prairie Point Bookstore for memorable souvenirs of your outdoor adventure.