2021 Event is Postponed
WESTERN GATEWAY PARK, DES MOINES IA
italian american heritage festival of iowa
Sponsors of
The Latest
"Subscribe" to get the latest news delivered to your inbox.
Grazie a tutti!
We hope you enjoyed our 9th annual Italian-American Heritage Festival of Iowa while learning something that you might not have known about our rich Italian culture. The three groups responsible for your experience at our festival – the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa, Society of Italian Americans, and Societa’ Vittoria Italiana – worked as one Read more about Grazie a tutti![…]
Something for everyone!
Des Moines Register article here.
WOW! Look at all these new vendors!
Il Mercato will be a busy place! Stop by to see all the unique offerings.
grazie!
Thank you to our Sponsors who helped make this event possible!
Bottles & Bottega
Enjoy a Saturday morning painting a beautiful Tuscan scene with Bottles & Bottega. No experience necessary! Thirsty? Sip on some sangria or wine while painting (available for purchase). $45 participation fee. Sign up at Eventbrite or email fgraziano@grazianobrothers.com
Artisti Del Gessetto
Do you like to draw or have an artistic knack? Would you like a fun challenge? Join us for our first-ever Street Chalk Art Competition to be held Saturday, July 28 on the streets of the Festival! Let’s recreate an Italian tradition that goes back to the 16th century where artists created beautiful works of Read more about Artisti Del Gessetto[…]
Casey’s Stage Line-up Announced
Entertainment is booked ….some old favorites…..some soon to be new favorites. Something for everyone! Check out our line-up.
Now Taking Applications
The 2018 Festival Committee is now accepting Vendor Applications. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to showcase your products! More information here.
2018 Festival Headliner
BOSTYX – Featuring DAVID VICTOR Formerly of BOSTON will be on the Casey’s Stage July 28th! BOSTYX features all the hits of BOSTON and STYX together in one amazing, harmonious and powerful live show featuring David Victor, former vocalist/guitarist for multi-platinum superstars BOSTON. David recorded and toured with BOSTON on two North American tours and performed Read more about 2018 Festival Headliner[…]
2018 Dates Chosen
We’ve secured Western Gateway Park for 2018. Planning for a spectacular event has already started!
Here we are again……………………
We’re writing out big checks again. So proud to support ChildServe!
Giving Locally
We love filling out this BIG check!! Donations from our 2017 Festival surpassed $5,600 for the Food Bank of Iowa!! Thank you everyone for helping us support this fine organization.
2017 BEST SAUCE CONTEST
Congratulations to our winners: 1st Place Chance Hulten 2nd Place Collette Brown 3rd Place Chad Riccelli
Singers Invited
Participate in the Mass Honoring the Elderly by signing in the festival choir directed by Jim Cacciatore. Mass is celebrated Saturday July 29th at 4:00PM. Choir rehearsals will be held at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church on July 23, 25 & 27, from 7:00PM to 8:15PM. All are welcome!
Tables Available!
NEW THIS YEAR ………….. il Mercato, our Italian Marketplace, where you will find an array of merchandise. Priced for the smaller vendor, marketed for the shopper. Only $200 for the entire weekend! More information here: mercato
Tempt Your Palate
Sample our world-reknown cuisine, sip some fine Italian wine, enjoy a local brew or treat the kids to an Italian ice. There’s something for everyone!
Look who’s back…………
Sausage & Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Very few bands can get together two or three times a year and sound as if they’ve been touring for ten; this band is one of them. Comprised of musicians who’ve played with The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Carnes, Jimmy Buffett, etc… They play everything from The Read more about Look who’s back…………[…]
Posters Spotted Around Town
Italian-American Heritage Festival of Iowa’s posters are popping up around town! This annual event held in Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park on July 28 & 29, 2017 is hosted by the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa, Societa Vittoria Italia and Society of Italian Americans, and features an array of cultural events, a children’s park and entertainment Read more about Posters Spotted Around Town[…]
il Mercato
NEW THIS YEAR ………….. il Mercato, our Italian Marketplace, where you will find an array of merchandise. Priced for the smaller vendor, marketed for the shopper. Tables are going fast! More information here: mercato
New This Year…Talent Showcase
Got talent? We have the perfect FREE opportunity for your group!
The Italian American Heritage festival is offering a venue, FREE OF CHARGE, for your group to perform at this year’s festival. This is a great way to showcase your talent and advertise your organization. Time slots are filling up fast!!
All information available here ….. Read more about New This Year…Talent Showcase
Headliner Band Announced
We are excited to welcome Blackjack Billy to the 2017 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa! Everyone in Blackjack Billy is bonded together by music — specifically, the no-holds-barred, good-time, party-down rockin’ country that is endearing them to fans throughout and beyond the U.S. “We are you,” band member Noll explains. “We’re big-time country fans. “We’re Read more about Headliner Band Announced[…]
2017 Festival Proceeds To Benefit ChildServe and The Food Bank of Iowa
The 2017 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa has chosen to give back to two outstanding organizations here in central Iowa: ChildServe and The Food Bank of Iowa. A portion of the profits will benefit ChildServe, while food and cash donations from festival visitors will be collected on behalf of The Food Bank of Iowa. Read more about 2017 Festival Proceeds To Benefit ChildServe and The Food Bank of Iowa[…]
Welcome to the Seventh Annual Italian-American Heritage Festival of Iowa!
Preparation is well underway for the seventh annual Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa! Every year our festival gets bigger and better. This year, will return to the Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines on July 28th & 29th. With more space than ever before, we’ve added additional entertainment acts, expanded our cultural exhibits, enhanced our activity Read more about Welcome to the Seventh Annual Italian-American Heritage Festival of Iowa![…]
Volunteers Needed!
Please help us make the festival GREAT! Sign up to work the beer/ticket tents. Get a friend or two to sign up with you, or come meet some new friends!! The more the merrier!! Click here to volunteer
2016 Festival Contests Announced
The contests for the 2017 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa have been announced: Artistic Scholarships The contest is open to students of Italian descent who will be attending school in the fall at a college, university, art institute or trade school. There will be two categories: Drawings/Paintings (any form) and Photography, (black and white Read more about 2016 Festival Contests Announced[…]
Sing in the Festival Choir!
Singers are being invited to take part in a mass Honoring the Elderly at this years 7th annual Italian-American Heritage Festival of Iowa. The liturgical celebration will take place at 4:00 PM Saturday July 29th on the Casey’s Stage in the Western Gateway Park area in downtown Des Moines. Bishop Richard Pates will officiate, assisted Read more about Sing in the Festival Choir![…]
2015 Festival Recap
The 2015 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa was once again a huge success! Thank you to all who attended, those who volunteered, and the committee members who worked so hard to ensure the festival would show the positive contributions of the Italian people in our great state. Our festival would not be possible without the efforts of Read more about 2015 Festival Recap[…]
James Hamm, Chairman