entertainment
12 months of events From the 80/35 Music Festival to the Festival of Trees and Lights, central Iowa offers annual and special events throughout the year. Ankeny Summerfest A four-day, family friendly event featuring cardboard boat races, a parade and a karaoke event to crown an Ankeny Idol. July 12-15 at 212 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny; 9640685; ankenysummerfest.org Ankeny Unplugged
Festival-goers fill Western Gateway Park during the 2011 80/35 Music Festival
80/35 Music Festival The fifth annual 80/35 Music Festival is July 6-7 in downtown Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park. The festival is organized by the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, a local nonprofit that aims to build a larger and more diverse local music scene in central Iowa. The organization uses a network of volunteers to put on 80/35 and other shows.
Register file photos
But 80/35 is the crown jewel. The festival brings dozens of performers to downtown Des Moines on two free stages and one main stage. Past headliners include The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Spoon, Girl Talk and Ben Harper. But it’s not just the big bands, as the free stages become a who’s who of local heroes and up-and-coming indie, hip-hop and jam bands.
Visit this neighborhood of historic brick houses as its residents host their annual family friendly festival of food, fireworks, entertainment and a parade. Sept. 14-15 in Beaverdale; fallfestival.org Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
Where: Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park and surrounding streets Tickets: Go to 80-35.com
CelebrAsian
The lineup: This year’s headliners are The Avett Brothers (July 6) and Death Cab for Cutie (July 7), with main stage acts that include Dinosaur Jr., Freddie Gibbs and Useful Jenkins (July 6), and Leftover Salmon and Atmosphere (July 7). And 30-plus other bands, too.
The state’s largest cultural festival celebrating Asian culture, food, traditions and entertainment. Held annually in May, Iowa state Capitol complex; 282-8192; celebrasian.org
When: July 6-7
2012 Ultimate Guide to Des Moines 26
Beaverdale Fall Festival
If you think everything’s better with bacon, the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival will become your new religion. Bacon reigns supreme at this annual event featuring, well, bacon. Tickets have sold out in mere minutes each year, even as the size of the fest continues to double. Plans are in motion for the February/March event, so be ready to book your tickets early. blueribbonbaconfestival. com
2012 80/35
Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros moves from the stage into the crowd.
Relatively new to the music fest game, this month of weekly concerts has an impressive array of talent for its shows, every Saturday in June in Wagner Park, 401 W. First St., Ankeny. From the 2012 lineup: Parlours, Caroline Smith, Mint, Christopher the Conquered, Patrick Tape Fleming, Fierce Bad Rabbit and more. And it’s cheap, just $3 a show. Go to ankenyunplugged.com for more details.