Dec. 15: The Iowa Asian Alliance hosts its annual Pho King Cook-Off at the River Center. Pho real.
Dec. 19: Moxie Kitchen hosts a Feliz Navidad feast that starts with pozole rojo and ends with pineapple rum cake. What’s not to love?
Dec. 28: Sarah Pratt, who sculpts the butter cow at the Iowa State Fair, shares a few tips during a butter sculpting workshop on Iowa Statehood Day at the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Heads up: Reservations are required, and participants should be at least 8 years old.
Dec. 31: Flora, the restaurant that opens Wednesday at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, hosts a plant-forward New Year’s Eve dinner. Reservations are available for two seatings, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Through early January: Several local bars and restaurants have decked every inch of their halls (and doors, floors, ceilings and windows) for the holidays. For a full dose of lights and tinsel, check out SnowGlobe 2024 at Exile Brewing Co., Rudolph’s Rooftop at the Republic on Grand, and the Santa Paws Pop-Up Bar at Paws & Pints. Check the websites for details and reservations.
Jan. 25: Indulge: A Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Affair moves this year to a bigger venue at the River Center.
Feb. 8: I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa, the state’s flagship African American festival, features soul food, barbecue, a health and wellness expo, and more at the Horizon Events Center in Clive. worldiniowa.org
Feb. 28: A Gilded Soiree, presented by Winefest and the West Des Moines Historical Society, features an elegant dinner with wine pairings prepared by chef Jacob Schroeder at the historic Jordan House in West Des Moines.
March 7: The Wine, Food and Beer Showcase offers samples from more than 30 area restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and distilleries at the downtown Marriott. All proceeds from the event, which started in 1985, support the Des Moines Metro Opera’s statewide education and community engagement programs.
April 25: Chef George’s Slice House is an exploration of pizza history, told through six delicious courses prepared by chef George Formaro at Django’s Reinhardt Room.
May 1: The Valley Junction Farmers Market opens for the season on Fifth Street in West Des Moines, with live music at Railroad Park, every Thursday through the end of September.
May 3: The Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market opens for the season with the clang of the ceremonial cowbell on Court Avenue and continues every Saturday morning through the end of October.
May 3: The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds and promises a place for bacon lovers “to feast on tasty bacon delicacies, to get weird and to have a grand ol’ time,” according to its website.
May 3: Cinco de Mayo in Valley Junction celebrates the neighborhood’s past and present connections to Latino culture with live entertainment and plenty of delicious food.
May 23-24: CelebrAsian, Iowa’s largest Asian American festival, features dozens of food booths from 16 cultures, plus exhibits, entertainment and more, at Western Gateway Park.
June 6-8: The Greek Food Fair returns to St. George Greek Orthodox Church with a feast of gyros, souvlaki, spanokopita, dolmathes, baklava and so much more.
June 4-5: The World Pork Expo attracts thousands of pork producers from around the world for educational sessions, seminars and networking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
June 7: The Iowa Craft Brew Festival features the finest ales, lagers and other sudsy concoctions from dozens of Iowa brewers at Water Works Park.
June 13: Sips in the City, Winefest’s signature celebration, uncorks some fun on Friday the 13th with cocktails, a meal, live music and dancing in the south lobby of the iconic Ruan Center, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer dazzling views of the downtown lights.
Aug. 7-17: The Iowa State Fair returns for 10 more days of deep-fried, sugar-dusted goodness with this year’s theme, “Fair Sweet Fair.”
Aug. 15-24: dsm Restaurant Week celebrates the city’s favorite dining destinations with 10 days of chef-curated menus and deals for lunch and dinner all around the metro.
Aug. 22-24: The World Food & Music Festival offers culinary specialities from around the world for three days in Western Gateway Park.
Sept. 26-27: Oktoberfest, Water Works Park
Sept. 27-28: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival returns to Western Gateway Park for another weekend of music, culture and food from Central and South America.
Mid-October: The World Food Prize, often considered “the Nobel Prize of food and agriculture,” will be awarded during an annual ceremony at the state Capitol to honor individuals who improve the quantity, quality and availability of food worldwide.
Oct. 31: Winefest’s Halloween party promises a few magic potions and spooky surprises — including the location, which was unconfirmed at press time.
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