DES MOINES, IOWA (November 14, 2022) — The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs invites Iowans from across the state to enjoy Iowa art, history, food, and entertainment during the Celebrate Iowa Gala on Friday, December 9, at the Scottish Rite Consistory, 519 Park St, in Des Moines.
Now in its eleventh year, the state’s premier cultural celebration offers a mix of new highlights and popular traditions that recognize Iowa’s art, history, film, creativity, and community spirit.
“The Celebrate Iowa Gala features an all-Iowa experience for attendees to enjoy Iowa’s ‘greatest hits’ — in music, food, and entertainment,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. “It’s one of the best places to gather while also supporting Iowa history and culture.”
For more than a decade, the Celebrate Iowa Gala has raised critical funds for statewide programs of the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Funds from the gala have helped the museum and archives teams develop new exhibits, educational programs for all ages, an online catalog of the state’s vast collection of historical materials, and a mobile museum in a custom-built Winnebago that travels to all 99 counties.
At this year’s gala, guests can enjoy:
- Music from the local Parranderos Latin Combo, with special guests from Colombia, Morocco, and Spain, plus the Dueling Fiddles, James Tutson and the Rollback, Jarrett Purdy, and Vibe.
- Artwork by the Portrait Studio and Iowa Artist Fellow Julia Franklin, who will create a new installation inspired by The Annals of Iowa, the state historical society’s flagship journal.
- Food and beverages from some of Iowa’s finest farms, dairies, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.
This year’s event will take place at the Scottish Rite Consistory while renovations continue at the State Historical Building of Iowa.
Tickets range from $125 to $250, with discounted $100 tickets for young professionals (forty and younger). Proceeds from the event go to the Iowa Historical Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to support statewide initiatives for the State Historical Society of Iowa. iowaculture.gov/gala.
Celebrate Iowa Gala
When: 7-11PM, Friday, December 9, with a VIP reception at 6PM
Where: Scottish Rite Consistory, 519 Park Street, Des Moines
Tickets and details: iowaculture.gov/gala
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its divisions — the State Historical Society of Iowa, including the State Historic Preservation Office; the Iowa Arts Council; the interim Iowa Humanities Council; and Produce Iowa, the state office of film and media — empower Iowans to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting to the people, places, and points of pride that define our state.
