The Des Moines Arts Festival prides our food vending operations on professional aesthetic appeal and menu selection across the site, including two food courts and a handful of stand-alone offerings. We offer our guests an eclectic variety of culinary vendors to hit every taste bud. Our vendors are leading the charge in sustainability by using all compostable serving materials for guests at the Festival each year. ​​​​

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The inclusion of the non-profit beverage partner program began in 2009 as another method of giving back to local non-profits organizations while supporting the Festival infrastructure needs. Partners are selected to manage the Festival's beverage stations through an application process. In exchange for the volunteer support they provided to the organization, each received 15% of the net profit from the station they man, plus any tips collected. Profits earned by these organizations have supported various community and art initiatives - from field trips to performances to an accessible ropes course build.