About

WOW!  The Wonder of Words Festival

Co-produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and the Des Moines Public Library, the WOW! Wonder of Words Festival is designed to connect readers, writers and other literary artists during a series of events celebrating reading, writing and lifelong learning.  Just as the Des Moines Arts Festival showcases the visual arts and the World Food and Music Festival features culinary and musical traditions from around the globe, the Downtown Community Alliance is leading the way in embrace the deep publishing traditions in Des Moines with a festival designed for readers of every kind.

WOW! 2013

The 2013 WOW! Wonder of Words Festival is planned for early November 2013.

The WOW! Festival is proud to be a sponsor of the AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) series, presented by the Des Moines Public Library.  AViD author Amy Tan’s free appearance on November 10, 2013 at Hoyt Sherman Place Theater will be included as part of the WOW! Festival.

Interested in community partnership, programming or volunteer opportunities? Contact Sarah Murphy at 515-286-4996.

Interested in supporting the WOW! Festival through sponsorship? Contact Amy Yost at 515-286-4906.

WOW! 2012

The first WOW! Wonder of Words Festival, held in 2012, was designed to celebrate the written word and the love of life-long learning.

The first WOW! Festival took place around the Des Moines metro area from October 17 to 29, 2012.  With the help of our dedicated sponsors, community partners and volunteer, the WOW! Festival welcomed more than 3,000 people to 22 events in its first year.