The two-day festival returns to Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines Sept. 26-27 with live music, food, dance, cultural displays and children’s activities.
By Hola Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival returns to Western Gateway Park, 1205 Locust St., on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, for two days of live music, food, dance, art and family activities.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission costs $5 for adults, while children age 12 and younger enter free. Festival staff will sell tickets at the entrance, where guests can pay with cash or cards.
Nationwide will also offer free parking at its parking ramp at 1100 Walnut St. In addition, downtown Des Moines offers free street parking on Sundays.
The festival runs 13 hours Saturday and 8 hours Sunday
- Saturday, Sept. 26: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Location: Western Gateway Park, 1205 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309.
- Adult admission: $5.
- Children: Free for ages 12 and younger.
- Parking: Free at the Nationwide ramp, 1100 Walnut St.
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival celebrates Latino cultures represented across the state. Throughout the weekend, visitors can find live music, folkloric dance, food vendors, artists, cultural booths, educational activities and children’s programming.
Son Peruchos, Making Movies and a Selena tribute perform Saturday
The current live-music schedule lists four Saturday performance blocks and Southern California tropical Afro-Latin band QUITAPENAS. Organizers also plan folkloric dance performances between musical acts.
- 1:15-2:30 p.m.: Son Peruchos — Andean and South American folk, salsa, cumbia, bachata and rock en español.
- 3:15-4:30 p.m.: Esencia Añeja — norteño, cumbia, boleros, zapateado and huapangos.
- 5:15-6:15 p.m.: Making Movies — Afro-Latino rock, blues and psychedelic rock.
- 5:15-6:15 p.m.: QUITAPENAS — tropical Afro-Latin music.
- 7:30-8:30 p.m.: Selena Tribute by Lani’s Full Band — Tejano, Latin pop and cumbia.
However, organizers had not assigned individual stages in the public text schedule as of Sept. 21. Because Making Movies and QUITAPENAS both appear at 5:15 p.m., they may perform in separate areas. The current information does not identify those stages.
Guitarras ATM and Selekto Show perform Sunday
Sunday’s current music schedule includes two bands:
- 2:15-3:30 p.m.: Guitarras ATM — Tex-Mex, cumbias, boleros and traditional Mexican favorites.
- 4:15-5:45 p.m.: Selekto Show — bachata, salsa, merengue and rock en español.
Organizers also plan folkloric dance between some musical sets. As of Sept. 21, they had not released a complete stage-by-stage timetable.
More than 20 food vendors will serve the festival
More than 20 food vendors will participate throughout the weekend, bringing culinary traditions from across Latin America to Western Gateway Park.
For example, this year’s food options include pupusas, birria, sopes, tacos and mango with chile. The $5 admission does not include food or beverages.
In addition, the festival will feature artists, vendors selling products and services, cultural booths representing Latin American communities and civic and educational exhibits.
Children can find inflatables, piñata activities and coloring stations
Children’s programming includes jumping castles, piñata-making activities, coloring stations and mascot appearances.
Families can also visit cultural booths and watch live dance and music during both days. Meanwhile, children age 12 and younger receive free festival admission.
Free parking is available at 1100 Walnut Street
Nationwide will provide free festival parking at its downtown ramp at 1100 Walnut St.
The ramp sits several blocks from Western Gateway Park. On Sunday, visitors can also use free street parking in downtown Des Moines.
Festival staff will sell admission at the gate and accept cash, credit cards and debit cards.
Organizers have not announced 2026 bag or chair restrictions
As of Sept. 21, festival organizers had not announced a 2026 attendee policy covering bag size, lawn chairs, coolers or pets.
However, organizers may add those details closer to the weekend. Visitors can find current event updates and the entertainment lineup through the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival website.
What to bring to the festival
- Payment method: festival staff collect admission at the gate and accept cash and cards.
- Weather-appropriate clothing: the festival takes place outdoors at Western Gateway Park.
- Sun protection: much of the programming takes place during daytime hours.
- Photo ID: some purchases may require age verification.
- Phone: organizers may update the final entertainment schedule before the weekend.
Because organizers have not announced specific 2026 rules for bags, chairs or coolers, those items are not included here as confirmed recommendations.
The festival grew from a one-day event into a major Iowa celebration
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival began as a community effort more than two decades ago. Since then, it has grown into a two-day Des Moines celebration that draws visitors from across Iowa.
Hola Iowa previously documented the festival’s founders, history and growth.
Related: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving
Meanwhile, more celebrations taking place during Hispanic Heritage Month appear in Hola Iowa’s 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month events guide.
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Western Gateway Park and continues through 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27.
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