(Des Moines, IA) -- The 2023 World Food and Music festival continues through the weekend in downtown Des Moines. According to Amelia Klatt with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, mild conditions are proving to be a big help in drawing visitors to the festival. "It's been a great turnout so far, this weather has been wonderful," Klatt said, and that they are "seeing a lot of people here this Friday and Saturday and hope to continue that."
Klatt also says the festival has grown this year, including fifteen new food vendors. "We'll have a variety of people on our cultural and main stage that we haven't had in the past," Klatt says, adding that the festival is adding a passport program where people can get stamps from different food vendors and then turn those in for a prize.
Jeff and Lori Gibbons traveled from Madrid to attend the festival Saturday, trying some different types of distinctive foods, such as carne asada and mango on a stick.
"It's the first time we've been here in a while," Jeff said, "it's kind of good little atmosphere to people watch and smell the food."
The festival lasts through 5 o'clock Sunday evening.