Taste of the Junction Multicultural Festival Labor Day Weekend, September 3 - 5 West Des Moines, IA

Start: Thursday, September 3, 2026 6:00PM
End: Saturday, September 5, 2026 10:00PM

Now in its 14th year, the Multicultural Festival includes three signature events: The Junction Speaks, Jazzin' in the Junction, and the Multicultural Street Festival. The events are FREE and Open to the Public. All are welcome. The Junctions Speaks kicks off the weekend celebration on Thursday, September 3 – starting at 6:00pm at the TPK Event Center, 1208 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50265. Since 2013, The Junction Speaks has revealed and preserved the rich multicultural oral histories of the families who built a tight-knit community in Valley Junction from the very beginning. The origin histories of Serbian, Mexican and African Americans in Valley Junction have been curated, recorded, and published at the annual event. It's a rich night of storytelling, slideshows, special presentations and artwork on display. Jazzin' in the Junction is Friday, September 4 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge, 2500 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50265. Join us at the Jazzin' in the Junction to experience the Spoken Word and live Jazz. The Spoken Word has become a special part of our celebrations and community building. By definition, Spoken Word is an oral poetic performance art based mainly on the poem and the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a 21st-century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition. Please join us to experience the rich history and experiences told by talented storytellers. The Multicultural Street Festival is Saturday, September, 5 – 2:00pm to 10:00pm at Railroad Park Music Pavilion, 425 Railroad Place, Valley Junction, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. Fun for the whole family begins at 2:00pm with Kid Zone, Face Painting, Live Mural Painting, Inflatables, Creative Crafts, Cultural Food Court, Ice Cold Beverages, High-Energy Street Performances, and LIVE Music on the main stage from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Saturday Schedule: 2:00pm to 7:00pm – Kid Zone, Local Street Acts, Arts & Crafts Vendors 2:00pm to 10pm – Cultural Food Court, including authentic dishes from global cuisines, locally famous barbecue and smoked meats, freshly baked specialty pies, cobblers, and cakes, and ice-cold beverages. 5:00pm to 10:00pm – LIVE Music with Dapper Donnie & Friends at 5:00pm Capital City Steppers with audience participation dancin' in the street! Headliner: Guitarras ATM Salsa Band begins at 8:00pm on the Main Stage! It's Goin' Down in the Junction! Bring your lawn chair and your dancin' shoes! For more information: https://tasteofthejunction.org Thank you to our sponsors! The Multicultural Festival Weekend is presented by Prairie Meadows, sponsored by BRAVO, the City of West Des Moines, the Krause Group, Polk County Supervisors - Matt McCoy, West Des Moines Community Foundation, West Bank, the Business Record and the TPK Event Center.