A Marathon of Walking....

We visited the Des Moines Arts Festival in downtown Des Moines today.  They opened an hour later than their advertised start on the web.  The heat was too much at our first visit.  We returned to our car and stayed cool for an hour waiting for the actual opening. Everyone who lives in the center of the United States knows how hot it was.  We returned and walked through the whole sets of displays one time, ducking into shaded areas when we could.  We did it with a little bit of agony and yet did make it pretty successfully.  Traditionally we drive about seven blocks east to the Spaghetti Works cafe in a an old building in the old downtown. The Farmer’s Market was just starting to shut down in that area so we got to walk through more crowds.

The displays of many kinds of art work and fine hardwood furniture were interesting. Some really refined good artist and some more craft like things were exhibited.  Photography and metal sculpture was also for sale.  People bring their dogs to these festivals but it was too hot for them to be there.

After eating spaghetti downtown we drove east to the State Fair grounds and visited another large building with a  couple hundred of more artist sales display.  The one at the fairgrounds is called the alternative show as more rural Iowans and surrounding state artist have things for sale. The one downtown  is filled with artists from coast to coast and one was even from Canada.

The grandstand at the fair was build in early 1900s. It has been refurbished but still looks like the original brick structure of old.

I am making my third year report on this new building in downtown Des Moines.  It is the headquarters of the Kum and Go business. I will  let you admire this viewing and you can be guessing how much was spent on building it. I will post more shots tomorrow.

Time for a rest and rehidration as we are home.  It was a good day.  Thanks for stopping by today.