The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will perform at the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ Celebrate Iowa Gala. Photo: Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Writer: Michael Morain
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Face it: Zoom has its limits. That’s why the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is very, very excited to return to an in-person format for this year’s Celebrate Iowa Gala, where guests can see, hear and taste so many things from across the state.
The 10th annual event is set for Dec. 10 at the historic Scottish Rite Consistory in Des Moines, where guests can listen to live music from the Awful Purdies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Phineas Pope. They can see live landscape painting by Jorge Chavez Colorado, an exhibit of new artwork inspired by Iowa history, and a pop-up display about Iowa’s 175th anniversary.
From the groaning smorgasbord, folks can feast on Fareway ham balls, La Quercia charcuterie, Maytag blue cheese, Jaarsma Dutch letters, Piper’s chocolate caramels, homemade kolaches from none other than the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library—and so much more.
Thirsty? Try the Anderson Erickson eggnog, BLK & Bold coffee, the “Iowa 175” cocktail from the Mississippi River Distilling Co. or the “1846 Corn Lager,” made with old-fashioned brewing techniques at Court Avenue Brewing Co.
Proceeds from the gala’s tickets and sponsorships support statewide programs from the State Historical Society of Iowa, which has been preserving and sharing Iowa history since 1857.
