Getting around Downtown Des Moines to the Des Moines Arts Festival®
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011
There’s more than one way to get to Downtown Des Moines and the Des Moines Arts Festival® this weekend, June 24-26, 2011 in Western Gateway Park. The free, three-day Festival of the arts continues to draw over 200,000 people over the three days and involves several days of setup, which starts on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.
To make sure residents, businesses, employees and guests can appropriately plan for the Festival here is more information on the street closures around Downtown Des Moines and the Festival. Please note that Walnut Street and 10th Street will not be closed at all.
The streets that will be closed for the Festival include the following:
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 9 a.m. through Monday, June 27 at 6 a.m.
- Locust Street from 10th Street to 16th Street
- Grand Avenue from 11th Street to 16th Street - two lanes on south side only
- Remaining lanes on north side of Grand Avenue will be kept open for traffic until 6 p.m.
- 15th Street from Ingersoll Avenue to alley south between Locust Street and Walnut Street
- Access will be maintained to the alley south of Locust Street from off Walnut Street
- 13th Street from Grand Avenue to Walnut Street
- 12th Street from Grand Avenue to Walnut Street
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 27 at 5:30 a.m.
- Grand Avenue from 11th to 16th Streets - remaining lanes on north side will close
- At 6 p.m. all lanes on Grand Avenue will be closed between 11th and 16th Street.
When attending the Festival guests can park for free, drive right up to valet parking service or even bike via the metro trail system!
Free parking is available at two Nationwide Insurance parking ramps at 12th and Mulberry Street and 12th and Cherry Street. City meters are free after 6 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Guests are encouraged to carpool if possible and be patient - the streets on and around the Festival site are closed and it will take you extra time to park on Festival days.
Bike valet parking is provided by Friends of Central Iowa Trails. You can get on your favorite trail and ride it downtown, knowing you have a secure location to store your bike while enjoying the Festival. The bike valet is located just west of 10th Street on Locust Street, across from the Des Moines Central Library. To map your trail to the Festival go to Google maps and use the end address of 10th Street and Locust Street to bring you right to the valet.
Coming back for the third year is a car valet service. Bypass finding a parking spot by valet parking your car at 13th and Walnut Street for $10/car. To reach the valet parking: Westbound traffic from I-235 exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and take a left. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines after passing over Ingersoll and under Grand Avenue., heading south of downtown Des Moines. Turn left on 12th Street then left on Walnut Street. Take Walnut Street to 13th Street Eastbound traffic from I-235 exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and take a right. Follow the same directions as above.
For downloadable maps, schedules and more information updated daily, visit www.desmoinesartsfestival.org or call (515) 286-4950.