The Greater Des Moines Partnership, in conjunction with the Downtown Community Alliance (DCA), created the Downtown Events Group (DEG) in December of 2004, to produce numerous annual, large-scale events in downtown Des Moines. The DEG strives to improve quality of life in the Greater Des Moines area and to promote our city.
DEG produces several premier downtown annual events to attract and entertain a variety of audiences from the metro area, the state and throughout the Midwest. Events bring unique opportunities to the community, highlight exciting year-round recreational opportunities, Iowa’s diversity, the arts and culture, as well as feature some of the world’s foremost experts living in our state. The DEG events utilize Iowa’s rich natural resources, innovative citizens and exciting venues. The DEG produces the following events in downtown Des Moines:
The structure for each event is independent and attendance is expected to range from 25,000 to
250,000 people depending on the event.
Six local businesses invest in DEG's roster of events:
- The Des Moines Register
- The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)
- Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
- Prairie Meadows
- Principal Financial Group Inc.
- Wells Fargo & Co.
The DEG staff operates under the umbrella of the Downtown Community Alliance (DCA). The DEG and the
DCA will also assist in marketing other smaller community events throughout the year through cooperative
promotion and encouraging cross participation and attendance. (DCA also plans the
Downtown Farmers Market and
Skywalk Golf.)
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