ANKENY, Iowa — Des Moines Oktoberfest is returning for its 22nd year, but this year the event will take place in Ankeny.
This year’s Des Moines Oktoberfest will take place at The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny. The event space features a new, state-of-the-art amphitheater, various restaurants, and hotels for those traveling to the event to stay in.
Preserving history at the What Cheer Opera House
It’s not the first time that the event has had to move, but it is the first time that it will not be hosted in Des Moines. For the first 16 years, it was hosted at Hessen Haus on 4th Street, then two years at Principal Park, and the previous two years at Water Works Park.
The event was forced to move after Mindy Toyne, co-founder of Des Moines Oktoberfest, was notified that Water Works Park had a scheduling conflict. Instead of breaking the tradition of having the event on the last weekend of September, it was decided to move the event, but keep the name of Des Moines Oktoberfest…