Zach and Tracey

About

WOW!  The Wonder of Words Festival

Co-produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and the Des Moines Public Library, the WOW! Wonder of Words Festival is designed to connect readers, writers and other literary artists during a series of events celebrating reading, writing and lifelong learning.  Just as the Des Moines Arts Festival showcases the visual arts and the World Food and Music Festival features culinary and musical traditions from around the globe, the Downtown Community Alliance is leading the way in embrace the deep publishing traditions in Des Moines with a festival designed for readers of every kind.

WOW! 2013

The 2013 WOW! Wonder of Words Festival is planned for early November 2013.

The WOW! Festival is proud to be a sponsor of the AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) series, presented by the Des Moines Public Library.  AViD author Amy Tan’s free appearance on November 10, 2013 at Hoyt Sherman Place Theater will be included as part of the WOW! Festival.

Interested in community partnership, programming or volunteer opportunities? Contact Sarah Murphy at 515-286-4996.

Interested in supporting the WOW! Festival through sponsorship? Contact Amy Yost at 515-286-4906.

WOW! 2012

The first WOW! Wonder of Words Festival, held in 2012, was designed to celebrate the written word and the love of life-long learning.

The first WOW! Festival took place around the Des Moines metro area from October 17 to 29, 2012.  With the help of our dedicated sponsors, community partners and volunteer, the WOW! Festival welcomed more than 3,000 people to 22 events in its first year.

UW WOW 2012

Sponsors

WOW! is co-produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and Des Moines Public Library.

We are proud to welcome Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino as a Major Sponsor of the 2013 WOW! festival.

Additional WOW! Festival sponsorship opportunities are available.  Please contact Amy Yost at 515-286-4906 to learn about how your company or organization can partner in support of this literary celebration.
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Thank you to these 2012 WOW! sponsors!

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
The Conlin Family Foundation
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Des Moines Public Library Foundation
Douglas and Deborah West
Full Court Press
Grinnell College
Hubbell Homes
Humanities Iowa
Iowa Center for the Book
Iowa State Library for the Blind
National Center for the Book
Simpson College
Grand View University
Junior League of Des Moines
Meredith Corporation
Operation Downtown
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
The Rotary Club of Des Moines
The State Library of Iowa
Union Pacific Foundation
United Way of Central Iowa Women’s Leadership Connection
West Bank

WOW! 2012 Media Partners

Business Publications/The Business Record
The Des Moines Register
WHO Radio
WOI TV

Thank you to these key volunteers and partners

Beaverdale Books
The Book Store
Wendy Delsol
Molly House
Jan Kaiser
Robin Martin
Alice Meyer
Pat Schneider
Loretta Sieman
Marylee Woods
Susan Woody

 

Volunteer

 

Volunteer opportunities will be available at events throughout the WOW! Festival.  Please provide your basic contact information and we will be in touch with you about how you can get involved!

Volunteer

Fill out the information below if you are interested in volunteering.