CURRENT HOURS: General touring is closed for the season. Visit Events and Programs for special events.
Note: Due to the rainy and cold weather, the front lawn activities for the Food & Farm Festival will be cancelled for today, Saturday, April 27. The breakout classes and VIP Tasting Events taking place today will continue as scheduled, indoors, and tickets for classes and tastings will be available at the door. Today’s VIP Tastings: Farms Uncorked and Beer ‘n’ Bread, will be relocated to the Visitor Center.
All activities tomorrow, Sunday, April 28, will run as scheduled, including the front lawn festival, breakout classes, and VIP Tasting Events.
Savor the start of the festival season at the new Food & Farm Festival at Living History Farms! Local producers, brewers, makers, and artists will gather together on the front lawn of Living History Farms to celebrate everything that makes Iowa great! Some of the metro’s favorite food trucks will be serving warm eats, cool treats, and bubbly drinks throughout the 2-day festival. And don’t miss the artisan wares and homespun goods provided by local makers. Live music, VIP tastings, food and craft demonstrations, private classes, and more await you and your family at this homegrown gathering at the Farms!
Endorsing Sponsor – Iowa Food & Family Project
Festival Vendors –
Event ScheduleLiving History Farms Front Lawn
Saturday, April 27, 2019, 11am-9pm – cancelled due to rain
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 11am-5pm
In the Festival Grounds on Living History Farms Front Lawn
Saturday April 27:
VIP Tasting EventsFlynn Barn, Living History Farms Grounds
Farms Uncorked – Saturday, April 27, 2019, 1-3pm, relocated to Visitor Center
Beer ‘n’ Bread – Saturday, April 27, 2019, 4-6pm, relocated to Visitor Center
Cocktails & Comfort Food – Sunday, April 28, 2019, 12-2pm
SOLD OUT – Festival of Cheese – Sunday, April 28, 2019, 3-5pm
Tickets for our VIP Tasting Events are available online January 15 at 10am – April 26 at noon. Limit 250 tickets per event. Tickets may be available at the door if not sold out. While Living History Farms offers many family friendly events, our VIP Tasting Events are for adults ages 21+ only. Photo ID required for admittance to the event(s).
Breakout ClassesLiving History Farms Grounds
Saturday, April 27, 2019, 10am and 12pm – Urban Farming
This course celebrates the benefits of urban farming — how it helps the environment, benefits your health, and the ways in which it can improve communities. We will also discuss the importance of growing food organically. We’ll incorporate growing methods into the “lecture” which will facilitate the breakout portion where each participant will get to plant their own mini salad garden in a 5 gallon bucket to take home and care for. Class instructed by Jenny Quiner from Dog Patch Urban Gardens. Classes sponsored by Meier Bernstein Foundation
Saturday, April 27, 2019, 2pm – Churn It Up: Butter Basics
Have you ever wondered how butter is made? Why it’s sometimes white and sometimes yellow? What the heck ghee is? Or maybe you want to make some yourself? If you’re ready for a churny into the unknown, this hour-long, hands-on class is perfect for you. In addition to a presentation, every participant will get to churn their own all Iowa, grass-fed butter. Come as you are and be ready to learn, churn, and return home with butter! Sponsored by Better Butter Bureau, a Des Moines business that promotes sustainable and local food networks. Learn more at www.bebubu.com
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 10am – Then and Now: Livestock Throughout History
Class will cover the evolution of America’s livestock; specifically chickens, swine, and cattle. Focus will be on the multi-purpose roles each animal serves on the farm, including, but not limited to egg laying and meat production. Discussion will also cover how the specific animals and their by-products have changed over the years as a direct result of the ever changing demands of both farmers and consumers.
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 12pm – Make & Take Spice Blends with Saltlickers
Master the art (and science) of creating your own unique spice blend. From drying the herbs to balancing their notes, Saltlickers’ proprietor Jennifer Knox will lead aspiring spice lovers through the process, hands-on. We’ll discuss considerations for making both salt-based and salt-free blends, the key to killer rubs, and more. Then, with over 50 ingredients to chose from, attendees will make their own spice blends to take home. Class cost: $7 https://www.salt-lickers.com/
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 2pm – Return to the Farm Table with Shaunna Maxwell
Class instructed by Shaunna Maxwell, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and founder of Return to the Table, an initiative that teaches families how to find their perfect version of health by eating local, nutrient dense foods. Return to the Farm Table is an interactive class for families where students will be shown how to prepare a farm to table meal at home by making something delicious with farm fresh produce. https://www.
returntothetablenutrition.com/
VIP Tasting Events and Breakout Class schedules are subject to change.
The Food & Farm Festival on Living History Farms Front Lawn has free admission! Vendors will have items for purchase. Photo ID will be required for any alcohol purchases. Festival doors open at 11:00am each day. Event takes place rain or shine.
Tickets are required and quantities are limited for the VIP Tasting Events and Breakout Classes within the Living History Farms grounds. Advanced tickets are recommended, limited quantities may be available at the door.
Living History Farms will not be open for general touring during the Food & Farm Festival, but we will open for the season on May 1, 2019!
| Festival on Front Lawn unlimited capacity |
FREE, no tickets required |
| VIP Tasting Events Available online January 15 at 10am – April 26 at noon Limit 250 tickets per event |
$10.00/person per event Member discount $9.00/person per event |
| Breakout Classes Available online March 19 at 10am – April 26 at noon Limit 30 tickets per class |
$5.00/person |
Purchase tickets for VIP Tasting Events
Interested in presenting your food or farm related products or business to our event attendees? Vendors are encouraged to bring information & samples, display products, or to sell merchandise to attendees related to Iowa, Midwest, food, and/or farming. Vendor fees vary based upon the type of vendor, and space is limited. Please see additional vendor information and complete the Vendor Application Form below to let us know about your business and your interest in participating. If you are selected as a vendor, we will follow up with a link to our official Vendor Agreement with all of the terms and conditions.
We are seeking musical acts to perform throughout our event. Our stage will be small so our ideal musical acts would be acoustic in nature. Living History Farms can provide 2 speakers, but musicians will need to provide, set up, and tear down all other equipment. This is a family-friendly event, so music should be appropriate for such a setting. Performances will be 2 hours in length. Performances would be considered an in-kind donation to Living History Farms, with no payment or stipend provided. Please fill out the Musical Act Application Form below to let us know about your music and your interest in participating.