Inside Iowa Politics: What is Iowa’s America’s Harvest Festival?

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced "America's Harvest Festival" will be held Oct. 24 on the Iowa State Capitol grounds in Des Moines from 1 p.m. to sunset as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebration. The free event will feature Iowa food, live music, and historical information, with organizers hoping to draw crowds comparable to the annual Yankee Doodle Pops celebration, which attracts about 100,000 people.

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the timing during Iowa's harvest season is intentional, allowing the state to highlight agriculture's foundational role in the nation's success. Reynolds said the Capitol grounds will be fully utilized to create an atmosphere celebrating Iowa's agricultural heritage and American identity.