Largest events drawing visitors to the metro area, week of June 18
Company | Event | Arrival | Departure | Attendance | Venue | City |
Des Moines Arts Festival | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 240,000 | Various Hotels | Greater Des Moines | |
Iowa Speedway | ‘Iowa Corn Indy 250’ IZOD IndyCar Series | 6/23/2012 | 6/23/2012 | 35,000 | Iowa Speedway | Newton |
ArtFest Midwest | The Other Art Show | 6/23/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 30,000 | Iowa State Fairgrounds | Des Moines |
Iowa Speedway | Indycar Practice & Qualifying | 6/22/2012 | 6/22/2012 | 20,000 | Iowa Speedway | Newton |
USSSA – Central Iowa Sports | Iowa USSSA A/AAA State Tournament | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 6,500 | Indianola | Indianola |
Farm Progress Companies | Farm Progress Hay Expo | 6/20/2012 | 6/21/2012 | 5,000 | Boone, IA | Boone |
Iowa Cubs | Home Series vs. Round Rock Express | 6/23/2012 | 6/26/2012 | 5,000 | Principal Park | Des Moines |
Knoxville Raceway | Nostalgia at Knoxville | 6/22/2012 | 6/22/2012 | 3,500 | Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville |
Knoxville Raceway | Championship Cup Series Mid Season Championships plus 305’s – Farm Bureau Night KCCS #10 & Hall of Fame Induction Banquet | 6/23/2012 | 6/23/2012 | 3,500 | Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville |
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Baseball | Battle on Beaver Tournament — Beaverdale | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 3,000 | Beaverdale Little League | Des Moines |
USSSA (Girls Fastpitch) – Bryan Sage | Iowa USSSA State | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 2,500 | Prairie Ridge Sports Complex | Ankeny |
USSSA (Girls Fastpitch) – Bryan Sage | Iowa USSSA State | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 2,500 | Sam Wise Youth Sports Complex | Altoona |
USSSA (Girls Fastpitch) – Bryan Sage | Iowa USSSA State | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 2,500 | South Des Moines Complex | Des Moines |
Amateur Softball Association (ASA) | Urbandale – Infamous Summer Softball | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 1,000 | Walker Johnson Park | Urbandale |
Midwest Football Alliance | Des Moines Blaze vs. Quad City Raiders | 6/23/2012 | 6/23/2012 | 500 | Valley Football Stadium | West Des Moines |
Iowa State Bar Association | 139th Annual Meeting | 6/19/2012 | 6/21/2012 | 400 | Sheraton – West Des Moines | West Des Moines |
Iowa State Skeet Association (ISSA) | ISSA State Championship | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 400 | New Pioneer Gun Club | Waukee |
Iowa Health Care Association | Summer Education Conference | 6/19/2012 | 6/20/2012 | 260 | Holiday Inn – Airport | Des Moines |
LeadingAge Iowa | Spring Conference | 6/20/2012 | 6/21/2012 | 250 | Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino | Altoona |
Iowa Professional Fire Fighters | Annual Convention | 6/20/2012 | 6/22/2012 | 225 | Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel | Des Moines |
United States Polo Association | John Wayne Shoot-Out | 6/22/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 200 | Des Moines Polo Fields | Des Moines |
National Association of Agricultural Educators | Region III Conference | 6/19/2012 | 6/21/2012 | 125 | FFA Enrichment Center | Ankeny |
International Gay Rodeo Association | IGRA Rodeo School | 6/23/2012 | 6/24/2012 | 100 | Iowa State Fairgrounds | Des Moines |
Source: Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau