Follow-up from The World Food and Music Festival
Thank you to all who attended the Des Moines World Food and Music Festival and came to visit the Des Moines European Heritage Association booth. The festival was filled with food, friends, and families, and provided DMEHA and Christkindlmarket a way to get more of the public aware of our upcoming events and activities.
We had several wonderful volunteers manning the booth and passing out our informational sheets for CDM and DMEHA. Volunteers helped children make Christmas ornaments as our gift to them and we received feedback and talked to interested parties in either coming to the festival or getting our monthly newsletter. Thank you once again to everyone who attended and helped make it such a success.
Afternoon Tea Along the River
Take afternoon tea like a Londoner here in Des Moines on Sunday, September 25 from 1-3 pm! The inaugural Afternoon Tea Along the River is a British tea event in an elegant setting with views of the Des Moines River from the Principal Riverwalk Hub Spot Park. Tickets are $35 each, including ticketing fees. When purchasing your ticket, add a glass of French sparkling wine for $11. Gather your friends and don your fancy hats for a memorable afternoon!
Purchase your tickets now!
At the event, loose-leaf British teas provided by Gong Fu Tea and finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and petite desserts by Trellis Catering will be served. Vintage dishware supplied by Vintage Love, Rentals & annessi and lovely, live violin music will set the mood and send you on a trip to a traditional British High tea. There will also be a contest for the best hat or fascinator (decorative headpiece commonly worn by Brits), as well as a silent auction.
When booking, please indicate the names of all guests in your party so that we can do our best to seat you together. Parties of two will be seated with other guests. Please indicate dietary restrictions when purchasing your ticket; we will do our best to accomondate your needs.
If you have questions, please email [email protected].
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language, education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Christmas in July Moonlight Ride!
Des Moines European Heritage Association planned the perfect night out to get your Christmas fix! We held our inaugural Christmas in July Moonlight Ride on July 16 with all funds raised going to support Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016.
Before cruising through Clive and West Des Moines along a 17-mile route, participants enjoyed live music at 515 Brewing Company. After the ride, participants re-hydrated with a 515 Brewing Company craft beer.
Gift certificates and water bottles were given as prizes for best individual costume, best-decorated bike or helmet and best team theme. Check out all of the pictures on Facebook and from Gail’s Photography and Designs, one of our sponsors.
AT&T was also on hand to discuss their products as well as to give away a FitBit HR and UE Boom 2 Waterproof Speaker as door prizes for registered riders.
We hope to see you all again next year!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Dine to Donate with Des Moines European Heritage Association
There are a lot of ways to get involved and support Des Moines European Heritage Association. You can donate, volunteer, visit with us at the farmers market or cruise through Clive and West Des Moines with us. Those are all just this summer alone! We aren’t stopping there. For those who are especially busy or who love a good meal, we have a Dine to Donate Fundraiser coming up at Granite City Food & Brewery in Clive on June 16, from 11 a.m. to Midnight. It’s an easy and fun way to get out and support Des Moines European Heritage Association.
Granite City Food & Brewery will donate 10 percent of sales from anyone who presents the DMEHA flyer while ordering. You can also present a Facebook event invite, a newsletter with flyer or email. Total sales for each order includes food, drinks, to-go orders and catering. If you call in advance, the restaurant would be happy to get a large to-go order together and deliver it. Just be sure to give at least 24-hour notice and mention DMEHA Dine to Donate when ordering.
Besides being a great way to raise money to support DMEHA and Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016, this event is also an opportunity to meet and mingle with our dedicated volunteers. From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be a volunteer social at Granite City. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get to know the organization or searching for opportunities to get involved, consider joining us. There is no better way to learn about our mission than from the people who have worked tirelessly for two and a half years to make DMEHA and Christkindlmarket Des Moines a reality.
We hope to see everyone there! RSVP to the Dine to Donate event here. RSVP for the volunteer social here.
Join Us for a Christmas in July Moonlight Ride!
Christmas was just over five months ago. Know what that means? It’s time for a fix to tide us over until Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Luckily, Des Moines European Heritage Association has the perfect night out planned. Join us for a Christmas in July Moonlight Ride on July 16. All funds raised will support Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016.
Before cruising through Clive and West Des Moines along a 17-mile route, we will meet at 515 Brewing Company. After the ride, participants will enjoy a 515 Brewing Company craft beer. Participants who register before July 1 will also receive a Phantom Flash Arm Band.
You can form a team or ride as an individual. Either way, be sure to get your costumes in order. There will be prizes for best individual costume, best-decorated bike or helmet and best team theme. Be sure to check in by 7:30 p.m. if you’d like to compete. Winners will be announced by 8:15 p.m.
The ride will begin at 8:30 p.m. Helmets, headlights and taillights are required. If you register before June 25, you’ll get the early bird rate of $25. After that, registration is $35. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
If you don’t want to ride but still like to be involved, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities. Email [email protected] if you’d like to help with set-up, directing the ride, cleanup or registration.
We’d love to see everyone there to celebrate Christmas in July!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
DMEHA/CDM Lunch & Learns
Bring your lunch and we’ll meet in the DSM Central Library’s 2nd floor study rooms (1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines) to talk about Des Moines European Heritage Association, Christkindlmarket Des Moines and all the ways you can be involved.
These standing meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of every month from noon – 1pm. We hope to see you there!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Join us for a British High Tea!
On May 15, experience a British High Tea at Purl Café with Des Moines European Heritage Association. Two seating times are available, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Don your fanciest hat to celebrate spring and culture over tea, finger sandwiches and petite desserts.
This event is perfect for a belated Mother’s Day celebration, a day out with girlfriends or a day out with someone you love. Get a group together to enjoy live violin music, a talk by tea expert Donna Cheeseman, a silent auction and refreshments. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of hot and cold teas, traditional tea sandwich options like cucumber and egg salad and a variety of desserts like cream puffs and brownie bites. Gluten free options are available but must be reserved in advance.
Be sure to dust off your fascinators (decorative hats commonly worn by Brits on formal occasions) and wear them with pride. The best hat in each seating will receive a prize. Don’t have a fascinator lying around? Check out this tutorial to learn how to make them and then customize your own. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Tickets are $25 and are now available on Eventbrite.
Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Experience France: A Wine and Food Tasting
Order tickets via Eventbrite
Experience the flavors of France at an exclusive wine and food tasting hosted by VOM FASS to benefit Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA).
This private event features samples of 4-5 French wines selected by certified sommelier Jeff Yanecek of Okoboji Wines. Enjoy French-inspired small bites prepared by VOM FASS owner Melissa Bartholomew, farmhouse cheeses from The Cheese Shop and VOM FASS vinegars and oils paired with artisanal breads from La Mie.
VOM FASS Des Moines is locally owned and offers exclusive cask-aged vinegars, exquisite oils, unique spirits and liqueurs direct from the cask, as well as select wines which may be sampled at the shop. The shop opened March 2012 and is celebrating its four-year anniversary.
Ample parking is available in the front and rear of The Shops at Roosevelt with convenient front and rear access into the store.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Des Moines European Heritage Association and the production of their signature event, Christkindlmarket Des Moines, taking place this December 2–4 in Western Gateway Park. Additionally, ten percent of all VOM FASS product sales during the event will be donated to DMEHA.
Spots are limited, so purchase your tickets today.
When:
WhereVOM FASS Des Moines – 833 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50312 – View Map
Open House at Jasper Winery
On December 5, the board of the Des Moines European Heritage Association and Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016 event planning committee held an open house at Jasper Winery from 1-3pm. We enjoyed warm coffee, authentic apple strudel from Strudl Haus and Jasper Winery’s Glühwein!
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines Open House
Join us on December 5, 2015 from 1-3pm in Jasper Winery‘s Barrel Room for an open house to meet the board of the Des Moines European Heritage Association and planning committee for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016.
Take a break from your holiday shopping to warm up and learn about what we have planned for the event and how you can become involved. Enjoy warm coffee, sweet treats and Jasper Winery’s Glühwein while they last!
Please RSVP on the Facebook Event Page. We hope you can join us!
Remarks at 2:30pm.