Des Moines has a sharply continental climate — bitter winters with regular sub-zero stretches and Plains-style ice storms, hot and humid summers with thunderstorms and the occasional tornado warning. The best windows are late April through early June and September through mid-October, when the weather is mild and the humidity is bearable.
The cultural calendar peaks in August with the eleven-day Iowa State Fair, the city's defining event and reason enough to come if you can tolerate the heat. Winter draws political reporters every four years for the Iowa Caucuses (late January or early February), which turn downtown bars and diners into impromptu campaign offices. The 80/35 music festival fills Western Gateway Park in early July, and the World Food and Music Festival anchors a long weekend in September. December brings the Jolly Holiday Lights drive-through display at Adventureland Park.