Des Moines freezes issuance of street permits until July, pushing back farmers' market opening, downtown art festival

Des Moines will freeze the issuance of permits for events on city property until at least July 1 because of the coronavirus pandemic, a city news release said Tuesday.

The action puts another nail in the coffin of summer events planned on city streets as organizers had already opted to put off the gatherings that bring life to downtown as the weather warms. 

The moratorium will delay the start of the in-person Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market and force the postponement or cancellation of the annual Des Moines Art Festival, which was scheduled for June 26-28 in downtown's Western Gateway area. 

Stephen King, the festival's executive director, said the festival board won't make a decision on delaying or canceling the event until next week at the earliest. 

“It’s heartbreaking," he said. "I don’t think there’s any way around it."

No permits will be issued for events on city streets or the city's right of way during that time, Mayor Frank Cownie said. He noted the significant uptick in COVID-19 cases in Polk County over the past week as justification: from 813 cases to 1,778 as of Tuesday. (On Wednesday, Polk County recorded an additional 97 positive cases, according to the state.)

“Were not quite sure when that peak’s going to occur,” he told the Register.  

Even before the announcements, cancellations and postponements had already begun to pile up. Early in April, the Iowa Asian Alliance announced on Facebook that CelebrAsian, its signature food and culture event held in the Western Gateway, would be postponed past its late May date.

"We understand there is a possibility the event may be canceled altogether," the alliance wrote. "However, we are still hopeful to host an event of some scale to continue to celebrate our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities."

Even though it was scheduled for late July, organizers of the Italian Heritage Festival of Iowa decided to cancel their event and focus on planning a post-coronavirus festival. 

The Des Moines Music Coalition also opted to cancel its annual 80/35 music festival, which was planned for July 10 and 11. 

The city also elected to extend the closure of city administrative buildings, including City Hall, to June 15. They initially closed on March 17.

On Saturday, farmers' market organizers rang in their first virtual market online, a temporary replacement for the real thing. 

Last week, Cownie had envisioned a possible return of the farmers market at an unspecified date with fewer people and exclusively produce vendors. 

The art festival features 180 artists. So far, about 600 similar events around the country have been canceled because of the pandemic, King said. It's had a devastating effect on artists who depend on the festivals for income. 

"This is what they rely on,” he said.

Cownie said he wants small businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed, but he's charged with the safety or Des Moines employees and residents. 

“Staying alive is the most important thing," he said.

Austin Cannon covers the city of Des Moines for the Register. Reach him at awcannon@registermedia.com or 515-284-8398. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.