ABSTRACT
The Swedish, Norwegian, Czech, Greek, Jewish, and Latino communities of Des Moines also host annual dinners featuring traditional ethnic foods as well as music and dance. Like the neighborhood festivals, these events unite community members who work for months to plan, prepare food, rehearse music and dance, and cater to the public at the festivities. They also serve as organizational fund-raisers and select cultural identifiers for display to nongroup members. In the twenty-first century, Des Moines is home to a fascinating array of community traditions and networks.
