The Des Moines Arts Festival won the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Gold Grand Pinnacle Award, given to the best overall festival and event in the world. The festival raked in 21 awards at the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards competition on Sept. 15 in St. Louis, including eight gold, eight silver and four bronze. “Entries in every budget category, from every corner of the globe, allow us to recognize the best in our business while raising the standards and quality of media promotions and events across the board,” said Steve Wood Schmader, IFEA President and CEO, in a news release. The Downtown Community Alliance also received six awards, including four for the Downtown Farmer’s Market and two for the U.S. Cellular World Food Festival.