Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announces the Celebrate Iowa gala.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announces the Celebrate Iowa gala.

The second annual “Celebrate Iowa” gala at the State Historical Building will feature cocktails that were popular 100 years ago, as well as an array of Iowa food, booze, musicians and artists. Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs director Mary Cownie says the December 6th event will raise money for new exhibits and educational programs.”To try to reintroduce and revitalize the State Historical Museum to not only Des Moines and Polk County but, more importantly, the state,” Cownie says.

The contents of a 1913 time capsule will be opened for the gala.  Cownie says “iconic food” like Casey’s Pizza and a Mediapolis restaurant’s “best burger” of 2013 — chosen by the Iowa Beef Industry Council — will be served, along with other “delicacies” grown and produced in Iowa.

“All around, this will be a great fun and festive evening to celebrate with fellow Iowans before the holiday season,” Cownie says.

The first “Celebrate Iowa” gala in 2012 raised $143,000 and Cownie expects to exceed that total this year. Tickets for this year’s event are $100 each for the Friday evening gala and $500 for tickets to the VIP reception beforehand with the governor and his wife.