If you think nothing ever happens in Des Moines, take a look at this list! There are so many wonderful local events that celebrate this season; so I hope you’ll join me in picking a few to attend this Christmas, and get out and experience this amazing city!
Tree Lightings:
Ankeny: December 3rd, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., at Ankeny Fire Headquarters. Free with Santa, activities, and a festival of trees.
Ames: November 22nd, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Santa and other activities are planned downtown.
West Des Moines: November 22nd, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m, at Jordan Creek Mall. Tree lighting, fireworks and, of course, Santa’s arrival. Decoy kicks off the evening at 6 p.m.
Mall Events:
Merle Hay Mall: Santa arrives November 16th. Train rides offered.
Valley West Mall: Santa arrives November 16th. Train rides are $2 a ride or 3 for $5. This is a tradition we do every year with my grammy and poppy!
Jordan Creek: Get your Santa Photos November 22nd – December 24th. Special Santa photo events include Pet Photos With Santa, Pajama Party with Santa, and Baby’s First Christmas. A FREE family event, Reindeer Games, will be held December 7th for kiddos aged 2-10 with crafts, games, prizes, and more. You can also have Breakfast with Santa at BRAVO! on December 7th and 14th; tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Trees and Lights Displays:
Jolly Holiday Lights:Â November 26th – January 1st, 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. This is a favorite family tradition of ours. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish foundation. Water Works Park, just south of I-235 on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy.
Festival of Trees:Â November 27th – December 1st (see website for times). $5 and 2 & under Free. Benefits Blank Children’s Hospital. Located in the Veteran’s Convention Center. You can pre-buy tickets at Hy-vee and Dahl’s now through November 26th for $3.
Ames Festival of Trees: November 15th – December 1st, M-F 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and S&S 1-5 p.m. FREE. Located at the Octagan Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave.
Shopping Districts:
Holiday Promenade: November 22nd, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., in East Village. Shops will be open 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. with Free Horse Drawn Hay-Rack Rides from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the corner of East 5th and Walnut. Santa will be at the State Historical Building 5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. and Brenton Plaza 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Jingle in the Junction:Â November 21st, December 5th and 12th, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., in Valley Junction. Come see the 150,000 twinkling lights! Free horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa, caroling, and wonderful shops.
Holiday Entertainment:
Wells Fargo Arena…
- Disney on Ice 11/27 – 12/1
Civic Center…
- The Nutcracker 12/7 and 12/8
- Irving Berlin’s White Christmas 12/10 – 12/15
- The Blenders 12/17
Hoyt Sherman Place…
- Lorie Line 11/22
- Jim Brickman 11/24
- The Oak Ridge Boys 11/30
- Des Moines Metro Opera 12/6 and 12/7
- Jim McDonough 12/8
- The Nutcracker 12/12 – 12/15
- Tonic Sol-Fa 12/20 and 12/21
Stephens Auditorium…
- The Nutcracker 12/14 and 12/15
Other Family-Friendly Venues:
Botanical Center: They have a lovely holiday botanical display. A wonderful place to warm up on those cold winter days!
Blank Park Zoo: Santa and Reindeer will be at the Zoo 12/7 and 12/14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. Free to members.
- Jingle Bell Rock ‘n Run 5K, 12/8
- Breakfast with Santa Buffet, 12/14 and 12/21
- The Polar Express (IMAX), 11/30 – 12/1 and 12/6 – 12/8
- Polar and PJs (Star Theater), 12/20, 12/23, and 12/28 at 10:30 a.m., $5
- Noon Year’s Eve Party, 12/31
Reiman Gardens also has a beautiful Christmas display.
This is such a helpful list of holiday events! Thanks for putting them altogether in one place. 🙂
YES! I love this. Thanks for doing a bunch of research for everyone-such a great post. We love taking the boys on adventures, so I can’t wait to check some of these out!
Enjoyed reading!