It’s officially festival season! From town celebrations to wine and beer festivals, there are so many opportunities for a date night or girls’ night out. And we also found plenty of events for the whole family!
Get out there and enjoy your summer!
More Des Moines Summer Guides:
Family Fun in Des Moines June 2019 Events and Activities
June 1 | Pizza Fest, The District in Ankeny
Starts at 4 p.m.
We had to do a double take, but it’s true, Andy Grammer is performing for free at Pizza Fest in Ankeny! What a fun night out! Before the big show, enjoy some family fun. At this free event, the kids will love the Pizza Party Fun Zone, with all kinds of games, face painting, and activities. They can also meet the Snow Sisters, Polynesian Princess and Super Hero from Storybook Adventures, and the League of Heroes! For a small fee, kids can make a special craft with AR Workshop or play their favorite video game with Game Truck of Iowa. And the Des Moines Children’s Museum will unveil a new interactive traveling display.
June 1 | Dam to DSM, Saylorville Dam to downtown Des Moines
7 a.m.
Experience Des Moines’s favorite 20K route, in the inaugural Dam to DSM race. There is something unparalleled about standing on top of the Saylorville Dam and looking out at the high-rise buildings on the horizon knowing you will conquer the distance in between.
June 1 | Celebrate Waukee, Centennial Park and Downtown Triangle, Waukee
8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Kick off summer with the city of Waukee. Events include a farmers market, Waukee Warrior Kid Games, activities, and fireworks.
June 1 | National Trails Day, Jester Park Amphitheater
12 p.m to 7:30 p.m.
Polk County Conservation celebrates National Trails Day with a day of trail maintenance and community building at Jester Park. No experience necessary, all equipment provided. Kids welcome! Registration required for the meal and camping; please indicate if you will camp that evening at sign-in. Contact www.rei.com/learn for more details.
June 1-8 | WineFest, Various Metro Locations
If you’re in need of a girls’ night or a date night, there are opportunities to learn about (and sample!) wine all week long. Snag tickets to a yoga wine session, cooking classes, a prima dinner, or a weekend wine sampling session. Tickets for some sessions start at $15.
June 4 | ARL Dog Days of Summer with the Iowa Cubs, Principal Park
Pack up the kids and your fur baby for a night at the ballpark. Dogs attend free with paid human admission (field box tickets only). Each dog will receive a bandana and the opportunity to be involved in the dog parade on the field before the game begins. Be sure to check out the ARL table near the dog seating section to get your dog a Frosty Paws!
June 6-8 | Governors Days, Grimes
Thursday 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Carnival rides, food vendors, car shows, and a parade? Count us in! Celebrate all small-town Iowa has to offer with this three-day event.
June 7-9 | Big Bounce America, Southridge Mall
Friday: Starts at 1 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: Starts at 9 a.m.
The Big Bounce America is the largest touring inflatable event. Bounce your heart out with an all-access bounce pass starting at $16. There are even adult-only sessions that would make a pretty fun date night.
June 7-9 | Free Fishing Weekend, Iowa
Introduce your family to the fun of fishing this weekend. No license needed!
June 8-16 | Love You Des Moines Days, Valley Community Center
Don’t miss 9 days of FREE family fun and activities including a scavenger, a knitting class, games, and so much more. There’s something for everyone both kids and adults!
June 12 | Brave Space, Franklin Jr High
7:30 p.m.
A contemporary circus show like you’ve never seen before featuring bold aerialists and acrobats. Tickets available online and at the door.
June 12-16 | Shakespeare on the Lawn, Salisbury House & Gardens, Des Moines
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Performed by the Iowa Stage Theatre Company, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth will come to life under the stars with the majestic south terrace and gardens as the backdrop. Food, snacks, homemade ice cream, wine, and beer are available for purchase. Regular admission is $30. Admission for students 13 and over is $20. Admission for children ages 6-12 is $10. Call (515) 274-1777 for tickets.
June 13-16 | Johnston Green Days, next to the Johnston Public Library
Green Days is an annual community celebration. “The Nature of Johnston” Green Days 2019 activities include a parade, carnival, live entertainment in the beverage garden, Bill Riley Talent Search, 5K run, interactive games for kids, and much more. Click here for the kid-friendly Green Days event calendar.
June 14 | Party in the Park, Urbandale’s Walker-Johnston Park
5 p.m.
Kick off summer with activities for the whole family. There will be free kids activities, including bounce houses, lazer tag, crafts, games, painting, and more! Enjoy live music and food and drinks available for purchase.
June 15 | Beaverdale Garden Walk, Beaverdale
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beaverdale not only boasts charming brick homes, but it also has avid gardeners. Stroll through seven delightful neighborhood gardens. Buy tickets ($8 in advance or $10 on June 15) at local Beaverdale businesses, including Back Country Outfitters, Beaverdale Books, Boesen The Florist, Grounds for Celebration, and O’Donnell Ace Hardware (University).
June 15 | Iowa Craft Brew Festival, East Village
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
If you’re looking for a kid-free day, look no further. This year’s Iowa Craft Brew Fest will feature more than 60 Iowa breweries, along with a host of regional and national craft breweries. For $30 you can select samples from approximately 350 beers, including a variety of limited release brews.
June 22 | Climb Out of the Darkness sponsored by Postpartum Support International Iowa Chapter, DMACC Ankeny Campus
10 a.m.
This 1-mile walk event is very close to our hearts. Climb Out of the Darkness is the world’s largest event raising awareness of perinatal mental illness like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and OCD, postpartum post-traumatic stress, postpartum psychosis, perinatal bipolar mood disorders, and pregnancy depression and anxiety.
June 22 | World Refugee Day Cultural Celebration, Valley Community Center, West Des Moines
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
World Refugee Day Cultural Celebration is a fun, family-friendly event full of music, games, food, and more. The mission of the cultural celebration is to showcase the wonderful refugee and immigrant communities that Des Moines and central Iowa. The day starts with a soccer tournament at 9 a.m.
June 23 | Charcuterie on the Lawn, Jasper Winery
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Plan a Sunday afternoon date and enjoy an assortment of locally made cured meats, brats, pizzas, and accouterments, as well as live music. Wine and beer will be available through Jasper Winery and Madhouse Brewery. Get $20 early bird tickets or $25 tickets at the door.
June 28-30 | Des Moines Arts Festival, Western Gateway Park, Des Moines
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This massive, popular downtown event features tons of art on display, food booths and trucks, more than 25 interactive arts activities, media zones, live music, craft beer tent, and more. Admission is free.
June 29-30 | Artfest Midwest, Varied Industries Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ArtFest Midwest is an indoor event (with a few outdoor spaces) held in the rain-free, air-conditioned Varied Industries Building. Around 250 artists will participate, and there will be special kids art activities. Admission and parking are free.
Send us an email if we missed anything, and we’ll add your event to the list.
We work hard to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information before heading to an event or activity, since it may change.
