Finish up summer strong with events for the whole family. Don’t miss the last of the summer concerts or a fun event at a local pool. And we can’t forget, it’s state fair time!
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Summer Guides for Endless Fun
Ultimate Guide to Summer
Summer Bucket List
Pool Guide
Spraygrounds & Wading Pool Guide
Outdoor Ideas for Toddlers
Outdoor Movies
Outdoor Yoga Classes
Summer Road Races
Outdoor Concert Guide
Ongoing Events in Des Moines
Tuesday & Thursdays | Toddler Time, Get Air
10 a.m.
Little jumpers get special access to the trampolines on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Admission is $8.99 (free for a parent). It’s a great way to burn some winter energy!
Thursdays | Caterpillar Club, Reiman Gardens in Ames
Get outside and have some fun with a weekly storytime at Reiman Gardens. This program is designed for kids ages 2-5 with an adult. Program is included with general admission to Reiman Gardens.
Thursdays | Tot Town, Valley Community Center
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Bring the little ones out to play for a morning at the Valley Community Center. This event is free!
2nd Monday of the Month | Storytime with Ruby the Reading Red Panda, Blank Park Zoo
11 a.m.
Once a month, join in for Ruby’s Story Time at the Zoo! Each month they will read a story and you’ll meet a special live ambassador animal from the Zoo’s education department.
1st Friday of the Month | First Fridays in the East Village
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The shops, businesses, restaurants, and bars will showcase products and fun events. Parking is free!
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Things to do in Des Moines in August 2023
July 28 – August 5 | National Balloon Classic, Memorial Balloon Field, Indianola
This spectacular, 9-day event held every summer features 100+ hot air balloons. Enjoy live music on, buy a balloon ride, or enjoy the mystical glow during Dawn Patrol and Nite Glow. Enjoy food vendors, beer/wine, fireworks, Special Shapes, and so much more! Tickets ($10 for guests 6 and older) must be purchased online. Check the website for details and the full schedule.
Aug 1 | National Night Out
The goal of this event, happening in neighborhoods across both Des Moines and the whole country, is to build safe communities by getting to know your neighbors. Find an event in your neighborhood and enjoy a night out right where you live.
7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Enjoy their stand-up paddle board fitness classes that combine the strength of Pilates and the flexibility and spirituality of Yoga with the calming environment of the water. Exercises will focus in on core stabilization, balance, flexibility, and endurance
Aug 1 | Waukee Public Safety Day, 1300 SE La Grant Pkwy, Waukee
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
See a fire truck, ride in the old fire truck, and spray a real fire hose. Sit in a police car and meet real police officers. Enjoy grilled food from Fareway and a fun night of public safety activities.
Aug 1, 8 | Storytime in the Parks, Urbandale Public Library
Explore a park and enjoy storytime with the Urbandale Public Library. This event is geared toward younger kids, ages 2-8, but the whole family is welcome to join in on the fun. Check their website for the weekly location.
Aug 2-6 | Kid’s Closet Connection, 200 Army Post Rd Suite 8
Don’t miss this back-to-school consignment event. Shopping is free and there is a ton of great stuff!
Aug 3 | Summer Concert Series, Jasper Winery
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Enjoy free live music at Jasper Winery. Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and snacks. Drinks and food will also be available for purchase at the event. Check their website before the event for the most up-to-date social distancing guidelines.
Aug 4-6 | Hinterland Music Festival, St. Charles, Iowa
Headliners, Bon Iver, Zach Bryan, and Maggie Rogers. Check out other summer music fests and outdoor concerts.
In this day-camp-style event, your child will gain hands-on experience through five fun-filled activity stations to learn nursing skills and techniques, gain career-focused knowledge, improve critical thinking skills, and explore different career paths offered in nursing.
Aug 4, 11 | Sips and Songs, The District at Prairie Trail
Kick off the weekend with music, drinks, and family fun in Ankeny. The concert and parking are free. Be sure to pack chairs or a blanket to sit on.
Aug 4, 11, 18, 25 | Pizza on the Prairie, Wallace Center
Head to the prairie on Friday nights for handmade-from-scratch brick oven pizza packed with straight-from-the-farm veggies and local meats! Live music plays from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Walk the prairie path and enjoy the outdoor art along the way. Seating is limited, so bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Reservations required.
11 a.m – 7 p.m.
The fun is in full bloom! It’s time to get your tickets to wander through the brightly colored flower fields, soak in the picturesque views, and relish the experience. There is so much beauty and fun to be found for all ages at Howells Flower Festival.
Aug 5 | Grain Harvest, Living History Farms
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Watch as the historic farmers bring in the year’s grain harvest, using hand power, horsepower, and steam. Hear the smash of the flail and the roar of the steam-powered thresher. Demonstrations will be weather-dependent.
Mark your calendars for this free, fun, family-friendly annual event. There will still be numerous ways to fill your day, including bison stickers; making a bison charm craft; bison coloring pages; playing a ring toss game; taking group photos in the bison photo booth area; and going on a bison trivia-themed self-guided walk on the 1/2 mile Overlook Loop Trail.
Aug 6 | Clowns at the Carousel, Union Park
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Have fun and learn about bike safety at this free event near the Heritage Carousel at Union Park with clowns and entertainment along with educational information about bike safety for kids.
Aug 6, 13, 20, 27 | Yoga in the Commons, Cowles Commons
9 a.m.
Shake up your yoga practice with a yoga session in Cowles Commons. Each week’s practice is led by a different instructor. Classes are offered as a free-will donation, with all proceeds benefitting Des Moines Performing Arts. Click here for more outdoor yoga classes.
Aug 8 | Splash with a Princess, Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center
6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Join The Little Mermaid and friends for a SPLASH-TASTIC time. Enjoy the pool, mermaid crafts, snacks, and meet four characters.
Expectant parents in Iowa are invited to join Count the Kicks and 100 Women Who Care Ankeny for COUNTdown to Baby, a FREE, fun, and educational opportunity to learn more about Count the Kicks and our free movement monitoring app. Attendees will learn about what to expect during labor and delivery, newborn basics, and much more!
Aug 10-20 | Iowa State Fair
7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Join more than one million fellow fair-goers at the award-winning Iowa State Fair, right here in Des Moines! Check the website for a full listing of events, concerts, and attractions.
Grab the family and jump into the pool! Enjoy $5 admission at all City of Des Moines aquatic facilities.
Join in for this FIN-TASTIC event under the sea! Meet and Greet with Princesses and Mermaids throughout the aquatic center while swimming. Each paying participant will get to enjoy an ice cream sundae and make a sand art necklace.
Aug 12 | Adel Sweet Corn Festival, Adel courthouse square
Run the 5K, see the parade, enjoy the entertainment, and of course eat corn at this annual festival. See our guide to all summer festivals for more local celebrations.
Aug 16 | Story Tellebration, Jester Park Nature Center
10 a.m.
Join volunteer storyteller, Carmen Epstein, for a fun, interactive tale tailored toward children ages 2 to 6 that explores the wonders of the outdoors. During each program, participants enjoy interactive stories and an activity.
Close out the summer with a Party in the Park. There’s a beer garden for adults, food trucks, live music, and free kids activities including bounce houses, laser tag, and lawn games. Music by Burnin’ Sensations.
Join in for a free community event as they remember the past with a touch of nostalgia and embrace the future with an eye toward innovation. The day includes old-fashioned games, music spanning the eras, food trucks, and, of course, celebratory cake! Featured food truck vendors include: Hey Schweetie, Lacheles Fine Foods, Outside Scoop, and The Traveling Bean.
Celebrate and honor NFTS angels with food trucks, kids activities, face painting, balloon artist, and more. The evening will end with a monarch butterfly release.
Aug 20 | Vegan Summer Market, Cowles Commons
Noon – 3 p.m.
The Vegan Summer Market is hosted by VegLife Des Moines, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to connect and grow our community around veganism and anti-oppression.
Aug 25-27 | World Food & Music Festival, Western Gateway Park
Sample delicious food and drink from around the world and check out cooking challenges, musical performances, dances, workshops, presentations, and more.
Ingersoll Live is a family-friendly “block party” along Ingersoll Avenue featuring live music, art, food, and entertainment. This annual event gives local organizations, businesses, and neighbors an opportunity to connect and celebrate.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
10 a.m.
Bras for the Cause B4 Ride: Bras, Bikes, Bars & Beers raises money to fight breast and cervical cancers in Iowa. With your participation at the ride, you’re helping to bring awareness to the cause, as well as raising funds. All proceeds stay in Iowa with the goal of providing all Iowans, underinsured or uninsured, access to mammograms, cervical screenings, and other lifesaving programs and projects
The purpose of Sista Soul Fest is to create a space for women (especially women of color) to offer/sell and display their talents, gifts, and businesses. It also allows women and young girls of all ages to come together as sisters to network, encourage, inspire, and show up for each other.
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 or check websites to confirm dates, times, location, and other information before heading to an event or activity, since it may change.
