Things to do in Des Moines in June 2023

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June Events Des MoinesJune kicks off the summer season with more events in Des Moines than you can shake a popsicle stick at! Don’t miss annual events like Des Moines Art Festival, Governors Days in Grimes, and Pollinator Fest in Ames. Plus, check out free library events like Popsicles in the Park in Waukee or a Bubble Party in Johnston.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Summer and print out our bucket list to plan all of your activities.

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!

Thursdays | Thursday Night Fun, Clive Public Library

6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Families with children of various ages will delight in making memories during the Thursday night programs. These programs are free, and pre-registration is necessary. Please register each child who will be attending the programs where registration is required. Go online, call, or stop in the library to register.

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! 

Things to do in Des Moines in June 2023

June 1, 8, 14, 22, 29 | Summer Concert Series, Jasper Winery
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bring the whole family or plan a grown-up night out at Jasper Winery. This event is free, and you can bring a picnic or purchase food from onsite food trucks. Plan to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, and sangria are available for purchase. 

June 2 | Wine & Craft Beer Fest, Altoona’s Enabling Garden
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Plan a night out at Altoona’s Wine & Craft Beer Fest. Tickets are $17 in advance and $25 at the gate.

June 2 | Popsicles in the Park, Waukee Centennial Park
1:30 p.m.
The Library’s book bike will pop up in Centennial Park with free popsicles and everything you need to kick off summer reading. While supplies last.
 
June 2-4 | Free Fishing Days
Introduce your family to the fun of fishing this weekend. No license needed!
 
June 3 | Park PALOOZA, Raccoon River Park
9 a.m.
Kick-off Summer with WDM Parks and Recreation at Park PALOOZA, a FREE family-friendly event
for balloon artist creations, make-and-take crafts, airbrush body creations, boat rentals at the Boathouse (sponsored by WDM Community Foundation), inflatables, Touch-a-Truck with WDM Fire and Public Services and more.
 
June 3 | Summer Kick Off – Des Moines, Nebraska Furniture Mart
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Celebrate the start of Summer with carnival games, inflatables, prizes, food trucks, and much more! Whip Delight – Dole Soft Serve & Iiawah Grill will be joining for the event!
 

June 3 | Des Moines pools open! Check out our guide to area pools.

June 3 | Family Fest, Johnston Town Center
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join in for an afternoon of family fun. There will be various activities for your family to enjoy for FREE including, a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, magic show, yard games, and more.

June 3 | Iowa Cubs vs Clippers, Principal Park
6 p.m.
Catch a game plus college basketball star Caitlin Clark returns to the ballpark for a meet and greet.

June 4 | Beautiful Land Pop-Up Market, Fareway – Downtown Ames
11 a.m. – 4 p.m
A carefully curated market featuring over 50 local makers, vintage collectors, food trucks, and live music in the heart of Ames. 

June 7 | Ankeny Food Truck Fest, Prairie Ridge Church
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Ankeny Food Truck Fest is back. With a lineup of 15 food trucks, yard games, inflatables, laser tag, and more, there is something for the whole family.
 

June 8, 15, 22, 29 | Beats & Eats, Ankeny Market & Pavilion
5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Join in at the Ankeny Market & Pavilion (AMP) Thursday nights this summer for food trucks, live music and entertainment, family activities, games, beer truck, and more!

June 8-10 | Governors Days, Grimes
Governors Days is a family favorite summer festival in the Des Moines area. Complete with concerts, parades, carnivals, and much more. Governors Days has something for everyone. Admission to the festival is free.

June 8, 15, 22, 29 | Storytime Swim, Altoona Aquatics Park
11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Join in at the Altoona Aquatics Park for a short storytime in the shallow end of the pool. This storytime is recommended for children ages 8 and under, but siblings may also attend.
 

June 9-11 | Pride Fest, Des Moines
Capital City Pride is happy to welcome everyone to their 45th annual PrideFest with headliners Trixie Mattel, Sheila E., Shangela, and additional performances by Leslie and the Lys, Haiku Hands, and more!

June 9 | Concert on the Prairie: Tallgrass Tunes 2023, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy the breezes of the open prairie at what’s sure to be a magical night of music, art & nature. This year bring your own lawn chair or blanket to relax and enjoy.
 
June 10 | Fishing with the Fuzz, Easter Lake Park
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Learn about the different kinds of fish in Iowa, fishing safety, casting, how to tie a hook, and hang out with local law enforcement. Bait and poles will be provided. Fishing Pole giveaway for the first 150 children registered and prizes awarded.
 

June 10 | Waukee Palooza, Kinship Brewing, Waukee
5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
This third annual music festival features a silent auction, 50/50 raffles, food trucks, and music from Tank Antony Band, Suede, and headlining band The Sons of Gladys Knight.

June 10-18 | Love You Des Moines Days, Valley Community Center
From Lego building and bike riding to art classes and video gameplay, there are hundreds of activities for the family to enjoy during this 9-day celebration. Check out the schedule and pick your favorites!

June 12 | Trek the Parks Meetup, Valley Community Center
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
As part of Love You DSM Days, meet others participating in the Trek the Parks challenge and cross another park off your list! No registration is required. Dinner Dispatch will be there making Build Your Own Yogurt Parfaits.

June 15-18 | Johnston Green Days, Terra Park
Experience the joy of summer festivals in Johnston. There will be a parade, carnival, live entertainment, interactive games for kids, and so much more. Admission is free.

June 16-22 | Art Week Des Moines
Art Week Des Moines celebrates local artists, encouraging venues and organizations to host artist-involved events that engage and inspire our community. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with the details on the events throughout town.

June 17 | Neighbors Day, Western Gateway Park
Iowa Juneteenth Observance Presents Neighbor’s Day, a celebration featuring a parade, live music, children’s activities, food, and more! Or check out other ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Des Moines.

June 20 | Bubble Party!, Johnston Public Library
10:30 a.m.
Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere! Various bubble supplies will be provided to create fun and unique bubble art.
 

June 23-25 | Des Moines Arts Festival, Western Gateway Park
Des Moines Arts Festival is celebrating 25 years with extra fun events this year! Immerse yourself in art from talented vendors and enjoy live music and food trucks. The interactive Creative Zone is always the kids’ favorite stop at the festival.

June 24 | Pollinator Fest, Reiman Gardens
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  
Celebrate National Pollinator Week. Visit a variety of fun and educational displays, including live pollinators and plants, and interactive pollinator-themed activities. This event will happen rain or shine.

June 24 | Climb Out of the Darkness, Valley West Mall
9:30 a.m.
Raising awareness for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, The Climb brings communities together to shine a light on a darkness we often don’t speak about. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are the most common complication of childbearing.

June 25 | Dancing on Cowles Commons, Cowles Commons
9 a.m.
Des Moines Performing Arts invites you to join a dance party! MixxedFit® is a people-inspired fitness program that combines explosive dance moves with body weight toning. This class will get your heart rate up while you get down to yesterday’s & today’s hits for FREE.

Send us an email if we missed any fun things to do in Des Moines, 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.

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