“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” And we have a guide for events and happenings in the Des Moines metro to make it even more wonderful!
Local Happenings:
Altoona: Bass Pro Shop hosts Santa’s Workshop all season long (November 16 – December 24). Tons of free fun!
Ames: November 14 – December 13. Snow Magic: Elf spotting, Magic Snowflake Adventure, and caroling can all be experienced in Downtown Ames. Check out the Facebook page for more details!
Johnston: November 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Craft in the Barn: A new, free event featuring all kinds of crafts! Come check it out!
December 6, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Games, food, and Santa at the public library!
Polk City: December 2, 5 p.m. Business open house’s from 5-8 p.m. Each business will have goodies. To win the grand prize, you will have to have your punch card* filled out and returned to the park by 8 p.m. There will also be horse carriage rides, Santa at City Hall and the Lighting of the Square at 6 p.m. (Punch cards available at local businesses the week before.) “Like” their facebook page for more details!
Urbandale: December 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt at Giovannetti Community Shelter. This event is $7. There are several other events listed on the page for different age groups as well.
Waukee: December 5, 6-8 p.m. Come visit Santa at the community center and tell him what you want for Christmas and warm up with hot cocoa, hot cider, and cookies.
West Des Moines: November 21, 6 p.m. The evening will begin with a concert in the Amphitheater, followed by Santa’s arrival, tree lighting, and fireworks!
Mall Events:
Merle Hay Mall: Santa arrives November 15. Train rides located by Target.
Valley West Mall: Santa arrives November 15. Train rides are $2 a ride or three for $5. Located in Center Court.
Jordan Creek: Santa arrives November 21. You can also have Breakfast with Santa at BRAVO! on December 6 and 13; tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Trees and Lights Displays:
Jolly Holiday Lights: November 25 – January 1, 5:30-10:00 p.m. Cost ranges from $10 per car/van to $45 per bus. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish foundation. Located at the Water Works Park, just south of I-235 on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy.
Festival of Trees: November 26-30 (see website for times). $5 and 2 & under Free. Benefits Blank Children’s Hospital. Located in the Veteran’s Convention Center. Plenty of other events along with this, including a Festival Family Flick: Elf! You can read more about it here, too!
Ames Festival of Trees: November 14-30: Festival of Trees on display 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. (Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday after.)
Shopping Districts:
Holiday Promenade: November 21, 5-9 p.m., in East Village. So many fun things to do here, and especially on this night! Bundle up and come enjoy.
Jingle in the Junction: November 20, December 4, and December 11 from 5-9 p.m., in Valley Junction. Come see the 150,000 twinkling lights! Free horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa, live reindeer, ice sculptures, a Ruby Slipper Scavenger Hunt, and all of the unique shops.
Holiday Entertainment:
Wells Fargo Arena…
- Disney on Ice 11/26 – 11/30
Civic Center…
- The Nutcracker 12/12 – 12/14
- The Blenders 12/16
- Mannheim Steamroller 12/19 and 12/20
Hoyt Sherman Place…
- Lorie Line 12/4
- Jim McDonough 12/7
- The Nutcracker 12/11 – 12/14
- Tonic Sol-Fa 12/19 and 12/20
Stephens Auditorium…
- The Nutcracker 12/13 and 12/14
Fisher Theater…
- A Christmas Carol 12/5 – 12/14
Other Family-Friendly Venues:
Botanical Center: They offer a beautiful display and an oasis in the cold Iowa winters!
Blank Park Zoo: Santa and Reindeer will be at the Zoo 12/6 and 12/13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy holiday crafts and see the animals celebrate their own Christmas! Regular admission rates apply. Free to members.
Science Center: There is a ton going on here this holiday season! Check out the link to see all of them, including Brunch with Santa and The Polar Express at the IMAX!
Reiman Gardens has a beautiful holiday display November 19 through January 11.
Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge (between Ankeny and Ames) also has some stuff throughout the month. They have a couple ladies night events, crafts with little ones and breakfast with Santa. We went to several last year and they were all a lot of fun!
Tonya, thank you for adding that! They do have alot of fun stuff going on this time of year!
I just wanted to point out that Jolly Holiday Lights has a special on Monday nights – $5/carload. We always wait and go on a Monday night!