Upcoming · Des Moines, IA
Things to Do in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines hosts around 900 upcoming events, with approximately 400 scheduled for the next 30 days. About 15 percent of these listings are free. The largest categories include concerts and live music at roughly 200 entries, followed by theater and performing arts, sports and fitness, business networking, food and drink, and community social gatherings at around 150 to 60 each. Wells Fargo Arena in Iowa, the Des Moines Civic Center, Caseys Center, The Ingersoll, Hoyt Sherman Place, and the Funny Bone Comedy Club feature the most listings. Performers with upcoming dates include the Iowa Wild, Des Moines Buccaneers, Iowa Wolves, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero. Founded in 1843, the city has a population of about 210,000 according to 2020 data.
City facts
- Population
- 214,133 (2020)
- Area
- 235 km²
- Elevation
- 291 m
- Founded
- 1843
Source: Wikidata
Categories
Concerts & Live Music193Theater & Performing Arts160Comedy19Exhibitions & Art1Museums & Heritage2Food & Drink64Sports & Fitness148Family & Kids19Nightlife & Clubbing9Hiking & Outdoors2Workshops & Classes34Talks & Lectures4Movies & Film4Community & Social57Business & Networking138Wellness & Mindfulness18Seasonal & Holiday44Literary1Conferences & Summits1🎃 Halloween🎄 ChristmasThings to do
Fri, Oct 16
8:00 AM · Free
4word: Des Moines 2026 Morning Gathering
Twisted Bean Coffee - Urbandale · 4504 Merle Hay Rd, Urbandale, IA 50021
Business & Networking
Free
9:00 AM · $445 +
The Effective Supervisor® 1 Day Training for New Supervisors in Des Moines
5550 Wild Rose Ln · 5550 Wild Rose Ln, West Des Moines, IA 50266, USA
Business & Networking
$445 +
Sold out9:00 AM · $555.60 +
Anger Management 1 Day Workshop | Iowa
For venue details reach us at [email protected] · PH: +1505 369 2908, Iowa, IA 50309
Business & Networking
$555.60 +
Sold out9:00 AM · $555.60 +
Practical Sales Skills 1 Day Workshop Iowa
For venue details reach us at [email protected] · PH: +1505 369 2908, Iowa, IA 50309
Business & Networking
$555.60 +
Sold out9:00 AM · $555.60 +
Essential Management Skills 1-Day Workshop | Iowa
For venue details reach us at [email protected] · PH: +1505 369 2908, Iowa, IA 50309
Business & Networking
$555.60 +
Sold out9:00 AM · $555.60 +
Train the Trainer 1-Day Workshop | Iowa
For venue details reach us at [email protected] · PH: +1505 369 2908, Iowa, IA 50309
Business & Networking
$555.60 +
10:00 AM · Free
Open Studio
Mainframe Studios · 900 Keosauqua Way #109, Des Moines, IA 50314
Workshops & Classes
Free
Sold out10:00 AM · Free
6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook
Agency Iowa · 1551 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA 50023
Business & Networking
Free
10:00 AM · $23.18 +
Spooky Season: Des Moines East Village Ghost Mystery
Cowles Commons · 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Workshops & Classes
$23.18 +
Sold out10:00 AM · Free
6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook
1551 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy · 1551 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA 50023
Business & Networking
Free
11:00 AM · $26.75 +
Des Moines Dash Scavenger Hunt
Daisy Chain Coffee · 505 East Grand Avenue ##104, Des Moines, IA 50309
Sports & Fitness
$26.75 +
11:00 AM · $27.08 +
Mindful Wellness Walk in Des Moines
Daisy Chain Coffee · 505 East Grand Avenue ##104, Des Moines, IA 50309
Museums & Heritage
$27.08 +
12:00 PM · Free
FREE Iowa Home Expo, October 2026
Iowa State Fairgrounds · 3000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317
Workshops & Classes
Free
1:00 PM · $15 +
IAWIA Bike Tour
Exile Brewing Company · 1514 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Community & Social
$15 +
5:00 PM · $69.72 +
Pork + Pinot presented by The Iowa Pork Producers
Middlebrook Farm · 4300 Cumming Avenue, Cumming, IA 50061
Food & Drink
$69.72 +
5:30 PM · $30.52 +
Spooky Sips & Paint Night
Collaborate DSM · 3106 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
Food & Drink
$30.52 +
6:00 PM · $70 +
Wok This Way
Culinary Annex · 304 5th St unit 102, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA
Food & Drink
$70 +
6:30 PM · $22 +
Today's Christian Girl- 2026
Calvary Apostolic Church · 2611 Easton Blvd, Des Moines, IA 50317
Community & Social
$22 +
6:45 PM · Free
Boo Bash N’ SPLASH
Goldfish Swim School - Urbandale · 3771 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322
Seasonal & Holiday
Free
7:00 PM · $24.80 +
Whiskey & Words: An Elevated Night of Whiskey, Music & Poetry
8801 University Ave ste 29 · 8801 University Avenue #ste 29, Clive, IA 50325
Food & Drink
$24.80 +
7:00 PM · Free
Ron Taylor
Funny Bone Comedy Club - Des Moines · 560 S Prairie View Drive
Theater & Performing ArtsRon Taylor
Free
7:00 PM · See listing
Crowder LIVE!
Lutheran Church of Hope · 925 Jordan Creek Parkway
Concerts & Live MusicCrowder
See listing
7:00 PM · Free
Haunted Waters Halloween Bash
2750 NW 82nd Pl · 2750 Northwest 82nd Place, Ankeny, IA 50023
Seasonal & Holiday
Free
7:00 PM · See listing
Mastodon w/ Deafheaven
Val Air Ballroom · 417 5th St.
Concerts & Live MusicMastodon
See listing
7:00 PM · $65 +
Danielle Nicole
Wooly's · 504 E. Locust Street
Concerts & Live MusicDanielle Nicole
$65 +
7:00 PM · $51 +
Mastodon
Val Air Ballroom · 301 Ashworth Rd.
Concerts & Live MusicMastodon
$51 +
7:00 PM · Free
Derek Richards
Funny Bone Comedy Club - Des Moines · 560 S Prairie View Drive
Theater & Performing ArtsDerek Richards
Free
7:00 PM · $37 +
Crowder
Lutheran Church of Hope · 925 Jordan Creek Parkway
Concerts & Live MusicCrowder
$37 +
7:05 PM · $24 +
Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
The MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex · 6500 Grand Ave.
Sports & FitnessDes Moines Buccaneers
$24 +
7:30 PM · $50 +
Do Portugal Circus
Jordan Creek Town Center · 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy
Theater & Performing ArtsDo Portugal Circus
$50 +
Plan ahead
Pilates and Pour at the Candle Bar
Sun, Nov 1 · Candle Bar DSM
Cookies & Christmas Cards
Fri, Nov 27 · Collaborate DSM
STEVIE STONE PRESENTS: GOAT TALK TOUR - Des Moines, IA
Thu, Nov 19 · Vibes Kitchen & Bar
Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and Simple Wills Clinic
Fri, Oct 30 · Drake University Law School - Cartwright Hall, Room 201
2026-2027 Progressive Voices Concerts Season Tickets
Sat, Nov 14 · First Unitarian Church
U.S. Secret Service Preventing Targeted Violence in Public Spaces
Thu, Dec 3 · Ron Pearson Conference Center
Date Me DSM 100th Dating Event
Fri, Nov 20 · Val Air Ballroom
Rocky Horror - October 31 - 11:30PM TABLE RESERVATION
Sat, Oct 31 · The Garden Nightclub
Frequently asked questions about events in Des Moines
- How many events are free in Des Moines?
- About 15 percent of the listed events are free. This share applies to the total programme of around 900 upcoming listings.
- Which venues have the most events in Des Moines?
- The venues with the most upcoming listings are Wells Fargo Arena in Iowa, Des Moines Civic Center, Caseys Center, The Ingersoll, Hoyt Sherman Place, and Funny Bone Comedy Club in Des Moines.
- What is the most common type of event listed?
- Concerts and live music are the most common type with about 200 listings. Theater and performing arts and sports and fitness each have around 150 entries.
- Who are some performers playing in Des Moines soon?
- Upcoming performers include the Iowa Wild, Des Moines Buccaneers, Iowa Wolves, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero.