Things to do in Des Moines
298+ things to do in Des Moines this month
Category
579 eventsAll venues in Des Moines
Sat · Nov 21 · 7:30 PM
Senior Recital: Brielle Anderson, soprano, Cassie Makeeff, piano
Brielle Anderson +1
Drake University · Des Moines
Sat · Dec 5 · 7:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs Purdue
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Tue · Dec 15 · 7:00 PM
Saucy Reads Cookbook Club | December
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
Mon · Nov 16 · 7:00 PM
Kissing Books Book Club | November
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
Sat · Nov 21 · 9:00 PM
2000's Night
2000's Night
Wooly's · Des Moines
Thu · Nov 12 · 7:00 PM
BONUS: Not Your Dad's History | November
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
FreeFri · Jan 8 · 7:00 PM
Open Mic Poetry Night
Beaverdale Books · Des Moines
Thu · Dec 31 · 7:00 PM
The Pork Tornadoes
The Pork Tornadoes +1
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Sat · Oct 31 · 5:00 PM
Drake University Women's Volleyball at Murray State
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 3 · 6:00 PM
Drake University Women's Basketball vs Eastern Illinois
Drake University · Des Moines
Fri · Nov 6 · 11:00 AM
Drake University Women's Basketball at Kansas
Drake University · Des Moines
Sun · Nov 8 · 5:00 PM
Senior Recital: Van Smeall, saxophone, Liz Augsburger, piano
Van Smeall +1
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Oct 27 · 6:00 PM
Adult DIY: Crystal Pendant
Urbandale Public Library
↻ RecurringFri · Oct 30 · 7:00 PM
Succulent Cauldron Drop-In
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Sat · Nov 21 · 7:00 PM
Iowa Wolves vs. Motor City Cruise
Casey's Center · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 17 · 6:00 PM
The Wood Brothers
The Wood Brothers +1
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Fri · Nov 13 · 6:30 PM
Sapph-iction Book Club | November
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
Wed · Nov 18 · 8:00 AM
Iowa Nature Summit 2026
Drake University · Des Moines
Mon · Feb 15 · 7:30 PM
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – Shorty Gras Tour
Trombone Shorty +1
Hoyt Sherman Place · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 10 · 4:30 PM
Growing Readers | November
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
Thu · Nov 19 · 5:30 PM
Student Curator Led Tour of Journeys of Life
Drake University · Des Moines
Thu · Dec 10 · 6:00 PM
Danny Gokey
Danny Gokey +1
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Thu · Nov 12 · 6:00 PM
Boys Do Cry Book Club: The Disappearers
The Little Book · Des Moines
Sun · Dec 13 · 9:00 AM
SnowGlobe 2026: Santa Brunch!
Exile Brewing Company
Sat · Oct 31 · 9:00 AM
Trick or Trees
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Sat · Nov 7 · 5:00 PM
Drake University Women's Volleyball vs Belmont
Drake University · Des Moines
Sat · Mar 6
Tales of the Sun and Moon
Tales of the Sun and Moon +1
Temple Theater · Des Moines
Wed · Oct 28 · 7:00 PM
DMPL Fall Author Series - Craig Johnson
Author: Craig Johnson
Wandering Raccoon Books · Grimes
↻ RecurringFri · Nov 6 · 10:30 AM
Story Sprouts Children’s Story Time
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Tue · Feb 2 · 8:30 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs Utah
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Sun · Nov 22 · 2:30 PM
Strings Chamber Music Recital
Drake University · Des Moines
Fri · Nov 6 · 8:00 PM
2026 Fall Lecture Series | Open Discussion
Drake University · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Jan 19 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Reserved…Tue · Feb 9 · 7:00 PM
Tell It Like It Is: Iowa Storytellers Project “Coincidence or Fate”
Hoyt Sherman Place · Des Moines
Wed · Nov 25 · 7:00 PM
Filthy Heathens & Blake Jack
Filthy Heathens +2
Wooly's · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Dec 15 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Thu · Jan 7 · 7:30 PM
The Temptations
The Temptations
Vibrant Music Hall · Waukee
Free↻ RecurringTue · May 18 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Reserved…Mon · Nov 16 · 7:00 PM
A Motown Christmas
Hoyt Sherman Place · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Nov 17 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Sat · Oct 31
Drake University Women's Tennis vs Drake Invite
Drake University · Des Moines
Sun · Dec 13 · 5:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs North Carolina Central
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Sat · Jan 30 · 5:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs Kansas State
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Wed · Jan 20 · 8:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs BYU
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Wed · Nov 18 · 6:30 PM
The Living Tombstone
The Living Tombstone
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Sat · Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
PetRock: A Tribute To The Smooth Rock Of The 70's
PetRock
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Reserved…Sat · Mar 20 · 8:00 PM
Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular
Hoyt Sherman Place · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Jun 15 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Apr 18 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 3 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Sips: Festive Cocktails & Mocktails
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Free↻ RecurringTue · Mar 16 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Fri · Nov 27 · 8:00 PM
XOLEX & Casey Muessigmann
Xolex +2
Wooly's · Des Moines
Tue · Mar 23
Haywire
Haywire +2
Wooly's · Des Moines
Fri · Nov 13 · 8:00 PM
Boogie T
Boogie T
Wooly's · Des Moines
Thu · Dec 17 · 6:00 PM
MeatEater
MeatEater
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Thu · Oct 29 · 8:00 AM
Walk, Bike, and Roll to School
Urbandale Public Library
Thu · Nov 5 · 10:30 AM
Iowa Wild vs. Rockford Ice Hogs
Casey's Center · Des Moines
Thu · Nov 19 · 7:30 PM
Drake Theatre Arts Presents: Urinetown
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 10 · 7:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs Southern
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Fri · Dec 18 · 7:00 PM
The Nadas
The Nadas
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Sat · Nov 14 · 12:00 PM
Senior Recital: Kyra Kanz, soprano, Francine Griffith, piano
Kyra Kanz +1
Drake University · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Jul 20 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Thu · Nov 12 · 5:30 PM
Artist Panel Discussion
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Feb 16 · 7:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs Cincinnati
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Sat · Jan 16 · 6:00 PM
Atmosphere
Atmosphere +3
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Jan 18 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Sat · Nov 14 · 6:30 PM
The Prince Experience
The Prince Experience
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Sun · Nov 15 · 7:30 PM
Senior Recital: Nathan Combs, flute/piccolo, Liz Augsburger, piano
Nathan Combs +1
Drake University · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Mar 21 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Fri · Mar 19 · 6:30 PM
Sammy Rae & The Friends
Sammy Rae & The Friends
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
Mon · Oct 26 · 1:00 PM
American Conversation Project
Urbandale Public Library
Sat · Nov 21 · 2:00 PM
Drake University Men's Basketball at Missouri State
Drake University · Des Moines
Mon · Nov 9 · 9:00 AM
3 Point Shootout
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Nov 10
SnowGlobe 2026
Exile Brewing Company
↻ RecurringFri · Nov 13 · 7:00 PM
Iowa Wild vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
Casey's Center · Des Moines
Wed · Nov 4 · 6:00 PM
Yoga in the Garden
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Thu · Nov 5 · 1:00 PM
Drake University Women's Soccer at UNI
Drake University · Des Moines
Wed · Feb 24 · 7:30 PM
Sonic Live in Concert
Sonic
Vibrant Music Hall · Waukee
Fri · Nov 13 · 7:30 PM
Senior Recital: Brynn Friesen, mezzo-soprano, Amanda Jones, piano
Brynn Friesen +1
Drake University · Des Moines
Tue · Dec 29 · 7:00 PM
Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball vs New Hampshire
Iowa State Cyclones - Hilton Coliseum · Ames
Wed · Nov 25 · 7:00 PM
Sabaton: Legends on Tour
Sabaton
Vibrant Music Hall · Waukee
Free↻ RecurringTue · Nov 16 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Sun · Nov 8 · 2:00 PM
Drake University Men's Basketball vs Southern
Drake University · Des Moines
↻ RecurringFri · Nov 20 · 10:30 AM
Story Sprouts Children’s Story Time
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Free↻ RecurringTue · Aug 17 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Free↻ RecurringTue · Feb 15 · 6:00 PM
Board Meeting
Capital City Pride · Des Moines
Fri · Nov 20 · 5:30 PM
Dinner at Flora
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Wed · Nov 4 · 6:30 PM
Drake University Men's Basketball vs Central
Drake University · Des Moines
Thu · Nov 19 · 7:00 PM
Just Trust Me Book Club | November
Storyhouse Bookpub · Des Moines
↻ RecurringMon · Oct 26 · 9:00 AM
Baby Bounce
Urbandale Public Library
Wed · Oct 28 · 1:00 PM
Double Booked Afternoon Book Club
Urbandale Public Library
Thu · Dec 31
NYE with Pianopalooza
Pianopalooza
Wooly's · Des Moines
Wed · Nov 11 · 6:00 PM
Restorative Yoga in the Garden
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Thu · Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Pouya
Pouya
Val Air Ballroom · West Des Moines
↻ RecurringSat · Nov 14 · 6:00 PM
Iowa Wild vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
Casey's Center · Des Moines
↻ RecurringMon · Oct 26 · 10:00 AM
Toddler Time
Urbandale Public Library
Fri · Dec 18
WAITRESS
Des Moines Performing Arts Center - Civic Center · Des Moines
Fri · Oct 30
Cady Day of Service
Drake University · Des Moines
Sat · Oct 31 · 10:30 AM
Saturday Storytime
West Des Moines Public Library
↻ RecurringFri · Nov 6 · 7:00 PM
Iowa Wolves vs. Wisconsin Herd
Casey's Center · Des Moines
Events in Des Moines, IA
Concerts, comedy, theater, author readings and community happenings, collected straight from local venue calendars and updated daily. Des Moines fills Hoyt Sherman Place, Wooly's and xBk, with the Des Moines Arts Festival taking over the western gateway each June.