Arts events in Des Moines

Check out happening arts events all around Des Moines, IA

7th Annual LIGHT UP THE NIGHT - NYE DEC 31ST WEDNESDAY

 Wed, 31 Dec at 08:00 pm Lefty's Live Music, University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA USD 7 to 18

New Year’s Eve Pops: Cirque

 Wed, 31 Dec at 08:00 pm Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA

Blake Jack + South 35 w/ The Boys

 Fri, 09 Jan at 08:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

The Finesse Holiday Special

 Sun, 21 Dec at 06:00 pm Temple Theater

Red Riding Hood

 Fri, 09 Jan at 07:00 pm 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50312

Charlie Berens: The Lost and Found Tour

 Sat, 24 Jan at 08:00 pm 221 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

A Swingin' Christmas w/ Carson Parker, feat. Aviana Gedler

 Thu, 11 Dec at 07:00 pm 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

Winter Jam 2026 - Des Moines, IA

 Sun, 15 Mar at 05:00 pm Casey's Center

SceneIt.us 2026 All About You Expo! Midwest Beauty & Fashion Show.

 Fri, 23 Jan at 05:00 pm Des Monies, Iowa

Jeff Dunham: Artificial Intelligence Tour

 Mon, 29 Dec at 07:00 pm Casey's Center

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical -- Bus Trip

 Sat, 20 Dec at 02:30 pm Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

Des Moines Cinco De Mayo Bar Crawl

 Sat, 02 May at 05:00 pm Johnny's Hall of Fame USD 8 to 33

Tonic Sol-Fa

 Fri, 19 Dec at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

Hoyt Sherman Place Holiday Open House

 Wed, 17 Dec at 05:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place

Susan Werner

 Sat, 04 Apr at 07:00 pm Temple Theater

A Nella Thomas Christmas IX

 Sat, 20 Dec at 07:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

A Christmas Carol

 Thu, 11 Dec Stoner Studio Theater - Des Moines Performing Arts

Whiskey Hill // FREE!

 Sat, 13 Dec at 08:00 pm 1163 24th St, Unit B Des Moines IA 50311

RUNA

 Sat, 28 Feb at 07:30 pm Franklin Junior High USD 39

Date Me Dsm @ Liz Lidgett Gallery (40-55)

 Fri, 12 Dec at 06:00 pm Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design USD 55

Beggars' Bargain w/ Luke Fox

 Fri, 02 Jan at 08:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

Historic Highland Park Holiday Shop Hop

 Sun, 14 Dec at 11:00 am Highland Park Historic Business District at Euclid and Sixth Avenues

Is Hope a Virtue?

 Sat, 13 Dec at 11:00 am Big Grove Brewery & Taproom Free

First Fridays at Mainframe Studios

 Fri, 06 Feb at 05:00 pm Mainframe Studios

Remnants of Christmas

 Sun, 28 Dec at 06:30 pm Saint Augustin's Catholic Church Free

Fred Hersch Trio: Legendary Jazz Pianist

 Fri, 17 Apr at 07:30 pm Sheslow Auditorium

Christmas w/ The Nate Sparks Big Band

 Sat, 20 Dec at 07:00 pm 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band

 Sun, 21 Dec at 02:00 pm 3711 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50312

Good Stand Up Comedy with Dan Alten & Friends

 Wed, 10 Dec at 07:00 pm The Lamp

Is Love a Virtue?

 Sat, 20 Dec at 10:00 am Big Grove Brewery & Taproom Free

Last Call Art Market

 Sat, 13 Dec at 11:00 am Mainframe Studios

A Charlie Brown Christmas ft Peter Roberts Band (7pm Show)

 Sun, 21 Dec at 07:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

LOCASH in Des Moines

 Sat, 17 Jan at 06:00 pm Casey's Center

Christmas with Vocal Arts

Sun, 14 Dec at 04:00 pm Westminster Presbyterian Church (4114 Allison Ave, Des Moines, IA)

The Official Lucky's St Patrick's Day Bar Crawl - Des Moines

 Sat, 14 Mar at 04:00 pm Tonic Court Ave. USD 14 to 20

Beginner Watercolor class

 Sat, 13 Dec at 11:00 am Capitol Hill Christian Church

Human Rights Day Celebration

 Wed, 10 Dec at 06:00 pm Zzz Records Free

Joe Stamm Band w/ Duke Oursler

 Sat, 24 Jan at 08:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

Animato Bandd takes over Down Under Bar & Grill

 Sat, 17 Jan at 08:00 pm Down Under Bar & Grill

Say What! Poetry - The Last Hurrah

 Wed, 17 Dec at 06:00 pm Lefty's Live Music

Mainframe Studios Breathe & Create Experience

 Sat, 13 Dec at 02:00 pm Mainframe Studios

Dallahan

 Sat, 17 Jan at 07:30 pm Franklin Junior High USD 39

World Food Prize Hall of Laureates Holiday Open House

 Sat, 20 Dec at 09:00 am World Food Prize Hall of Laureates Free

Global AI Job Fair |Des Moines

 Wed, 10 Dec at 03:00 pm Des Moines Free

Steven Curtis Chapman

 Sun, 08 Mar at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

Rhythm & Pep Presents: The Roaring Twenties - A Variety Show

 Fri, 30 Jan at 08:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

Steely Dane, the ultimate Steely Dan tribute at the Des Moines Performing Arts Center

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:30 pm DMPA - Des Moines Performing Arts

End of year Celebration Event! 2025

 Sat, 27 Dec at 11:00 am Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50322

Winter Matsuri Drift Event w/ Scale Motion DSM

 Sat, 13 Dec at 02:00 pm 3800 Merle Hay Rd. #922, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50310

All I Want For Christmas: Gina Gedler

 Tue, 23 Dec at 07:00 pm 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

Des Moines Community Kwanzaa Celebration

 Sat, 27 Dec at 12:00 pm Fort Des Moines Museum

Christmas at Terrace Hill

 Sun, 14 Dec at 01:30 pm Terrace Hill USD 7 to 34

New Years Renewal Psychic Fair

 Sat, 03 Jan at 11:00 am Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50322

2025 Holiday Open House at the Hall of Laureates

 Sat, 20 Dec at 09:00 am 100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

Under The Mistletoe w/ Lauren Vilmain

 Sun, 21 Dec at 03:00 pm 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

DES MOINES WINTER MUSIC AND ART FESTIVAL

 Sat, 17 Jan at 10:00 am 2875 University Ave USD 0 to 10

Get to Know Your Gouda

 Thu, 26 Feb at 05:30 pm Iowa Food Cooperative USD 5 to 50

Iowa Dance Theatre - The Nutcracker at Des Moines Civic Center

 Fri, 12 Dec at 07:00 pm Des Moines Civic Center

Fortune Feimster

 Fri, 30 Jan at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

A Charlie Brown Christmas ft Peter Roberts Band (3pm Show)

 Sun, 21 Dec at 03:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

Des Moines Wedding Show - January 11, 2026

 Sun, 11 Jan at 11:00 am Scottish Rite Consistory - Event Venue

Pecos & the Rooftops in Des Moines

 Fri, 27 Feb at 07:00 pm Wooly's

Farm to Glass: Local Mocktails

 Sat, 17 Jan at 03:00 pm Iowa Food Cooperative USD 0 to 10

6th Annual Middle of the Map Tattoo Convention

Fri, 10 Apr at 02:00 pm 730 3rd St., Des Moines, IA

Wayne "The Train" Hancock

 Tue, 03 Feb at 07:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

Hudson Freeman w/ Brian Gerald Bulger

 Tue, 10 Mar at 07:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

The Tannahill Weavers

 Sat, 28 Mar at 07:30 pm Franklin Junior High USD 39

Merkules in Des Moines

 Sat, 14 Mar at 07:00 pm Wooly's

WinterJam 2026 - ChildFund Intl Volunteers - Des Moines, IA

 Sun, 15 Mar at 02:30 pm Casey's Center Free

Clint Black in Des Moines

 Sat, 09 May at 07:30 pm Casey's Center

Jim Brickman in Des Moines

 Sat, 09 May at 07:30 pm The Ingersoll

Bria Skonberg Quintet: A Modern Take on Traditional Jazz

 Fri, 27 Mar at 07:30 pm Sheslow Auditorium

Des Moines Time Travelers Vintage Expo 2026

 Sat, 04 Apr at 10:00 am Iowa Events Center

An Intimate Evening with JJ Grey & Mofro

 Wed, 04 Feb at 08:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place

The Dinner Detective True Crime M**der Mystery Dinner Show - Des Moines, IA

 Sat, 13 Jul at 06:00 pm Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines Downtown USD 81

Global Game Jam - Des Moines

 Fri, 30 Jan at 04:00 pm Gravitate Coworking (Downtown)

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show in Des Moines at the lowa State Fairgrounds!

 Sun, 14 Dec at 10:00 am 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317-2465, United States

Eddie 9V

 Wed, 01 Apr at 07:00 pm 1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311

The Twilight Zone UnScripted

 Tue, 17 Mar at 07:00 pm Temple for Performing Arts

Kings Kaleidoscope

 Sat, 06 Jun at 06:00 pm Wooly's

Des Moines New Age & Psychic fair ,Spring Equinox 2026

 Fri, 20 Mar at 02:00 pm Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines, IA 50310, United States

“The Barter Room”

 Sun, 18 Jan at 01:00 pm Unity Center of Des Moines

CLASS: Swirling Skies: A "Starry Night" Workshop

 Sat, 07 Feb at 10:00 am Hoyt Sherman Place

CLASS: Knitting 101

 Sun, 11 Jan at 10:00 am Hoyt Sherman Place

Jeff Tweedy with special guest Sima Cunningham

 Tue, 10 Mar at 07:30 pm Hoyt Sherman Place

May the 4th Be With You Psychic Fair

 Sat, 02 May at 11:00 am Des Moines New Age Shop

Powerful Voices Open Mic Show - Live Music, Comedy, Poetry+ More!

 Thu, 13 Nov at 07:00 pm Des Moines Free

Des Moines' Secret Society: Mystery Hunt

 Sat, 26 Jul at 05:00 pm 100 Locust St USD 10 to 20

Des Moines Comic & Toy Show - Free Event March 28-29 Merle Hay Mall

 Sat, 28 Mar at 10:00 am Merle Hay Mall

Iowa Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker

 Thu, 11 Dec at 06:00 pm Des Moines Civic Center

Rakuyo | Surfaced | Happy Thoughts | DoYouBleed?|

 Tue, 13 Jan at 06:00 pm xBk Live

Choir! Choir! Choir! Presents: We Will CHOIR! You!: An EPIC QUEEN Sing-along

 Fri, 15 May at 06:00 pm 221 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50309

Tyler Farr in Des Moines

 Thu, 05 Mar at 07:00 pm Wooly's

Stavros Halkias: The Dreamboat Tour

 Wed, 18 Feb at 07:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place

The Browning, Within Destruction in Des Moines

 Wed, 18 Feb at 06:30 pm Wooly's

Des Moines M**der Mystery: Death in the Shadows

 Sat, 03 May at 11:00 am 313 Walnut St USD 10 to 20

C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters

 Fri, 06 Mar at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

Cody Johnson in Des Moines

 Sat, 09 May at 06:00 pm Casey's Center

BYU Noteworthy & Vocal Point

 Tue, 28 Apr at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater

The Sound of Gospel

 Thu, 12 Feb at 06:00 pm Hoyt Sherman Place Theater