Des Moines Winter Entertainment
Winter Events in Des Moines: Holiday Fun, Concerts & Indoor Activities
Des Moines winter events give you several ways to plan an indoor outing: a concert, a touring musical, an arena event or a museum visit. Start with a date and decide whether you want a scheduled performance or a flexible daytime activity. This guide covers the cold-season options; the holiday guide looks more closely at the November–January light display and December shows.
Compare Casey’s Center for arena programming, Hoyt Sherman Place for concerts and comedy, and the Civic Center for touring theatre. The Art Center and State Historical Museum offer free general admission on their regular opening days. Check actual event dates rather than assuming every venue has something scheduled each evening.
Explore Des Moines venue guides →Concerts and Arena Events
Casey’s Center, at 730 Third Street, hosts concerts, family shows and sports. The arena is home to the Iowa Wild, Iowa Wolves and Iowa Barnstormers, but each team has its own schedule. Use the sports listings to find an actual game date rather than assuming all three play during winter.
Hoyt Sherman Place offers a seated theater setting at 1501 Woodland Avenue. Its 1,252-seat room hosts concerts, comedy, dance and spoken word. Compare the event and seat location with your group’s preferences; the historic setting does not determine a show’s age guidance or content.
Broadway Shows and Theatre
At 221 Walnut Street, the Civic Center hosts touring Broadway and other performances. Its Main Hall is also home to the Des Moines Symphony. Browse the Broadway guide for confirmed engagements, then choose the specific performance you want.
Stoner Theater is a separate black-box space within the same building. Read the room name on your ticket and check the appropriate entrance. A theatre outing can anchor your evening, with other plans arranged around its actual start time.
Free Museums for Warm Winter Days
The Des Moines Art Center offers free museum admission at 4700 Grand Avenue in Greenwood Park. Regular hours are Tuesday–Wednesday 10 AM–4 PM, Thursday–Friday 10 AM–7 PM and Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–5 PM. It closes Monday and selected holidays; classes and workshops have their own terms.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 East Locust Street, offers free entry Tuesday–Friday 9 AM–4:30 PM and Saturday 9 AM–3 PM. It does not list regular Sunday or Monday hours. Check holiday exceptions before planning a museum visit around another event.
Dome for the Holidays
Dome for the Holidays runs on selected evenings November 14, 2026–January 3, 2027 at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. It uses separately ticketed timed entry. Check the official evening calendar and the holiday guide for the light-display outing.
Downtown Parking and Access
For Civic Center performances, DMPA lists a skywalk connection from Third & Court garage and Fourth & Grand as another garage option. Street meters operate Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–9 PM. Check the posted rate and route for the location you choose.
For a different venue, use that building’s parking guidance. Leave time to reach the correct entrance, and check for a weather or closure notice on the day of your event. A museum visit and an evening performance may need separate arrival plans.
Before you head out
Questions, answered
What winter events happen in Des Moines?
Compare concerts, theatre and arena events with free-admission museum visits. The November–January Dome for the Holidays light display is a separate timed-ticket outing. Use the linked calendars to select a date. Details ↗
Are any Des Moines museums free in winter?
The Des Moines Art Center at 4700 Grand Avenue and the State Historical Museum of Iowa at 600 East Locust Street both offer free admission year-round. The Art Center is open Tuesday–Sunday; the Historical Museum is open Tuesday–Saturday. Both close on selected holidays. Details ↗
Where do Broadway shows perform in Des Moines?
The Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut Street hosts touring Broadway. Stoner Theater is a different performance room in the same building. Details ↗
What sports teams play in Des Moines during winter?
Iowa Wild hockey and Iowa Wolves basketball are arena options to look for at Casey’s Center. Check the sports calendar for the actual dates; the arena’s other resident teams follow separate seasons. Details ↗
Sources & References
Event details and visitor information checked 2026-10-31. Check the venue's current guidance before you travel.
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden — Dome for the Holidays ↗
- Des Moines Art Center — plan your visit ↗
- State Historical Society — State Historical Museum of Iowa ↗
- Iowa Events Center — Casey’s Center ↗
- Des Moines Performing Arts — Civic Center ↗
- Hoyt Sherman Place — theater and other spaces ↗
- DMPA — directions and parking ↗
