Fall Activities in Des Moines: Festivals, Events & Autumn Fun

The Farmers’ Market’s Published Fall Season

The Downtown Farmers' Market Saturday season runs May 2 through October 31, 2026, in the Historic Court District. Hours are 7 AM–noon most of the season, shifting to 8 AM–noon in October. Vendors bring produce, eggs, meat, cheese, flowers, baked goods, artisan packaged foods, handmade art, ready-to-eat meals, and—especially in autumn—fall squash, apples, and pumpkins.

Those are the published 2026 dates, ending October 31. They do not establish a 2027 season or a November Saturday market. Consult the official market calendar when planning a later visit.

IMT Des Moines Marathon 2027: Confirmed Race Weekend

The IMT Des Moines Marathon race weekend is confirmed for October 16–17, 2027. The 5K takes place on Saturday, October 16; the marathon, half marathon, and 10K all run on Sunday, October 17. Registration is separate from spectator attendance, so runners should secure their entries early while supporters can plan travel and lodging.

Runners should use the organizer-linked 2027 registration for their selected distance. Supporters should use that edition’s course and road-closure information when it is available. The running guide separates these road races from track-meet spectator tickets.

Des Moines Art Center: Free Museum, Rotating Exhibitions

The Des Moines Art Center offers free admission to its museum at 4700 Grand Avenue in Greenwood Park—note that this is a different location from the downtown sculpture park. The center holds permanent collections and changing exhibitions, with regular hours Tuesday–Wednesday 10 AM–4 PM, Thursday–Friday 10 AM–7 PM, and Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–5 PM; it is closed Monday and selected holidays.

As of late October 2026, current exhibitions include Elle Pérez: La Despedida in the A. H. Blank Gallery (through November 29, 2026), Artists on Fire in the John Brady Print Gallery (September 5, 2026 – January 10, 2027), Valentin Noujaïm: La Défense in the Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery (September 10, 2026 – January 10, 2027), and Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way, a contemporary Latinx painting show (October 24, 2026 – January 24, 2027).

Choose an exhibition by its subject and end date. A fall opening can remain on view into winter, while another exhibition may close in November. The Art Center guide explains the current selection and regular museum hours.

Blank Park Zoo: Recurring Special Events

Blank Park Zoo’s special-events page includes Night Eyes among its recurring offerings. Use the organizer’s date-specific event page before planning a Halloween outing; this guide does not establish a future Night Eyes schedule.

The zoo also lists Wild Lights and adult Zoo Brew events in its wider programming. Those names alone do not make an event an autumn activity. Check the season and admission terms of the particular event that interests you.

Indoor Performance Venues: Civic Center and Hoyt Sherman Place

As temperatures drop, Des Moines' indoor stages come into focus. The Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut Street downtown opened in 1979 and serves as home to touring Broadway productions, concerts, and the Des Moines Symphony. The main hall seats 2,762, and the Stoner Theater—a separate black-box space inside the same building—hosts smaller shows.

Hoyt Sherman Place at 1501 Woodland Avenue in Sherman Hill offers a 1,252-seat theater built in 1923 and restored in 2003. The venue programs concerts, comedy, dance, and spoken-word performances; the adjacent mansion galleries provide separate event spaces. Together, these two venues anchor the city's fall and winter performance calendar.

Browse the full concert calendar, theater listings, and comedy lineup to see what's on stage during your visit.

Planning Your Fall Visit

For a visit after the market season, choose an indoor plan from the current performance calendar or an exhibition that remains on view. For next autumn, begin with the confirmed 2027 race weekend and add other events once their dates are published.

Decide which activity anchors the day, then check the hours of anything you want to combine with it. A Saturday gallery visit and a performance have different admission arrangements. Share both addresses and start times with your group so the plan is easy to follow.

Before you head out

Questions, answered