Things to Do in Des Moines for Adults: Nightlife, Live Music & Entertainment

Live Music Venues for Every Genre

Wooly’s usually uses general-admission standing, with booths or tables for some events. It does not serve food. Check the show’s format and age limit, and contact the box office about any access arrangement you need.

xBk Live, at 1159 24th Street in Drake Dogtown, is a small performing-arts listening room. It describes itself as all ages and requires ID for alcohol. The main floor and accessible restrooms are accessible, while the mezzanine requires stairs.

Hoyt Sherman Place at 1501 Woodland Avenue in Sherman Hill houses a historic 1,252-seat theater built in 1923 and restored in 2003. The venue books concerts alongside comedy, dance, and spoken-word performances, offering main-floor and balcony seating in an intimate setting. The mansion and gallery occupy separate spaces on the same property.

Theatre and Broadway Productions

The Des Moines Civic Center, at 221 Walnut Street, hosts touring Broadway, concerts and special presentations. Its 2,762-seat Main Hall is also home to the Des Moines Symphony. Compare the production’s subject and performance date with what your group wants from the evening.

Inside the same building, Stoner Theater operates as a separate black-box space with a distinct identity and programming—don't confuse it with Temple Theater, which is a different venue altogether. For Broadway touring schedules and ticket availability, browse the full Des Moines Broadway calendar.

Wheelchair seating, assistive listening devices, and selected ASL-interpreted or audio-described performances are available at Des Moines Performing Arts venues. Services are date-specific, so contact the accessibility line at 515-246-2300 or email [email protected] when booking to confirm availability for your chosen show.

Brewery Taprooms with Food and Events

Exile Brewing, at 1514 Walnut Street, has a brewpub kitchen that closes one hour before the venue. Big Grove, at 555 17th Street, also lists separate kitchen hours. If dinner is part of your plan, check food-service times rather than relying on the bar’s closing time.

Confluence lists trivia and live music among its taproom programming. Check its calendar for the actual date; those activities do not run every evening. The brewery guide compares four locations and explains their different food arrangements.

Building Your Night Out

Choose the fixed-time activity first: a comedy performance, a musical or a concert. Then compare the food stop’s address and kitchen hours with the show’s start time. Decide how your group will travel and return before adding another reservation.

For a group with different seating needs, settle the performance format before paying. A standing show, a general-admission room and a reserved-seat theater are different choices. Check that everyone has the same event date and understands the ticket arrangement.

If no performance suits the date, a meal or taproom visit can be the main plan. If music is the priority, use the live music guide to compare venues and the concert calendar to compare dates. Keep the evening focused on what your group wants rather than filling every hour.

Before you head out

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