Things to Do in Des Moines This Weekend: Concerts, Shows & Events

Where downtown venues sit and how they differ

The Des Moines Civic Center stands at 221 Walnut Street, hosting touring Broadway, the Des Moines Symphony and concerts in its 2,762-seat main hall. Stoner Theater occupies the same building but operates as a separate black-box space with its own box-office entrance on the southwest side; check the room name on your ticket so you use the correct entrance.

Casey’s Center is the arena at 730 3rd Street. It hosts concerts, family presentations and home games for Iowa Wild hockey, Iowa Wolves basketball and Iowa Barnstormers indoor football. Compare the seating plan for your event rather than using one arena layout for every performance.

For the Civic Center, Third and Court parking ramp connects to the building by skywalk, and Fourth and Grand is another option. Nearby street meters charge Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–9 PM. Parking fees and access terms vary. Use the venue guide to plan arrival for your performance.

Neighborhood concert rooms and theatres

Hoyt Sherman Place operates a 1,252-seat historic theatre at 1501 Woodland Avenue in Sherman Hill, presenting concerts, comedy, dance and spoken word in a restored 1923 hall. The mansion and gallery share the same address but function as separate rental spaces; your ticket specifies which room you enter.

Wooly's runs mainly general-admission standing shows, with some events offering booth or table seating. The venue does not serve food; a bar operates during events. Age limits vary by show, so open the event page to confirm whether children are welcome before you bring a family group.

xBk Live maintains a small performing-arts listening room at 1159 24th Street in Drake Dogtown. General admission applies to most shows; the main floor and ADA restrooms are accessible, but the mezzanine requires stairs. The venue welcomes all ages and requires ID for alcohol service.

How to match limited weekend time to the right event

If only Friday evening is open, compare the events on that date and choose a start time you can reach comfortably. Account for your journey, parking and entry before buying. A later start is useful only if the performance itself interests you; do not choose a show solely because it fits an empty hour.

When Saturday offers the most flexibility, look for daytime gallery hours before an evening performance. The Des Moines Art Center museum at 4700 Grand Avenue opens Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM; admission is free, and you can move through permanent collections and changing exhibitions at your own pace. A Saturday-night concert or a touring Broadway performance then fills the second half of the day without requiring you to choose between culture and live entertainment.

Sunday has its own visiting options. The Art Center’s regular Sunday hours are 10 AM–5 PM, while the State Historical Museum is closed Sunday under its regular schedule. For a matinee or game, use the actual event listing rather than assuming an afternoon performance is available.

Free daytime options between ticketed shows

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park at 1330 Grand Avenue is open sunrise to midnight with free admission. It can provide an outdoor activity between other plans. Keep picnics away from the artwork and follow the no-touching rule, with the designated exception of Seating for Eight. Check conditions before choosing an outdoor visit.

The Art Center museum offers free admission Tuesday through Sunday, with Thursday and Friday hours extending to 7 PM. If you book a Friday-night show downtown, an afternoon visit to the museum at 4700 Grand Avenue gives you a cultural anchor before dinner and curtain. Saturday and Sunday hours run 10 AM to 5 PM, leaving the evening open for a second ticketed event or an early departure.

The State Historical Museum of Iowa opens Tuesday through Friday 9 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM. A Saturday-morning visit works when you want Iowa-history exhibits before a matinee at Hoyt Sherman or an afternoon hockey game. Free admission keeps the budget low when you are buying concert or theatre tickets for the same weekend.

Planning Friday–Saturday–Sunday across multiple performances

For a longer weekend, choose different kinds of activities on different days. You might prefer a performance one evening and a museum visit on another day. Use the calendar to establish which shows actually fit your Friday, Saturday or Sunday; an example itinerary is not a performance schedule.

If the same production has several performances, compare their dates and local start times. Choose the one that works with your travel and other commitments. Do not assume that a different date means a different cast, program or setlist unless the organizer says so.

Share the specific event link with everyone in your group. Agree on the performance date and review the ticket area and age guidance together. For a standing-room concert, check whether that format works for everyone before buying separate tickets.

For more daytime choices, use the things to do guide. If only today is still open, the today guide helps you check the remaining event listings and attraction hours.

Before you head out

Questions, answered