Best Things to Do in Des Moines, Iowa: Events, Attractions & Local Favorites

Why the Art Center earns your first afternoon

The Des Moines Art Center at 4700 Grand Avenue offers free admission to its permanent collections and changing exhibitions. This location sits in Greenwood Park, west of downtown—a different site from the sculpture park. Museum hours are Tuesday through Wednesday 10 AM to 4 PM, Thursday and Friday 10 AM to 7 PM, and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The museum is closed Monday and selected holidays.

Free museum admission applies to the galleries. Check the terms of an individual class or workshop separately. Thursday and Friday evening hours offer another way to fit a museum visit around your other plans.

Outdoor art in the Western Gateway

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park at 1330 Grand Avenue downtown is open from sunrise to midnight with free admission. The outdoor setting and extended hours make it easy to visit before breakfast, between meetings or after a late dinner. Do not touch or climb on the sculpture except for the piece titled Seating for Eight, which is designed for that purpose. Picnics are allowed in areas away from the artwork.

The outdoor setting gives you a different way to experience art from the galleries at the museum. Choose a visit within the park’s published hours, check the weather and leave time to look at the works without rushing. The official visitor page has the current park guidelines.

Iowa history and the Capitol dome

The State Historical Museum of Iowa at 600 East Locust Street offers free admission to exhibits about Iowa history. Regular museum hours are Tuesday–Friday, 9 AM–4:30 PM, and Saturday, 9 AM–3 PM. Check holiday exceptions. Its first-floor Hands-On History area includes seating in a reading area; the official pre-visit guide describes the Grand Avenue entrance and access arrangements.

The Iowa State Capitol offers free guided tours Monday–Saturday and self-guided tours during open hours. Call 515-281-5591 for guided-tour times. Groups of ten or more book ahead, and minors need an accompanying adult. Check each destination’s address and schedule if you want to include the museum and Capitol in the same day.

Choose a guided visit if you want the structure of a scheduled tour, or ask about self-guided access if you prefer more flexibility. Keep holiday changes in mind when planning either the Capitol or the museum. A regular weekly schedule is a starting point, rather than confirmation that a particular holiday visit will work.

Choosing your evening entertainment

Des Moines evening entertainment spreads across several distinct venues, each with its own character. The Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut Street downtown opened in 1979 and hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts and special presentations. The main hall seats 2,762, and the venue also serves as home to the Des Moines Symphony. The Stoner Theater is a separate black-box space inside the same building, while Temple Theater is a different venue entirely.

Hoyt Sherman Place at 1501 Woodland Avenue in Sherman Hill is a historic theater built in 1923 and restored in 2003. The theater seats 1,252 across the main floor and balcony and books concerts, comedy, dance and spoken word. The mansion and gallery on the property are separate spaces with their own event schedules.

Casey's Center at 730 3rd Street downtown is a 17,000-seat arena that was formerly known as Wells Fargo Arena. The venue is home to Iowa Wild hockey, Iowa Wolves basketball and Iowa Barnstormers indoor football, and it also hosts concerts, family events, Monster Jam and Disney On Ice. Game and event schedules vary, so confirm dates rather than assuming a team plays on the night you want to attend.

Smaller music rooms include Wooly’s, with primarily standing-room general admission and show-specific age limits, and xBk Live at 1159 24th Street. xBk has an all-ages venue policy, an accessible general admission area and accessible restrooms. Its mezzanine is reached only by stairs. Compare the actual ticket options when deciding whether a room suits your group.

Putting a day together

Build a day around the activity you care about most. If that is a guided Capitol tour, establish the tour time before adding a museum. If it is an evening performance, choose the date and venue before filling the afternoon. Check the separate addresses and allow for travel rather than assuming the attractions all sit together.

The sculpture park’s longer published visiting hours give you another option when a museum has closed. You can also leave part of the day unplanned for a meal or a break. A museum visit and a show do not need to turn into a race between reservations.

For longer stays, the free activities guide details additional no-admission options, and the concert calendar organizes live music by date and venue. Each guide addresses a different planning question, so use them as complements rather than substitutes.

Before you head out

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