Des Moines and Central Iowa Weekend Events and Live Music List
Of course the State Fair is the main attraction, but there is still a lot of fun to be had around the metro with other events and concerts as well. Please share anything you would like to add in the comments!
Iowa State Fair
Des Moines Restaurant Week
Party in the Park Fri at Walker Johnston Park in Urbandale
Indian American Cultural Festival Sat at Living History Farms
Jazz Festival at WDM Jamie Hurd Amphitheater Sun
Live Horse Racing at Prairie Meadows Fri-Sun
Bingo at Des Moines Biergarten Sat at Water Works Park
Funk'd Fest at el Bait Shop Fri-Sun
Food Truck Friday at WDM city hall for lunch
After Hours Collection Tour at the State Historical Museum Fri
Architecture Walking Tour Downtown Fri
Island Park Campgrounds Car Show Sat
Free Outdoor Movie Fri at Reichardt Community Center
Finding Nemo Jr. Play at the Des Moines Community Playhouse Fri-Sun
ICubs Baseball vs. St. Paul Fri-Sun
SCI Solar Party Sat at the Science Center of Iowa
Plant Swap and Macrame Hanger Sale Sat at Low Toxy
Civil War History Tour Sat at Woodland Cemetery
Cribbage Tournament Sat at the Rook Room
IABE Book Club Sat at Mayalu Coffee
Blood on the Clocktower Social Game Sat at Gravitate
Wicked Movie Sing a Long Sat at Outlets of Des Moines
Keith Alberstadt Comedy Fri-Sat at the Funny Bone
Pork Cooking Class Sat at Iowa Food Co-Op
Dungeons and Dragons One Shot Sat at Ironside Axe Club
Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show Sat at Embassy Suites
Southside Sunday Market at Southridge Mall
Brunch Bingo Sun at Smash Park
Intro to Improv Class Sun at xBk
Wine and Wheels Trolley Winery Tour Sun at Whiskey River
Prism Tabletop LGBTQ+ Game Night Sun at the Rook Room
Social Backgammon Sun at Istanbul Cafe
Let's Get Batty Nature Talk Sun at Jester Park
Goin' Country Drag Brunch Sat at the Garden
Big Momma's Man Candy Show Sat at the Garden
Strange Language Electronic Music Show Fri at the Continental
Book Bedazzling Workshop Sat at The Clive Library
Mystery Plant and Bingo Sun at Barista's Bouquet
Live Music List Below From DSM at Dawn:
Friday
Casey Peasley | 4:30 | Middlebrook Farm
The Drama Kings | 5 | Water Works Park
Back to Vinyl | 5 | Truman’s Pizza
Luke Fox | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
David Watson | 5 | Caffrey’s
80 Grit | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Dogtown Rhythm Band | 6 | Captain Roy’s
The Juan & Only | 6 | El Toreado WDM
Barry Rutter | 6 | Shotgun Betty’s
Casey Joe Collins | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Ron Burchett | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
JB Williams | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Steam Boars | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Mark Doty & The Cause | 10 | Prairie Meadows
Saturday
Willi Vanilli | 12 | Annie’s Irish Pub
Brody & Cooper | 2 | Soggy Frog
Abbie Hullinger | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Nick Hermann | 5 | 1908 Draught House Norwalk
Randy Burk & The Prisoners | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Rob Lumbard | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Bob Dorr and The Blue Two | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Microwaved | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Yubu Band | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Gladys Lite | 7 | Soggy Frog
Country River | 7 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
The Palmer Squares | 8 | xBk Live
Drew Fry | 8 | Mickey’s Waukee
Red Dirt Renegade | 8 | Good Times
Encore Legends | 8 | Lakeside Hotel & Casino
Dave Zollo | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Josh Collins Band | 10 | Prairie Meadows
Sunday
Casey Joe & The Foxes | 1 | Water Works Park
Jake Schrodt Duo | 1 | Soggy Frog
David Watson | 2 | Truman’s Pizza
Dave Zollo & the Body Electric | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Brick Imerman | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Improv & Hard Copies | 2 | Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm
Jared Neal | 4 | Greenwood Lounge
Yubu Band | 4 | Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop
Jarod Nelson | 5 | Exile Brewing
Al Godfredsen | 5 | Lake Robbins Ballroom