Make the most of warm summer days (and nights!) and check out all the events around Des Moines this August. Catch an outdoor concert, grab a pizza on a farm, and don’t miss some of the best annual events of the year.
Summer Guides for Endless Fun
Ultimate Guide to Summer
Where to Swim in Des Moines
Spraygrounds & Wading Pools
Outdoor Ideas for Toddlers
Outdoor Movies
Outdoor Yoga Classes
Outdoor Concert Guide
Ongoing Events in Des Moines
Tuesday & Thursdays | Toddler Time, Get Air
10 a.m.
Little jumpers get special access to the trampolines on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Admission is $8.99 (free for a parent). It’s a great way to burn some winter energy!
Thursdays | Caterpillar Club, Reiman Gardens in Ames
Get outside and have some fun with a weekly storytime at Reiman Gardens. This program is designed for kids ages 2-5 with an adult. Program is included with general admission to Reiman Gardens.
Thursdays | Tot Town, Valley Community Center
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Bring the little ones out to play at the Valley Community Center. This event is free.
Thursdays | Imagination Station, Valley Community Center
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Get crafty with your kids (without any mess in your house). Each week you’ll make a different craft.
2nd Monday of the Month | Storytime with Ruby the Reading Red Panda, Blank Park Zoo
11 a.m.
Each month they read a story and you get to meet a special live ambassador animal from the Zoo’s education department.
1st Thursday of the Month | Toddler Tales, Jester Park Nature Center
Let your imagination run wild with this nature-themed story time. Hear a story followed by the naturalist’s choice of an activity such as an animal encounter, puppets, or a craft. This event is designed for ages 3 and up.
Once a Month on Wednesdays | Knee-High Naturalists, Jester Park Nature Center
Are you ready to get outside and explore? Come and hear a story followed by some outdoor fun! As naturalists, you will hike, investigate, and navigate the trails and grounds of Jester Park as you learn what makes the outdoors such an amazing place. Dress to be outside. Cost is free; registration is required.
First and Third Fridays | New Moms Postpartum Support Group, Waukee Wellness & Chiropractic
A safe and welcoming space where you can connect with other new moms who are going through similar experiences.
Things to do in Des Moines in August 2024
July 26 – August 3 | National Balloon Classic, Memorial Balloon Field, Indianola
This spectacular, 9-day event held every summer features 100+ hot air balloons. Enjoy live music on, buy a balloon ride, or enjoy the mystical glow during Dawn Patrol and Nite Glow. Enjoy food vendors, beer/wine, fireworks, Special Shapes, and so much more! Tickets must be purchased online. Check the website for details and the full schedule.
Aug 1 | National Night Out
The goal of this event, happening in neighborhoods across both Des Moines and the whole country, is to build safe communities by getting to know your neighbors. Find an event in your neighborhood and enjoy a night out right where you live.
7 a.m./8 a.m.
Enjoy their stand-up paddle board fitness classes that combine the strength of Pilates and the flexibility and spirituality of Yoga with the calming environment of the water. Exercises will focus in on core stabilization, balance, flexibility, and endurance
Aug 1 | Summer Concert Series, Jasper Winery
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Enjoy the final night of free live music at Jasper Winery. Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and snacks. Drinks and food will also be available for purchase at the event. Check their website before the event for the most up-to-date social distancing guidelines.
Aug 1-4 | Kid’s Closet Connection, 200 Army Post Rd Suite 8
Don’t miss this back-to-school consignment event. Shopping is free and there is a ton of great stuff!
Aug 1, 8, 15, 22 | Acoustics Live in the District, The District at Prairie Trail
Kick off the weekend with music, drinks, and family fun in Ankeny. The concert and parking are free. Be sure to pack chairs or a blanket to sit on.
Aug 2-4 | Hinterland Music Festival, St. Charles, Iowa
Headliners include Hozier, Vampire Weekend, and Noah Kahan. Check out other summer music fests and outdoor concerts.
Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | Pizza on the Prairie, Wallace Center
Head to the prairie on Friday nights for handmade-from-scratch brick oven pizza packed with straight-from-the-farm veggies and local meats! Live music plays from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Walk the prairie path and enjoy the outdoor art along the way. Seating is limited, so bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Reservations required.
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
A yoga instructor will take you through a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga class complete with the purrs of kittens all around! After the workout, everyone will get one complimentary “Meow-mosa” (available to participants 21+), with extra beverages available for purr-chase at the cash bar. Please make sure to bring your own mat (or beach towel), no need to bring your own kittens, the ARL will provide them for this class!
Aug 3 | Grain Harvest, Living History Farms
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Watch as the historic farmers bring in the year’s grain harvest, using hand power, horsepower, and steam. Hear the smash of the flail and the roar of the steam-powered thresher. Demonstrations are weather-dependent.
Don’t miss this free, fun, family-friendly annual event. There will still be numerous ways to fill your day, including bison stickers; making a bison charm craft; bison coloring pages; playing a ring toss game; taking group photos in the bison photo booth area; and going on a bison trivia-themed self-guided walk on the 1/2 mile Overlook Loop Trail.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Explore a fire engine, check out a snowplow, and sit in a police vehicle!
Aug 4 | Clowns at the Carousel, Union Park
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Have fun and learn about bike safety at this free event near the Heritage Carousel at Union Park with clowns and entertainment along with educational information about bike safety for kids.
5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
See a fire truck, ride in the old fire truck, and spray a real fire hose. Sit in a police car and meet real police officers. Enjoy grilled food from Fareway and a fun night of public safety activities.
Aug 7 | Yoga in the Commons, Cowles Commons
9 a.m.
Shake up your yoga practice with a yoga session in Cowles Commons. Each week’s practice is led by a different instructor. Classes are offered as a free-will donation, with all proceeds benefitting Des Moines Performing Arts. Click here for more outdoor yoga classes.
Music begins at 6 p.m.
Aug 8-18 | Iowa State Fair
7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Join more than one million fellow fair-goers at the award-winning Iowa State Fair. Check the website for a full listing of events, concerts, and attractions.
Don’t miss this immersive outdoor spectacle bursting with rollicking music, dazzling imagery, and the thrill of audience participation, part of the Des Moines Performing Arts free outdoor series.
Grab the family and jump into the pool! Enjoy $5 admission at all City of Des Moines aquatic facilities.
Aug 10 | Adel Sweet Corn Festival, Adel courthouse square
Run the 5K, see the parade, enjoy the entertainment, and of course eat corn at this annual festival. See our guide to all summer festivals for more local celebrations.
Aug 15 – 19 | The Penguin Project Production of Disney’s Frozen Jr , Des Moines Playhouse
When faced with danger, Princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen Jr. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart.
5 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Party in the Park features fun activities for the whole family! There’s a beer garden for adults, food trucks, live music, and free kids activities including bounce houses, laser tag, and lawn games!
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Celebrate and honor NFTS angels with food trucks, kids activities, face painting, balloon artist, and more. The evening will end with a monarch butterfly release.
Aug 20 – Sept 1 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Des Moines Civic Center
Enter a world of splendor and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza
Aug 23-25 | World Food & Music Festival, Western Gateway Park
Sample delicious food and drink from around the world and check out cooking challenges, musical performances, dances, workshops, presentations, and more.
Ingersoll Live is a family-friendly “block party” along Ingersoll Avenue featuring live music, art, food, and entertainment. This annual event gives local organizations, businesses, and neighbors an opportunity to connect and celebrate.
The fun is in full bloom! It’s time to get your tickets to wander through the brightly colored flower fields, soak in the picturesque views, and relish the experience.
11 a.m.
Bras for the Cause B4 Ride: Bras, Bikes, Bars & Beers raises money to fight breast and cervical cancers in Iowa. Your participation helps bring awareness to the cause and raises funds. All proceeds stay in Iowa with the goal of providing all Iowans, underinsured or uninsured, access to mammograms, cervical screenings, and other lifesaving programs and projects
Celebrate the GOLDEN 5th Year of SISTA SOUL FEST! The purpose of Sista Soul Fest is to create a space for women (especially women of color) to offer/sell and display their talents, gifts, and businesses. It also allows women and young girls of all ages to come together as sisters to network, encourage, inspire, and show up for each other.
10 a.m.
Join volunteer storyteller, Carmen Epstein, for a fun, interactive tale tailored toward children ages 2 to 6 that explores the wonders of the outdoors.
7:30 p.m.
Michael Cavanaugh, who played the Piano Man himself in the hit Broadway show Movin’ Out, brings the music of Billy Joel to life alongside your Des Moines Symphony Orchestra!
Send us an email if we missed anything, and we’ll add your event to the list.
We work hard to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead or check websites to confirm dates, times, location, and other information before heading to an event or activity, since it may change.
