Celebrate Valentine's Day in Des Moines with pho, Nerf darts, crafts, bouquets and more

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
·4 min read
A look at the interior of the Continental, now open in the East Village in Des Moines.
A look at the interior of the Continental, now open in the East Village in Des Moines.

Looking for things to do in Des Moines for the weekend ahead of Valentine's Day? Whether on a date, heading out for Galentine's Day or in the mood to do something with the family, we've got you covered. Take a look at nine things to do in the Des Moines metro this weekend.

Grab cookies and cocktails

Friday afternoon: Add a sweet touch to the weekend. The Continental, 407 E. Fifth St. in Des Moines, celebrates Valentine’s Day with a happy hour at 4:30 p.m. with cocktails and stuffed cookies from Oh High Bakery for sale. The Heartbreaker features white chocolate and a conversation heart on a sugar cookie stuffed with a cupcake. The Peanut Butter Me Up combines a chocolate peanut butter M&M cookie stuffed with peanut butter and topped with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup heart. And the Cherry Popper features a chocolate cookie stuffed with cherry cream cheese and a maraschino cherry dipped in red chocolate.

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Hear a favorite local singer

Friday night: Grab your gal pal and join Maya Boettcher, the owner of Wildflower Event & Floral Studio, for a Galentine’s Day celebration in support of the Chrysalis Foundation — an organization that empowers girls and women in central Iowa — from 6 to 9 p.m. at her shop at 2718 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines. A suggested donation of $20 is encouraged, which all goes to the organization. Des Moines hip-hop star Billy Weathers performs.

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Shoot Nerf darts

Friday night: Anti-Valentine’s Nerf Night at the West Des Moines Library, 400 Mills Civic Pkwy. in West Des Moines sounds like a great time. Instead of dodging Cupid’s arrows, you’ll be dodging Nerf darts. The event that starts at 7 p.m. is almost full, but you can still register online.

Hear some poetry

Saturday afternoon: John David Thompson will read excerpts from his book, "Iowa Poems 175," and discuss his process of creating it at the Terrace Hill Tea & Talk Series at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 online for the event at Terrace Hill, 2300 Grand Ave., Des Moines.

Create your own Valentine's Day gifts and eat pho

Head to Mainframe Studios for some fun ways to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Head to Mainframe Studios for some fun ways to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Saturday night: Head over to Mainframe Studios, 900 Keo Way in Des Moines, for Come Pho Luv (+ Beer) with Tangerine Food Co. and Peace Tree Brewing Co. For a $42 ticket, get access to four food stations and five paired beer samples. Bonus: For an extra cost, you can learn to arrange flowers with PepperHarrow Farm ($65), create a collage of lovebirds with Jess Quinn ($55 pair, $30 individual), create a set of coasters with The Blok DSM art supply store ($15 each), make a pair of polymer clay earrings with Clay & Slay ($25), or learn the basics of watercolor to make a custom valentine with Claire Sedovic ($10 single, $15 couple). Go online to register.

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Hear a Finnish DJ spin

Saturday night: Finnish EDM DJ Darude takes over the ones and twos at Platform, 400 Locust St., starting at 9 p.m. Co-founders Brad and Jeana Goldman opened the 400-seat club in June 2021 with a Funktion One sound system. Tickets start at $15 online.

Smell some orchids

Sunday afternoon: Join Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd. in Ames, for the annual Orchid Fest from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Iowa Orchid Society showcases and sells exotic orchids in a variety of species and colors during the annual Orchid Fest. General admission is $12 for adults, free for members and ISU students. Also on Saturday.

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Make a bouquet

Sunday afternoon: Bouquet Bar at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, for those who celebrate love, lets you make your own bouquets from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s a drop-in program for $8 for nonmembers, so just stop in at any time during these hours.

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Look for a sweet pop-up

Look for flower boxes in the skyway next week.
Look for flower boxes in the skyway next week.

Monday morning: Start your week off on a sweet note with a stop at a good news box from local artist Maggie Goldhammer. She teamed up with the Greater Des Moines Partnership with a Valentine’s Day pop-up that includes positive affirmations notes for people to take and enjoy. Lisa Ehrhardt of LE Designs created the floral designs. Find the boxes at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, inside of the 801 Grand building, and at Seventh and Locust streets, inside of The Partnership building. Flowers will be available to take throughout the week, however they are first come, first serve. Flowers will not be restocked after Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Best things to do in Des Moines for Valentine's Day weekend