What is there to do in Des Moines this weekend? Earth Day, raunchy comedy and more events
It finally feels like spring in central Iowa, and the flowers in bloom, road races, and Earth Day activities get you out of the house and into the great outdoors. Help clean up a park, go on the hunt for artistic eggs or see a new mural for Earth Day. If staying indoors is more your jam, grab a happy hour with jazz, celebrate a brewery's 10th anniversary or devour a brunch with sangria and mimosas. And ample opportunities abound for comedy, a children's show and book readings. Here's a look at 13 things to do this weekend in Des Moines.
If you want to stay on top of all the fun things to do in Des Moines, sign up for Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register that showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa. Recently, we've written about where to go thrifting, Black-owned businesses, vegan restaurants and where to buy plants. If you sign up for our newsletter, you get a whole list of fun places to go, things to do, what to eat, and more early Thursday morning in your inbox.
Take in the flowers
Thursday afternoon: Take the afternoon off to drive to Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd. in Ames, to take in the spring bulb display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thousands of tulips, hyacinths and more open up in this spring extravaganza. While you’re at the 17-acre gardens, look for fairy doors hidden throughout the gardens, as well as the 2,500-square-foot Butterfly Wing with 800 exotic butterflies in flight. Tickets start at $12.
Jazz up your happy hour
Thursday evening: Hey, all you cool cats and kittens. Starting at 6 p.m., head to Noce, 1326 Walnut St., Des Moines, for an all-night happy hour that includes $5 wine and well drinks, as well as free jazz. Guitarist Dan Padley & Co. perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Donate your time
Friday afternoon: Help clean up Fort Des Moines Park, 7200 S.E. Fifth St., Des Moines, from noon to 4 p.m. during this prelude to Earth Day. Since the cleanup event started 15 years ago, more than 15,900 volunteers have participated in the Earth Day Trash Bash event, donating more than $1 million in service and clearing more than 575,000 pounds of litter, brush, and debris from the Des Moines metro area. Participation is free.
More: Here are 16 of the best restaurants in Des Moines' East Village
Hear a true story
Friday evening: Des Moines native Katherine Linn Caire discusses her heartwarming true story from her memoir “Accidental Sisters” at 6:30 p.m. at Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave., Des Moines. The 1977 graduate of Roosevelt High School went on a quest to find out about her parents, in particular, about their health. Along the way she discovered a half-sister. Caire, who now lives in Nashville, had to decide whether to meet her newly found relative or not. She will sign copies of her books at the free event as well.
More: The ultimate guide to Italian restaurants in Des Moines
Ahoy, me hearties!
Friday night: The Des Moines Playhouse presents "How I Became a Pirate," a swashbuckling musical that follows a pirate and his mates as they enlist a young Jeremy Jacob to look for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. The show at 831 42nd St., Des Moines, runs from April 21 to May 7, with a 7 p.m. showing to kick it off. Tickets start at $14.
More: 8 Des Moines-area restaurants where kids can eat for free that adults will enjoy too
Talk dirty
Friday night: Need a date night idea? Pick up tickets to Second City’s “Swipes Right,” a naughty 90 minutes of comedians talking about what turns us on — and off — about love, dating, relationships, and everything else in-between the sheets. The show at the Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St. in Des Moines, starts at $20 up to $48 per person. Thursday and Friday shows start at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday shows run at 5 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
More: How to spend a perfect day in downtown Des Moines with food, drinks and more
Go on an egg hunt
Saturday morning: Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Pkwy., Des Moines, hosts more than 200 bird species such as Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, shore birds and warblers as well as Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets and many others. Celebrate by going on an egg hunt starting at 8 a.m., in the Wild, the 400-plus acres north of the Raccoon River and around the Lauridsen Amphitheater. The eggs are on the ground and at least 3 feet away from trails or other park infrastructure. The park asks visitors to take only one egg each.
More: 33 of the best places to eat in Des Moines: 2022 edition
Check out a new mural
Saturday morning: The Botanical Garden of Greater Des Moines (909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines) celebrates Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission and family friendly activities. Get to the gardens by 11 a.m. to see the unveiling of a new mural by local artist Marissa Hernandez, who worked with youth from Children’s Cancer Connection and Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa to create the new art that highlights the diversity within plants, people, and art.
More: Take our walking tour of 12 Des Moines murals (and peruse our gallery of many more)
Celebrate local beer
Saturday afternoon: Stop by 515 Brewing Co., 7700 University Ave., Clive, to celebrate 10 years of beer from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Some of the 10th birthday beer surprises in store, include Raspberry Margarita Mexican Spring Grande, a tequila barrel-aged blended with fresh raspberry, oranges, limes and smoked chilis; Greenbelt Trail Magic IPA, a new hazy brewed with experimental hop HS17704 with black currant, passion fruit, papaya, and citron aromas; beer mimosas, combine any 515 beer with bubbly (toasting 10 years ‘til the bubbly runs dry); and Basil Protocol 2.0 beer cocktail with ginger simple syrup and Revelton mulberry gin. Food trucks bring the breakfast at 10 a.m. with Two ‘Ol Chefs food truck, beer-infused cupcakes at 2 p.m. from Always Baked Sweets & Treats, and meat pies from 4 to 8 p.m. from Pie Mates Australian.
More: Your guide to 20 Des Moines metro breweries, taprooms and their craft beer
Go French
Saturday night: Catch the Des Moines Symphony performing “April in Paris,” part of the 85th season of the company. The 7:30 p.m. show at the Des Moines Civic Center (221 Walnut St., Des Moines) features Franco-Belgian sensation Camille Thomas, the first cellist signed in 40 years by the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label, performing with the Des Moines Symphony for an all-French program. The audience will hear Berlioz’s bright and dashing “Roman Carnival Overture,” then experience Saint-Saën’s “Cello Concerto No. 1.” Tickets range from $15 to $70 online or at the Civic Center Ticket Office at 515-246-2300), 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours before performances. Get to the show 45 minutes early to hear the free Concert Prelude Talks led by Dr. Eric McIntyre, professor of music at Grinnell College, in the Prairie Meadows (east) Lobby. Also performing Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickle your funny bone
Saturday night: The Comedy XPeriment, the Des Moines improv troupe, returns to the Stoner Theater, 221 Walnut St. in Des Moines, to celebrate 20 years. The audience feeds suggestions to the comedians, who bring the laughs in a sports-themed format, a series of non-sensical scenes, or even a short one-act play. Tickets to the 90-minute show at 7:30 p.m. start at $15. Also Friday night.
Kick off the Drake Relays
Sunday morning: Cheer on the runners and walkers participating in the Drake Road Races, the kick off to the Drake Relays. The 10K and half marathon are sold out at 7:30 a.m., but you can still run the 5K. The races start at Drake Stadium (2719 Forest Ave., Des Moines). Head online to register.
More: How to spend a perfect day near Drake University with food, drinks, shopping and more
End the weekend with brunch
Sunday morning: Granted, Early Bird, 9250 University Ave. Suite 107, West Des Moines, serves brunch daily, but that doesn't mean you should ignore going here on a Sunday. Try favorites such as the No. 16 with three blueberry pancakes drizzled in a lemon glaze and topped with cream cheese and streusel or the waffle cordon bleu Benny with grilled chicken, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce on top of mini waffles. Down them with cocktails such as the sunrise sangria or a mimosa daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you head to the restaurant's website, you can sign up for the waitlist.
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: Des Moines events this weekend and fun things to do April 20-24
