5 Free Things to Do in Downtown DSM in March
Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a great place to be year-round — and it’s affordable, too! This month, take a look at these five totally free events and things to do in Downtown Des Moines.
Celebrate International Women's Day
Sunday, March 8, 2026 | Big Grove Brewery
Celebrate community, creativity and the power of women at Big Grove Brewery’s Annual Women’s Day Market on Sunday, March 8 from 1-5 p.m. Spend the afternoon sipping a beer while you browse and support local women-owned and women-led businesses offering everything from Moroccan goods and artisan coffee to handmade art, vintage clothing and fresh-baked treats. Vendors include Dar Zweena, Brittani Coe, Crème Bakery, Annie’s Foundation (yes, free banned books!), Saguaro Studios, DSM Craft Makers, Girls on the Run, Pesche adaptogenic mocktails, Black Silo Coffee Co., Kassia Fleur’s build-your-own bouquets and more. Grab your friends and make a Sunday of it! This one’s all about lifting up incredible women in our community.
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Come One, Come All to the St. Patrick's Day Parade
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | Along Grand Avenue
March is the month for green! The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will host the annual free parade throughout along Downtown DSM’s Grand Avenue on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Don your best festive attire, bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and snag a spot along the route, then settle in for festive Irish floats and lots of St. Patty’s Day fun! Read on for both free and ticketed St. Patty's Day events happening throughout the region.
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Polk County Heritage Art Gallery Exhibit: Body
Now – March 19, 2026 | Polk County Heritage Art Gallery, 111 Court Ave., Des Moines
Stop by the Polk County Heritage Art Gallery to experience Body, on display through Thursday, March 19. This powerful exhibition brings together eight Iowa artists exploring the human form as a space for identity, memory, transformation and resistance. Through a mix of diverse media, the show highlights how the body can be both deeply personal and undeniably public. Curated by Iowa Artist Fellow Kelly Devitt and supported by the Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Economic Development Authority, this free exhibit offers a meaningful way to engage with local art and big ideas, right in the heart of Downtown.
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Explore Indoors Throughout the Skywalk
Spanning the Historic Court District to Western Gateway Neighborhoods
With four-plus miles of indoor, climate-controlled skywalks to navigate, weather can’t stop this Downtown DSM adventure! Play I Spy, try a family-friendly scavenger hunt by finding all the letters of the alphabet on the various skywalk signs or make a game of searching for 20 unique restaurants. The opportunities to play and explore are endless. Use our helpful Downtown DSM map to find your way!
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Browse Art + History at Hoyt Sherman Place
Hoyt Sherman Place, 1620 Pleasant St., Des Moines
Did you know Hoyt Sherman Place became the first public art gallery in Des Moines in 1907? Self-guided tours of the art collection and original Hoyt Sherman mansion, built in 1877, are available at no charge during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as long as an event isn't currently taking place.
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Just beyond Downtown, you’ll find even more free ways to celebrate, create and connect — including Women’s History Month programming and engaging art events for the whole family.
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Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving multiple counties in Greater Des Moines. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Chamber Members, The Partnership helps businesses grow and advances quality of life in Greater Des Moines with one voice, one mission and as one region, contributing to a vibrant regional economy.