Come for This, Stay for That: Downtown Des Moines Winter Edition

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is vibrant and bustling all year long! This winter, we’ll help you create a fun-filled day (or night!) suitable for kiddos, date night, an outing with friends or anything in between. The goal: Get out and enjoy the happiest time of the year in Downtown DSM. 

Downtown Des Moines: Family-Friendly 

• Come for a morning of hands-on exhibits (including the limited-time Dinosaurs exhibition!) at the Science Center of Iowa, stay for lunch at a restaurant in Western Gateway or the Historic Court District. 
• Come for outdoor ice skating with a skyline view at Brenton Skating Plaza, stay for a sweet treat from Molly’s Cupcakes or Almost Famous Popcorn.  
• Come for a holiday festival or event in Downtown Des Moines, stay for a wintery walk enjoying the free, public art found at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park.  
• Come try your bouldering skills at Climb Iowa East Village, then snag a to-go breakfast from ChuChu Donuts or cinnamon rolls from Cinnaholic. 
• Come for a brisk stroll or snow play at Gray’s Lake or Water Works Park, stay for a hot chocolate (and coffee for the adults!) at Scenic Route Bakery or Smokey Row.   

Date Night in Downtown Des Moines 

• Come for a Snowglobe Des Moines dinner at Exile Brewing Co., stay for a nightcap at Juniper Moon. 
• Come for a Broadway or holiday-themed performance at the Civic Center, stay for board games at Ricochet. 
• Come for a couple’s massage at the East Village Spa, stay for a quick lunch from Fresko, The Walnut or NOSH Café and Eatery. 
• Come for the local artists’ shops at Mainframe Studios and locally owned boutiques found in the Historic East Village, stay for ice skating beneath the stars at Brenton Skating Plaza. 
• Come for a live show at Wooly’s and stay for dessert at Insomnia Cookies. 
• Come for jazz music at Noce, stay for an Instagram-worthy photo op of Downtown DSM lit up with festive holiday lights after dark.   

Things to Do with a Group in Downtown Des Moines 

• Come for the laughs at TeeHee’s Comedy Club, stay for a craft beer at El Bait Shop or Iowa Taproom.  
• Come for a concert at Wells Fargo Arena, stay for arcade games at Up-Down. 
• Come for the action watching the Iowa Wild or Iowa Wolves play, stay for a late-night slice of pizza at Fong’s. (Crab Rangoon ‘za, anyone?) 
• Come for brunch at Railroad Bill’s Dining Car, The Breakfast Club or St. Kilda, stay for a hands-on, plant-themed class at Art Terrarium. 
• Come for the sushi at Akebono 515 or seafood at Splash, stay for a secret speakeasy bar crawl in Downtown DSM.   

Make it one epic winter in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) by exploring, experiencing and enjoying what Downtown DSM has to offer. Plan your visit to Downtown DSM with these tips for parking and navigation. 

_{Header image from iowawild.com.}