Give Back by Volunteering at Fall Festivals and Events in DSM

From art events to food and drink festivals, fall is a busy time in Greater Des Moines (DSM). And while attending fall events in the region should be a top priority as you plan out your remaining weekends in 2024, volunteering is another option that allows for you to attend an event while also giving back. Whether you live in Bondurant, Johnston or Windsor Heights, there are organizations and event staff across DSM ready to help you help others! Check out the volunteer opportunities below, and find new ways to make a difference in your community:

Volunteer Opportunities at Fall Festivals + Events

Interested in joining the cleanup crew, merchandise tent or admission gate at DSM fall festivals and events? Volunteers are needed for these positions and more in the coming weeks.

• United Way Day of Action – Sept. 10, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities
• Jersey Boys (Sept. 12 – 29, 2024), Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Oct. 17 – Nov. 3, 2024), Final Act Ensemble Halloween Show (Oct. 29, 2024) Guest Services Shifts at Des Moines Community Playhouse in Des Moines | Volunteer Signup
• Applefest (Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024), Family Halloween (October Opportunities) and Living History Farms Race (November Opportunities) in Urbandale | Volunteer Signup
• UPCYCLE Steward at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines – Sept. 19, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Beaverdale Fall Festival in Des Moines – Sept. 20 – 21, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Iowa Latino Heritage Festival in Downtown – Sept. 21 – 24, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night in Ankeny – Sept. 21, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities
• Oktemberfest in Marshalltown – Sept. 26 – 29, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Log Cabin Days Festival in Indianola – Sept. 28 – 29, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities
• Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Des Moines – Sept. 28, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Windsor Heights Fall Festival in Windsor Heights – Oct. 4 – 5, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities
• Wauktoberfest in Waukee – Oct. 5, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Covered Bridge Festival in Madison County – Oct. 12 – 13, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Easterseals 2024 Fall Festival in Des Moines – Oct. 12, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities 
• Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo – Oct. 17 - 20 & 24, 2024 | Volunteer  Opportunities
• IMT Des Moines Marathon in Downtown – Oct. 20, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Bark Before Dark in Des Moines – Oct. 22 – 24, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Trick-or-Trees – Oct. 26, 2024 | Individual Volunteer Signup or Group Volunteer Signup 
• 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Downtown – Oct. 29 – 31, 2024 | Volunteer Email
• Halloween on the Hill in Downtown – Oct. 31, 2024 | Volunteer Opportunities
• 25th Anniversary Red Tie Gala for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Downtown – Nov. 2, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Des Moines Turkey Trot in Downtown – Nov. 26, 2024 | Volunteer Signup
• Holiday Hullabaloo in Clive – Nov. 29 – Dec. 29, 2024 | Volunteer Signup

Interested in other ongoing volunteer opportunities? See our Volunteer Guide and increase your volunteer hours this year, and don’t forget to utilize tools like Volunteer Iowa, VolunteerMatch.org, LeadershipLink, Iowa MENTOR and more to make a difference. Regional libraries including the Des Moines Public Library offer volunteer opportunities and Parks and Recreation departments across DSM are looking for volunteers, too. Check out Clive Parks and Recreation, West Des Moines Parks and Recreation and others for more information!

Improving the Greater Des Moines (DSM) community through volunteering and community service is a priority for many. Thanks to community engagement opportunities and leadership connecting local businesses to causes that provide services to improve the region, DSM continues to be a place that provides support for those who live, work and play here.