Des Moines Holiday Guide

Celebrate the Holidays in Des Moines

The whole community of Des Moines is full of hustle and bustle over the holidays! Nearly every neighborhood around the city brings festivity to the forefront, and you’ll find ample ways to celebrate in style. From shopping locally owned stores, eating tasty seasonal meals and decadent treats, holiday lights shows, live music and performances and lots more — there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the season here in Des Moines!

• What To Do: There are so many festive choices for holiday sights and sounds around Des Moines! Register in advance for the free Jingle Bell Stroll at Gray's Lake on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Check out the Peppermint Trail throughout the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, for carolers, a gingerbread house contest, a Toys for Tots collection, live ice carving and lots of opportunities to shop and dine at local businesses. Be sure to take the Bee-Merry-Line holiday trolley to the Roosevelt Cultural District (i.e., even more great shops!) as part of this event as well! Brenton Skating Plaza will be open daily for the ice-skating season beginning Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 — weather permitting. And keep your eyes peeled for the annual Hide and Seek Ornaments You Keep scavenger hunt, where ornaments made by local artists are hidden around Downtown Des Moines (DSM) — free for the taking, one per person/per family.
• Where to Shop: Snag your holiday treats from somewhere local, like ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery, Pints by Beth or Crème. Source a few of your holiday dishes (or the full meal!) from somewhere yummy like Baratta’s, Noah’s Ark, Tumea & Sons, Skip’s or Jesse’s Embers. Enjoy holiday shopping events like the Historic East Village Holiday Promenade held each Friday from Nov. 21 – Dec. 19, 2025, the Holiday Art Market at Mainframe Studios on Saturday, Nov. 29, and Christkindlmarkt at Principal Park from Dec. 4-7 and 11-14 in 2025, and also the Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market taking place Nov. 21-23, 2025. And shop ‘til you drop in additional Des Moines neighborhoods known for their small businesses, such as Beaverdale, Highland Park / Oak Park and Dogtown areas. For more ideas, browse the local Chamber directories including Downtown and West Side businesses.
• Special Holiday Moments: The drive-through experience, Jolly Holiday Lights, again takes place in Des Moines this year at the Iowa State Fairgrounds throughout the holiday season! Look for holiday performances and classic events at venues like Hoyt Sherman Place, Salisbury House & Gardens and Terrace Hill. And among the newer experiences, browse the varied holiday pop-up food and drink takeovers like Rudolph’s Rooftop at the Republic on Grand, Exile’s SnowGlobe, Nice List at Secret Admirer and Good News Darling’s Naughty List. And don’t sleep on NYE! Check out Noon Year's Eve celebrations at the Science Center of Iowa and the East Side Library. Make plans to ring in the New Year with the Des Moines Symphony, Pianopalooza at Wooly’s or Max Wellman and special guests at Noce.

Make it a Local Holiday Season in Greater Des Moines

Now’s the perfect time to shop, celebrate, and support local businesses. See all that DSM Local has to offer and create memories in communities across DSM!