Spring is such an exciting time in Des Moines with tons of opportunities for family fun. With summer break just around the corner, save your money this spring by attending family events that are cheap or totally FREE.
Looking for even more family fun? Be sure to check out our Events Calendar and sign up for our Weekend Fun Guide to get inspiration sent straight to your inbox.
Editor’s Note: Be sure to call ahead or check social media sites to confirm hours, attractions, availability, and prices, as circumstances can change.
Here is 50+ opportunities to have family fun under $5 this spring in Des Moines:
1. FREE: Visit the Easter Bunny at a local organization or business. He hops into town as early as March 17th, there’s no cost to meet him and you can always take your own photo.
2. FREE: Learn about the skies above us at Drake Municipal Observatory’s Public Night. Lectures are held Friday evenings March 24th through May 12th:
3. The boys are back in town on March 31, 2023… the I-Cubs Season and Home Opener . (Children’s GA tickets are $7 and Adults is $10. Totally worth the splurge)
4. FREE: Go on an Art Adventure and draw some Doodles + Donuts at Norwalk Easter Public Library’s interactive event on April 1, 2023 at 10:30 am.
5. Let your kids get into character during CAP Theatre’s Mad CAP Improv class. It’s held monthly and costs just $5.
6. FREE: See a kid flick during Valley Community Center’s Movie Mondays.
7. FREE: Grab your basket and attend one of the many Easter Egg Hunts held throughout the Des Moines area. Psst…most of them are FREE, but a few places charge admission, so be sure to check before heading out.
8. FREE: Try geocaching. You can use your smart phone or GPS device and take the kids on a high-tech treasure hunt.
9. FREE: Enjoy listening to a pony themed story during Pony Tales while the ponies of the Jester Park Equestrian Center are listening nearby.
10. Go Roller Skating on Wednesday night, which is half price night at Skate South.
11. FREE: Visit the Des Moines Public Library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of How I Became a Pirate based on April 22, 2023.
12. FREE: Check out the Des Moines Art Center’s latest exhibit “75 Years of Iowa Art” now until May 7th.
13. FREE: Visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa and check out all their latest exhibits.
14. FREE: Join the Warren County Conservation Board on April 23rd as they light up the night sky during an Evening Prairie Burn.
15. FREE: Now that it’s starting to warm up, kids of all abiliites will want to check out one of the Des Moines area’s Inclusive & Accessible Playgrounds.
16. FREE: Enjoy a spring evening hike through a beautiful display of spring woodland wildflowers on April 29th and learn how to identify them on a Wildflower Hike in Jester Park.
17. FREE: April showers bring May flowers but they also bring muddy puddles which might mean you need an indoor playground. Play places are available at local malls and community centers and provide indoor entertainment at little or no cost.
18. FREE: Celebrate Earth Day at a FREE event or give back by volunteering to help clean up a park or trail.
19. Go to the movies on Tuesdays when local theatres offer discounted admission. Cinemark Theatres in Altoona and at Jordan Creek offer $5 movie tickets.
20. FREE: Pick out the prettiest pooch on April 24th at Drake’s annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest.
21. Give Archery a Shot at the Raccoon River Archery Facility. They’re hosting several introductory classes that cost just $4 to attend.
22. FREE: Join Clive Leisure Services Friday afternoons at the Harbach Public Library for energetic storytimes during Reading Ruckus.
23. Learn, explore, and connect with the natural world during Kid’s Nature Club at Brenton Arboretum. $1 for members and $5 for non-members.
24. FREE: Celebrate bike month by going on a bike ride with a local mayor in Urbandale and Johnston.
25. FREE: Enjoy Story Time in the Park (and maybe even a craft or other fun activity) hosted by West Des Moines Parks and recreation Mondays May 8-22, 2023.
26. FREE: Get to know your hometown on a scavenger hunt.
27. FREE: Learn how to make a kite and then go fly it. The Johnston Public Library hosts Kite Making Workshops before Johnston’s annual Kites on the Green, which takes place on May 6th.
28. FREE: Check out some public art. There are many must see murals and works of art scattered throughout the Metro and don’t cost a dime to visit.
29. FREE: Get some fresh air and exercise together and go for a bike ride. There are plenty of scenic trails to discover together.
30. FREE: Go to your local library and check out some fun books to read aloud at home.
31. FREE: Pack up your lunch and take it on a picnic to instantly upgrade your mealtime for free. Our list of fun parks should provide you with an ideal location.
32. FREE: Pick up the ingredients for your next meal at the Valley Junction Farmer’s Market on May 4th or the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, which opens for the season on May 6th.
33. FREE: Go on a hike and search for some nocturnal animals at Polk County Conservation’s Wild Night Life and Hike.
34. FREE: See a movie under the stars. Windsor Heights will be hosting Movies in the Park on May 5th.
35. FREE: Celebrate Mexican heritage at Festival Cinco de Mayo in Valley Junction on May 7th.
36. Listen to live music during Sunday Tunes at Summerset Winery in Indianola. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per car. It’s a family friendly event and kids are welcome!
37. FREE: Take mom out on Mother’s Day. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and Reiman Gardens both offer FREE admission for her on Mother’s Day.
38. FREE: Jump on the home organization band wagon and do a little spring cleaning with your kids. You can donate or recycle items at a local Des Moines charity.
39. FREE: Vist Reiman Gardens on Go Public Gardens Days, which is May 19th. They will be celebrating with FREE Admission all day.
40. FREE: Unwind at Food Truck Friday at Campbell Park in Clive. Enjoy music, food and fun on Friday evenings in May and June.
41. FREE: Let the kids race to the finish at a local track meet in Ankeny and Indianola.
42. FREE: Tip toe through the tulips and check out spring blooms at a local garden or arboretum.
43. FREE: Make friends with an alpaca at Rusty Stars Alpaca Farm.
44. FREE: Take photos and pose with the spectacular art in the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
45. FREE: Start planning your garden. Wander around your local nursery and let everyone pick a small plant or pack of seeds. Then go home and spend time nurturing your kids’ green thumb.
46. FREE: Make a plan to be more active as a family this spring.
47. FREE: Use your library card to check out an Iowa Adventure Pass to the Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Brenton Skating Plaza, and the Science Center of Iowa.
48. Take the family out for an ice cream cone. Local ice cream shops have started opening for the season.
59. Be the first in line when the Heritage Carousel opens for the season on May 27th. 50 cents for kids, $1 for adults.
50. And remember to search for Events on dsm4kids’ Calendar, where there are FREE (and cheap) things to enjoy every day.
Help us out! Give us your suggestions for things to do with your kids that are either FREE or under $5 – this spring in Des Moines!
