From December 21, 2024 through January 5, 2025, Des Moines students are officially on holiday break. As your family gears up for days of gleeful abandon (or mass chaos;), we’ve pulled together some fun FREE ideas for things to do with kids over the break.
You might also enjoy our article, Winter Holiday Break Survival Guide for Des Moines Families. Need more local inspiration? Check out our Holiday Fun and Winter Fun Guides. And, as always, our daily Event Calendar is loaded with even more family activities happening all over the Metro.
Many businesses and attractions have special holiday hours or closures. Be sure to double-check dates, times, locations, and other details, as they may change due to circumstances.
FREE kid-friendly things to do over the holiday winter break in Des Moines:
1. Let your last-minute wishes be heard! Be sure to visit Santa before he takes to the skies on Christmas Eve.
2. Tour the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates while it’s decorated for the holidays. Public tours are offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
3. Gawk at holiday lights. If you haven’t made it out to look at holiday lights, time is running out! Now is the time to check them out before they come down for the season.
4. Join a Polk County Conservation naturalist at the Jester Park Nature Center for a Winter Hike on December 21, 2024 to stretch your legs and look for signs of animals.
5. Check out some great art at the Des Moines Art Center, where admission is always FREE. They are CLOSED on Mondays. They will also be closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
6. Shoot a few hoops during Grimes Park and Recreation’s Open Gym time at the Grimes Community Complex. Reservations required. Kids 10 and under must be directly supervised by an adult.
7. Enjoy the great outdoors at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge roads and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. The Prairie Learning and Visitor Center is unfortunately currently closed due to storm damage.
8. Enjoy a magic show at the Clive Public Library on December 26th! Professional magician Jonathan May, a full-time entertainer, specializes in captivating audiences of all ages and sizes with his magic and humor.
9. Visit your local library and check out some fun books to read aloud at home.
10. Stand on the foundation built by our state’s forefathers during a tour of the Iowa State Capitol.
11. Weather permitting, find a fun hill in Des Moines and take the family sledding over winter break
12. Embark on a high-tech adventure with your kids by going geocaching! This modern-day treasure hunt uses GPS technology to guide you to hidden “caches” tucked away in parks, trails, and urban areas.
13. Visit the Celebrate! Innovation Learning Exhibition at the West Des Moines DMACC campus. Kids will learn about the importance of creative thinking and innovation through interactive activities and their Makerspace.
14. Grab your skates and go ice skating. Local ice rinks managed by Parks and Recreation Departments are FREE to skate on, but you have to supply your own skates.
15. Join the epic adventure at the Forest Avenue Library’s Lord of the Rings Movie Watch Party! They’ll be screening the first three films in the series on December 26, 27, and 28—perfect for fans of all ages to experience the magic of Middle-earth.
16. Teens can unwind and get creative at the Teen Hangout: Slime & Shrinky Dinks event at the Altoona Public Library on December 27. Meet new friends, relax, or dive into the fun of making slime and crafting Shrinky Dink creations—perfect for a chill afternoon!
17. Warm up over winter break at the State Historical Museum of Iowa where admission is always FREE. They will be operating their Holiday Hours and will be CLOSED on December 24, 25, 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025.
18. Go for a hike through Brenton Arboretum. There is no admission fee to visit the Brenton Arboretum. They are open daily 9:00 am to sunset.
19. Test your wits at the Escape Room 2025 event at the Ankeny Public Library on December 30! Tweens and teens in grades 4–12 can race against the clock to find the missing key and save the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration before midnight strikes.
20. Bundle up and go stargazing.
21. Little train enthusiasts will love visiting the West Des Moines Library to see model trains showcased in the library’s display case throughout the holiday break. This enchanting preview sets the stage for their annual Model Trains event.
22. Learn about Iowa’s military heritage at the Iowa Gold Star Museum. The Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays and will also be closed on Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
23. Bring the whole family to the Family Escape Room: This Place is a Zoo! at the Urbandale Public Library on December 30 (multiple sessions available, registration required). Solve puzzles, uncover clues, and learn fun animal facts as you race to unlock the gate before the zoo’s wild residents get restless—oh my!
24. Des Moines Parks and Recreation Community Centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, offering Open Rec for ages 10 and up. Youth ages 10–18 and seniors 60+ can enjoy FREE access to activities like basketball, volleyball, cardio, weights, and more!
25. Ring in the New Year at a kid-friendly event, many of which are FREE to attend.
