Spring is here and family fun is blooming in Des Moines and beyond! This guide is full of information about things to do with your family outdoors when the weather is nice, but we’ve also snuck in some indoor fun for those inevitable rainy spring days.
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.
Here’s the dsm4kids BIG list of spring activities & events in the Des Moines area:
1. Root, root, root for the I-Cubs at their home opener April 2, 2024 at Principal Park against the Toledo Mud Hens.
2. The Blank Park Zoo will be lit this spring with Wild Lights, a visually stunning festival of over 50 larger-than-life illuminated animal shaped Asian lanterns. April 5 – May 27, 2024.
3. Escape for a few days with a Spring Day Trip and we put together three fantastic destinations for you to consider.
4. Experience the celestial event of the season on April 8, 2024. Check out our list of local organizations hosting Solar Eclipse Events.
5. Too rainy to go outside? No problem. Take the family bowling instead. Head to one of these Des Moines area Bowling Alleys to knock out a few pins.
6. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday….well actually Saturday and Sunday catch all the metal twisting action known as Monster Jam at Wells Fargo Arena, April 13-14, 2024.
7. It’s time to get outside to play! Explore some of our favorite inclusive Des Moines area playgrounds.
8. Dance and sing at a FREE kids’ concert. The Ankeny Public Library will be hosting Silly Song Saturdays – Kid’s Concert Series on April 20 and May 4, 2024.
9. Hit a family-friendly central Iowa bike trail with your kids.
10. Let the kids climb the walls at a local indoor playground or play place in Des Moines. These are great outings for a rainy spring day.
11. Be inspired to embrace new ideas, nurture their growth, and see where they lead. Witness “What Do You Do With An Idea?“ on the Des Moines Civic Center stage on April 20, 2024.
12. Cheer on the Iowa Barnstormers at their home opener on Saturday, April 20th against the Arizona Rattlers.
13.Celebrate Earth Day (April 22, 2024) at a FREE event or give back by volunteering to help clean up a park or trail.
14. Join in on a cherished Des Moines springtime tradition as the Drake Relays race into town from April 24th to 27th, 2024.
15. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area by visiting a local nature center this spring.
16. Experience the magic of Marvel as DMYAT presents productions of “Squirrel Girl Goes To College” and “Hammered: A Thor & Loki Play” running in rep from April 26 to May 5.
17. Experience healthy dining options at a family-friendly vegetarian and vegan restaurant in DSM.
18. Moonwalk on over to the Des Moines Civic Center from April 30 to May 5, 2024, for “MJ the Musical.”
19. Challenge the family to a game of putt-putt at one of these great mini golf courses. Most are open by late spring.
20. Lace up your running shoes for the Live Healthy Iowa Kids Track & Field Meet, hosted in Indianola on May 1, 2024.
21. Dive into spring by getting your hands dirty at a local farm.
22. Spring marks the start of Farmers’ Market season! The Valley Junction Farmers’ Market returns May 2, 2024 and the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market will be back on Court Avenue on May 4, 2024.
23. Grab your roller skates or blades and head down to Brenton Skating Plaza on the first Friday of every month starting on May 3, 2024 for a Family Skate Night.
24. Plan a family getaway for glamping near Des Moines this spring.
25. Catch a movie under the stars! Windsor Heights will be hosting Movies in the Park beginning on May 3, 2024.
26. Secure your tickets to see “Ivy + Bean, the Musical,” based on the mischievous second-grade heroines from The New York Times best-selling stories, on stage at the Des Moines Playhouse from May 3-12.
27. Celebrate 515 Day on May 15th with some classic Des Moines activities.
28. Mark your calendar now for Johnston’s annual Kites on the Green! It’s happening on May 4, 2024 and features giant show kite displays, free kite building, live kids’ music and more.
29. Check out a local bookstore. It’s always a great springtime outing, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
30. Celebrate Mexican heritage at Festival Cinco de Mayo in Valley Junction on May 4th.
31. Have your cake and sunshine, too: dine al fresco at a kid-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating.
32. Step into a world of musical brilliance and artistic triumph with Central Iowa Wind Ensemble’s season finale concert, “Lollipops and Posies,” on May 5, 2024.
33. Enjoy the spring weather with an easy walk around the neighborhood with your kids.
34. Watch Iowa’s soccer team in action! The Des Moines Menace will take on Peoria City to open their season on May 15th at Valley Stadium.
35. Avoid the last-minute scramble, get a head start on your summer childcare planning and enroll your child in summer camp now.
What’s on your bucket list this spring?
