Attractions

Iowa Cubs baseball at Principal Park remains Central Iowa's top sports, cultural and entertainment attraction. Take your family out for a ballgame and be a part of all of the fun and excitement of triple-A baseball in one of the top ballparks in the minor leagues.

The 2015 schedule features 72 home games, providing you a glimpse of tomorrow's major-league stars today. Watch major-league quality baseball at minor-league prices all summer!

The Iowa Events Center is a multi-venue complex owned by Polk County and managed by Global Spectrum.
Iowa Events Center facilities include:
Wells Fargo Arena
Wells Fargo Arena is a 17,000 seat arena that opened July 12, 2005. The arena has been a consistent top 100 concert facility as ranked by Pollstar Magazine, hosts the Iowa High School State Wrestling and Basketball Tournaments annually, and is the home for the NBA D-League’s Iowa Energy, the AHL's Iowa Wild, and the AFL’s Iowa Barnstormers.
Hy-Vee Hall
Opened in the fall of 2004, Hy-Vee Hall is the state’s largest exhibit hall with 100,000 square feet of exhibit space and eight breakout meeting rooms. The exhibit hall is connected to an additional 50,000 square feet of contigious exhibit space in Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center.
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center
Opened in January 2012, Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center is connected to Hy-Vee Hall and Wells Fargo Arena and boasts: 29 meeting rooms, the state’s largest ballroom at 28,730 square feet, and a tribute to Iowa’s military past, present and future in Memorial Hall. Originally constructed in 1955 as an auditorium before being repurposed into the state-of-the-art facility—artwork and commemorative items are displayed throughout the facility showcasing Iowa artists, paying tribute to past events, and providing a tribute to Iowa’s veterans.

Seasonally, we offer: apples, raspberries, cherries, pears, strawberries, plums, apricots, blackberries, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, asparagus, peppers, cabbage, radishes, squash, sweet corn, and pumpkins.  If we don’t grow it, we vow to get the best of seasonal fruits, such as the southern Missouri peaches and Palisades (Colorado) peaches.  Iowa Orchard is very active in the Des Moines Farmer’s Market scene, attending seven markets per week throughout summer and fall.  Our school tours begin September first and are run by life-long friend, JoAnn Craig.  She is also co-author of the Iowa Orchard Favorites cookbook and loves to help the Etchen family every fall.

The internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair annually attracts more than a million fun-lovers from around the world. In 2005, Midwest Living magazine named the event one of the "Top 30 Things Every Midwesterner Should Experience." The Fair's Sesquicentennial celebration in 2004 was named the #2 choice for summer fun in America by USA Weekend.

Considered America's classic state fair, Iowa's ag-extravaganza is also featured in the New York Times best-selling travel book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die. The book has been described as "an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of places guaranteed to give you the shivers." Iowa's Fair is spotlighted as the only Iowa destination and the only state fair in the country as one of the world's must-see events.

A proud tradition since 1854, the Fair inspired the internationally-acclaimed novel, State Fair, three motion pictures, plus Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical. Special features include one of the world's largest livestock shows, the country's largest state fair foods department (approx. 900 classes), the state's largest arts show, hundreds of competitive events and wacky contests; 600 plus exhibitors and concessionaires selling quality and tasty treats, and 160 rolling acres of campgrounds.

Planetarium located in Physics Hall on Iowa State University Campus.

Astronomy Seminars are generally held on Friday afternoon from 4:10-5:30 P.M. in Room 3, Physics Hall. Special Seminars may be held at different times, so please check the event listings for complete details.

The Planetarium regularly hosts shows that are open to the public. The first show, starting at 6:30 p.m. will be 20 minutes and for kids. Shows at 7 and 7:30 p.m. and are suitable for all ages. Tickets will be available at the door starting at 6:15 p.m. Seating is limited. Weather permitting there will be an outdoor observing session after the last show.