Family Friendly Outdoor Summer Concerts in Des Moines

We’re beyond ready for the return of what makes summer in Des Moines so special: loads of outdoor, family-friendly, (and mostly FREE) concerts🎵!

Even though a lot of the outdoor music concerts in Des Moines are geared more to adults, there are lots of venues where families can enjoy some tunes, too. At these wonderful alfresco events—most of which take place in parks and public areas—families can pack a picnic, stake out a spot, lay down a blanket and soak up some culture. Don’t worry if the kids aren’t totally into it; sit along the perimeter and let them run around, dance and play and they’ll be happy.

We’ve rounded up DSM’s best outdoor summer concerts and highlighted the events we think will be of particular interest to families. And, while a few of the concert series charge admission most of the outdoor concerts on this list are FREE to attend!

You can find even more family fun in our jam-packed Calendar and Summer Fun Guide.

Editor’s Note: This is a working list, so please check back often for updates and additional events. And, please call or check social media sites to confirm the most up-to-date information on hours, availability, and prices, as unforeseen circumstances such as weather or other factors may result in unexpected changes or cancellations.

Here’s your guide to family friendly outdoor summer concerts in Des Moines:

Altoona

Music in the Park

The outdoor stage in Haines Park is hosting four FREE concerts under the stars this summer season. Enjoy live music on Sundays starting at 6:00 pm. Bring picnics and a blanket and kids can roam, play and dance in the park as they listen.  Pop and popcorn will be available for sale.

May 26: TBD
June 30: TBD
July 28: TBD
August 25: TBD

Ames

Roosevelt Summer Sundays Concerts

Now in its 21st year, Roosevelt Summer Sundays proudly continues the Ames summer tradition with FREE outdoor concerts at Roosevelt Park. Join them each Sunday evening from June through August to enjoy fantastic local and regional bands. Concerts start at 7:00 pm and don’t forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair.

June 2: Matt Woods Band
June 9: River City Opry
June 16: Vinyl Vagabonds
June 23: Ducharme-Jones Band
June 30: The Get Down-DSM
July 7: Avey Grouws Band
July 14: Buckmiller/Schwager Band
July 21: NOLA Jazz Band
July 28: Eleven Moons
August 4: Brother Trucker
August 11: The Cherrypickers
August 18: Haymakers
August 25: Southbound

Ankeny

Beats & Eats

Enjoy live music, food trucks, beer truck, yard games, family activities and more at this annual outdoor event hosted by Ankeny Parks and Recreation on Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at the Ankeny Market & Pavilion.

June 6: TBD
June 13: TBD
June 20: TBD
June 27: TBD
July 11: TBD
July 18: TBD
July 25: TBD

Clive

Food Truck Fridays

Unwind after a long week at Food Truck Friday! Jump on the Greenbelt Trail and make your way to Campbell Park to enjoy FREE music, food, and fun. Bring the whole family — the park has three playgrounds and green space. This event is hosted by Clive Parks and Recreation and Clive Chamber of Commerce on select Fridays 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

May 17: Dueling Guitars: Brian Congdon and Brad Seidenfeld
May 24: Damon Dotson
May 31: Brian Herrin Duo
June 7: The Unfortunate Sons
June 21: Sons of Gladys Kravitz Lite
September 6: Dick Danger Band
September 13: TBA

Cumming

Fridays at the Farm

Enjoy FREE live music, food trucks, farmers’ market, and of course, Middle Brook Farm’s fresh farm produce!  The fun starts at 4:30 pm each Friday and goes on until 7:30 pm.

May 24: Joshua Sinclair
May 31: Robert Deitch
June 7: Royce Johns
June 14: Blaine Garrett
June 21: Luke Fox
June 28: David G. Smith
July 5: Joshua Sinclair
July 12: Adam Bruce
July 19: Ducharme-Jones
July 26: Weary Ramblers
August 2: Royce Jones
August 9: David Watson
August 16: Brian Herrin
August 23: Robert Deitch
September 6: Joshua Sinclair
September 13: Ducharme-Jones
September 20: Weary Ramblers
September 27: Brian Herrin

Des Moines

Belin Quartet Concert Series

Join the Belin Quartet on the lawn at Salisbury House and Gardens on Tuesday at 5:30 pm for FREE performances. Chairs and bottled water will be provided by the Civic Music Association. You are welcome to bring your own lawn chairs, beverages, and snacks.

May 21: Playel: String Quartet in E flat Major, Op.2, No. 4; Bridge: Novelletten for String Quartet, H. 44
May 28: Beethoven: Serenade in D Major, Op. 8
June 4: Borodin: String Quartet No. 1 in A Major
June 11: Glazunov: String Quartet No. 3 in G Major, Op. 26
June 25: Bruch: String Quintet in E flat Major
July 2: Schubert: “Rosamunde” No. 13, in A minor
July 9: Mendelssohn: Op. 12 in E flat Major

Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series

Join Jasper Winery every Thursday this summer from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for FREE live music on the lawn. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for outside seating. Burgers and brats will be available from the grill. No pets are allowed but kids are welcome. All shows outside, weather permitting, otherwise in the outdoor party tent.

May 9: Brother Trucker
May 16: Brian Herrin Band
May 23: Dueling Guitars
June 6: Pianopalooza Band
June 13: Decoy
June 20: The Nadas
June 27: Damon Dotson Band
July 11: Funk Trek & Mind@Large
July 18: Rhino
July 25: Dazy Head Mazy
August 1: Not Quite Brothers

Music in the Garden

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden will host Thursday night concerts featuring a new band, food, drinks and activities each week. The variety of music in the series will provide something for every musical taste. Doors open at 6:00 pm, music starts and 6:30 pm and tickets will be available at the door. First come, first served.

June 6: TBD
June 13: TBD
June 20: TBD
June 27: TBD
July 4: TBD
July 11: TBD
July 18: TBD
July 25: TBD
August 1: TBD
August 8: TBD
August 15: TBD
August 22: TBD
August 29: TBD

Rendezvous on the Riverview

Rendezvous on the River is a local concert series held on Friday nights in June and July from 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the new Riverview Park. Admission is FREE. Bring your lawn chairs and join your neighbors for a great time each week!

June 7: Faculty Lounge
June 14: Brazilian 2wins
June 21: The Punching Pandas
June 28: Stark Raving Madge
July 5: Pork Tornadoes (Fireworks)
July 12: Sons of Gladys Kravitz
July 19: Mike Moody and the Outlaws
July 26: Flying Silos

Indianola

Summer Night Live

May 31: TBD
August 24: TBD

Sunday Tunes at Summerset Winery

Every Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, wine and music lovers can enjoy some of the best bands in the Midwest in Summerset Winery’s backyard (but you’ll feel like you’re on vacation!). $5 per person or $15 carload. Rain or shine the music goes on. Weather permitting, the bands will perform outside but on rainy days they bring the music inside.  Kids are welcome.

May 26: Recoil
June 2: Opus Taylor
June 9: Jason Kincel Band
June 16: Jesse and the Medicine Men
June 23: Sons of Gladys Kravits
June 30: The Remedy
July 7: The A Sisters
July 14: The Unfortunate Sons
July 21: Dick Danger Band
July 28: Cover That
August 4: Matt Woods Band
August 11: Opus Taylor
August 18: The Sinclairs
August 25: Lucas Bebe
September 1: Matt Woods Band

Granger

Prairie Stomp Summer Music Series

Join Polk County Conservation on the back patio of the Jester Park Nature Center for an evening of live music. Bring your own food and drinks, blankets, camp chairs, your friends and family, and enjoy a summer evening at Jester Park. FREE and open to the public. Music begins at 6:00 pm.

June 20: Brian Herrin Duo
July 18: Flying Silos
August 8: Jake Schrodt

Johnston

Adjutant’s General’s Summer Concert Series

Spend an evening listening to the sounds of local musicians at the historic Camp Dodge Pool Complex. Bring a lawn chair, picnic basket, sit back and enjoy! Food Trucks are available starting at 6:00 pm. All concerts start at 7:00 pm.

May 30: The Nadas Acoustic Duo
June 6: Eli Alger & the Faster Horses
June 20: Standing Hampton (Car Show)
June 27: The 34th Army Band (Alumni Night)

Sounds of Summer

Gather this summer at Johnston Town Center’s The Yard for the Sounds of Summer Concert Series, running from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. This FREE outdoor concert series is proudly sponsored by The Cork 50131.

June 8: The Trip
June 29: Back in Black
August 24: Mixtape
September 28: Pork Tornadoes

Tunes at Twilight Series

Join the Johnston Town Center and the Johnston Farmers Market for some tunes after the Market. These FREE concerts will be from 7:30 to 9:00 pm on Tuesday evenings.

July 18: Snacks
August 8: June Bugs
September 12: Sons of Gladys Kravitz

Urbandale

Urbandale Summer Performance Series

Grab your lawn chair or blanket and get ready to enjoy the sounds of summer at various parks in Urbandale! This FREE public event is open to all ages, so bring the whole family for a fun-filled evening of music and community.  Listed events are from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

May 14: Jake Doty & the Swensongs (Walnut Creek Regional Park)
June 11: Brad & Kate (Charles Gabus Memorial Park & Garden)
July 9: June Bugs (Charles Gabus Memorial Park & Garden)
August 8: Opus Taylor (Lions Park)

West Des Moines

Music in the Junction

Music in the Junction is a signature event in Historic Valley Junction.  Catch the FREE concerts on Thursday evenings at 5:30 to 8:00 pm, music starts at 6:00 pm.  Bring the family and enjoy fun, music and shopping at the farmers’ market.

May 2: The Rivieras
May 9: Cory Walker & the Wicked Things
May 16: Black Diamond Loons
May 23: Brother Trucker
May 30: The Other Brothers
June 6: Buckmiller Schwager Band
June 13: Simply Seger
June 20: Molly Nova & the Hawks
June 27: Gut Feeling
July 11: The Get Down
July 18: Ronley King Blues Band
July 25: Kinda Petty Band
August 1: Standing Hampton
August 8: The Unfortunate Sons
August 15: Three on the Tree
August 22: Echos V
August 29: Recoil
September 5: The Sons Of Gladys Kravitz
September 12: Get Off My Lawn
September 19: Jana West & Retrospect
September 26: The Punching Pandas

Summer Sundaze

Summer Sundaze is a FREE relaxing concert series featuring local bands. Food can be purchased from food trucks, and lawn games will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Hosted by West Des Moines Parks and Recreation at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater Sundays at 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

June 23: Standing Hampton
June 30: Guitarras ATM
July 7: Stark Raving Madge
July 14: Major Blues & the Mugshots
July 21: Sweet Magnolia Brass Band
July 28: Kelsie James Band
August 4: Jordan Masserole
August 11: The Matt Woods Band
August 18: The NOLA Jazz Band
August 25: The Unfortunate Sons
September 1: Weary Ramblers
September 8: The Feel Right

Windsor Heights

Nights in the Heights

The Windsor Heights Foundation hosts a Windsor Heights summer tradition with live music in Colby Park.  The FREE concert series takes place on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. Check out the Windsor Heights Community Foundation Facebook page for band updates, questions and weather updates.

June 25: Drive Thirty5
July 4: FL Fund Band
July 9: Cover That Band
July 16: Jana West & Retrospect
July 23: Funkytown Inc.
July 30: The Sons of Gladys Kravitz
August 6: Burnin’ Sensations

Did we miss your favorite outdoor summer concert series in Des Moines?  Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!