Check out this list of events happening in the Des Moines area this weekend, December 19-21. We’ve curated the ones that we found most interesting and listed them here for you.

Disclaimer: Events are subject to change or sell out. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm availability via the links below. 

Friday, December 19

Yoga Happy Hour at the Clive Public Library

  • Friday, December 19, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
  • Clive Public Library, 1900 NW 114th Street, Clive, IA 50325

Wrap up the hectic week before the holidays with a yoga flow focused on stress relief and relaxation. Bring your own mat or towel for an hour of guided yoga with Jenna Schissel, mental health therapist and certified yoga therapist. Drop on in to this free class and find your zen before the holiday hustle and bustle!

Yoga Flowing

  • Friday, December 19, 5 – 8 p.m.
  • Historic East Village

It’s the last weekend of the Holiday Promenade in the Historic East Village! Our favorite neighborhood is all dressed up and feeling jolly. Almost every single business will have extended hours to make sure you can get your holiday shopping done! Check out this week’s specials at the link below.

Wicked Skate at Skateland Des Moines

  • Friday, December 19, 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Skateland Des Moines, 5621 Meredith Dr, Des Moines, IA 50310

Get Wicked with Skateland Des Moines! Belt out all of your favorites from the musical and the movie with other Wicked stans who can’t get enough of the new movie. Take pics with Des Moines’ own Glinda and Elphaba and stick around for the glow lights, skating games, concession stand, and arcade!

Tickets

Ugly Sweater Party at Tonic

  • Friday, December 19, 8 p.m.
  • Tonic, 210 Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Looking for another excuse to break out the ugly holiday sweater? Head on out to Tonic for an ugly sweater holiday party! Enjoy some holiday drinks with friends and check out all of the ugly sweaters (as inspo for next year ofc).

Get Ugly

 Saturday, December 20

Holiday Open House at the World Food Prize Foundation

  • Saturday, December 20, 9 a.m.. – Noon
  • World Food Prize, 100 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Ever wonder what the inside of the World Food Prize looks like? Well, this is your chance to see it in all of its holiday glory! Stroll through the hall and check out the decorations and performances of seasonal favorites by the Grace Church Ensemble. No tickets or advance registration is required, but attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate. Plus, his is the perfect photo op for your holiday photo dump!

Check It Out!

Santa and Stout

  • Saturday, December 20, 11 a.m.
  • SingleSpeed Brewing, 303 Scott Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Spend the Saturday with Santa, sweets, and stout! SingleSpeed Brewing will have it all this weekend: photo ops, sugar cookie decorating, a hot chocolate bar, Christmas cartoons, and a special Sugar Cookie Infused Tip the Cow (Milk Stout)!
 
Santa and Stout

Swiftie Skate at Brenton Skating Plaza

  • Saturday, December 20, Noon – 3 p.m.
  • Brenton Skating Plaza, 520 Robert D Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309

Lace up your skates and head on down to Brenton Skating Plaza to skate to all of Taylor’s Version of your favorite songs. Listen to all the hits while you hit the rink and jam out with other DSM Swifties!

Skate On

Elf: Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition at Varsity Cinema

  • Saturday, December 20, 1 p.m.
  • Varsity Cinema, 1207 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50311
Watch the classic holiday favorite in a whole new way with a playful mix of trivia, animated movie lines, visual gags, and singalong fun! There are still plenty of tickets in the theater, and a seat is only $12 for an afternoon of Elf fun!

Cheer Along

Needle Felted Ornaments Craft Party at The Local Vine

  • Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m.
  • The Local Vine, 124 W Ashland Ave, Indianola, IA 50125
Create your own festive and fuzzy memento to commemorate the 2025 holiday season at Local Vine in Indianola! This needle felting workshop will equip you with everything you need, step-by-step guidance, and your first drink at the bar. No experience necessary, but tickets are limited!

Festive Felting Fun!

12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl

  • Saturday, December 20, 4 p.m. – Midnight
  • Downtown Des Moines

Twelve Bars. One Night. Whether you were naughty or nice this year, everyone can find something at this bar crawl! Tickets include 2-3 shots, no covers, a party cup and bottle opener, specials at select bars, and so much more! Get there early because the first 100 check-ins will get a plush Santa hat, which is sure to be a hit at all the bars!

Join the Crawl

Strings & More Open Mic at Mars Cafe

  • Saturday, December 20, 6:30 p.m.
  • Mars Cafe, 2318 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
“Step into an open mic designed for everyone: professionals, hobbyists, students, and the simply curious. Whether you’ve been performing for years or have never stepped onto a stage, this night is about community, creativity, and giving people a place to share their craft without pressure.” DM Mars to sign up in advance or add your name to the list day-of!

All the Info

One Last Saturday Night at Lefty’s Live Music

  • Saturday, December 20, 9 p.m.
  • Lefty’s Live Music, 2309 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

Help Lefty’s Live Music go out with a bang for one last Saturday of live music! The line-up is jam-packed and features legendary local hero’s Brother Trucker, worldwide traveling hobo Todd Partridge w/ Todd Partridge & The Whiskey Gospel, and Jacob County & The Damaged Goods. Tickets are $20 for one last Saturday night!

Live Music Here

Sunday, December 21

Winter Solstice Hike at Jester Nature Park

  • Sunday, December 21, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Jester Nature Park Center, 12130 NW 128th St, Granger, IA 50109

The weather is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous, so celebrate the winter solstice in nature on a hike at Jester Nature Park! A naturalist will lead the hike. No registration required, and dress for the weather!

Join the Hike!

Ho Ho Hold My Beer: A Small Business Walks Into a Bar

  • Sunday, December 21, Noon – 2 p.m.
  • Fenceline Beer Lab, 107 S Main Ave, Huxley, IA 50124

Finish off your holiday shopping with a bang: small business + a bar crawl! Support local business with unique handmade and homemade gifts while ho ho holding a beer! Fenceline beer will be available while you shop (and to take with you)!

Hold My Beer

  • Sunday, December 21, 1 – 4 p.m.
  • Big Grove Brewery, 555 17th St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Join Big Grove and five local record vendors for a vinyl market on the Big Grove patio! Find old favorites, discover new ones, and enjoy the food, drinks, and vibes at Big Grove. All music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts are welcome!

All the Vinyl

  • Sunday, December 21, 2 – 5 p.m.
  • Vibrant Coffeehouse, 520 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Bring your current read to Vibrant Coffeehouse on Sunday for Books & Brew and enjoy an afternoon of quiet reading, quiet music, and your favorite brew! The event is free, but space is limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis. Can’t decide on a book? Take a chance on a mystery read with Vibrant’s Blind Date with a Book selection!

Cozy Up!

  • Sunday, December 21, 3 p.m.
  • xBk Live, 1159 24th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50311

Get jazzy with an iconic Christmas classic and the Peter Roberts Band at xBk Live! The band will bring the music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and share stories of its creation. Tickets are $22 and available at the door.

A Jazzy Holiday

Our locally-inspired holiday content has dropped!

12 Days of Giveaways, local gift guides, stocking stuffer recommendations, and best holiday pop-ups. Make sure you’re subscribed to the dsmg newsletter and following along on Instagram.
 
2025 holiday pop-ups