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    By Published / Updated 6 min read

    Free and Cheap Things to Do in Des Moines This Fall (2026)

    The best free afternoon in Des Moines this fall is the Des Moines Art Center, where admission is always free, then the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Here are 12 free and low-cost things to do, with the prices and hours each posted on October 1, 2026.

    This piece is from October 2025, so details may have changed. For what's on now, see Des Moines attractions.

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    Updated October 1, 2026. Every price, hour and date below comes from the venue's own page (or the city, county or state page that runs it) as it read on that day. The earlier version of this guide called the Botanical Garden free and gave the Neal Smith Trail the wrong length; both are corrected here.

    The best free afternoon in Des Moines this fall is the Des Moines Art Center on Grand Avenue, where admission is always free, followed by a walk through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park downtown. On a Saturday in October, the Downtown Farmers' Market runs 8 am to noon through October 31. For time outside the city, Jester Park north of Granger has free admission to its nature center and an elk and bison exhibit.

    For more ideas on a budget, see our budget things-to-do page and the free events calendar.

    Free and cheap at a glance

    WhatWherePrice
    Des Moines Art Center4700 Grand AveFree
    Pappajohn Sculpture Park1330 Grand AveFree
    Iowa State Capitol tours1007 E Grand AveFree
    State Historical Museum of Iowa600 E Locust StFree
    Robert D. Ray Asian GardenDes MoinesFree
    Downtown Farmers' MarketHistoric Court DistrictNo admission
    Downtown Winter Farmers' Market400 Locust StFree admission
    Jester Park Nature CenterGrangerFree
    High Trestle TrailWoodward to AnkenyFree
    Central Library1000 Grand AveFree programs
    Greater Des Moines Botanical GardenDes Moines$14 adults
    Brenton Skating Plaza520 Robert D. Ray Dr$12 adults

    Free museums and landmarks

    Des Moines Art Center

    The Art Center's visit page says plainly that "admission is always free," and parking on site is free too.

    Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    The Art Center's downtown sculpture park, open on city park hours, sunrise to midnight. Guided tours run through October 31 and need three weeks' notice.

    Iowa State Capitol

    Free guided and self-guided tours of the gold-domed Capitol. Call 515-281-5591 for guided tour times.

    State Historical Museum of Iowa

    "Admission to the museum and research center is free."

    Central Library

    The downtown library lists free fall programs and gives two hours of free underground parking. Sunday hours end for the season on October 25.

    Markets

    Downtown Farmers' Market

    Twelve blocks of vendors in the Historic Court District every Saturday. The 2026 season ends October 31, and October hours are 8 am to noon.

    Downtown Winter Farmers' Market

    A three-day indoor market at Capital Square with free admission and food trucks on Cowles Commons. 2026 dates: Friday, November 20 (10 am-2 pm), Saturday, November 21 (8 am-4 pm) and Sunday, November 22 (10 am-2 pm).

    Outdoors

    Jester Park Nature Center

    Polk County's page says admission to Jester Park and the Nature Center is free. The park has an elk and bison exhibit.

    High Trestle Trail

    A 25-mile trail between Woodward and Ankeny with a half-mile bridge that stands 13 stories high. The bridge is lit from sunset to midnight in October and sunset to 9 pm from November.

    Gray's Lake Park and the Neal Smith Trail

    Gray's Lake is a 166.6-acre city park with a walking path and a bike trail. The Neal Smith Trail runs 24.8 miles from downtown north toward Saylorville and Big Creek. Neither page lists a fee.

    Low-cost

    Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

    Not free: adults are $14, seniors and military $13, children 2-12 $10, with free entry for up to four people on SNAP or WIC. The Robert D. Ray Asian Garden, listed on the same page, is free to all, 6 am-10 pm daily.

    Brenton Skating Plaza

    The downtown outdoor rink opens in November, weather permitting (it closes when it's above 65 degrees). Adults $12, ages 6-12 and seniors $8, skate rental $6. Des Moines residents get $2 off admission and $1 off rentals.

    Sources

    Checked October 1, 2026:

    Published / Updated

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