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    Des Moines Insider

    December 2026 Events in Des Moines

    Des Moines Metro Area
    21 events this month, Central time

    Event list last updated

    Things to do in Des Moines in December 2026

    December in Des Moines means holiday lights, holiday markets and concerts, and New Year's Eve to close out the year.

    We list 21 events in Des Moines and the suburbs for December 2026 so far. The busiest categories are music, entertainment and arts.

    Seasonal picks from the December 2026 calendar

    21
    Total Events
    0
    Free Events
    4
    Event Categories
    11
    Starting after 5 PM

    Filter by Category

    December 2026 by day

    1. Tue, Dec 12 events
    2. Wed, Dec 21 event
    3. Thu, Dec 31 event
    4. Fri, Dec 42 events
    5. Sat, Dec 52 events
    6. Sun, Dec 61 event
    7. Mon, Dec 7None
    8. Tue, Dec 8None
    9. Wed, Dec 91 event
    10. Thu, Dec 101 event
    11. Fri, Dec 11None
    12. Sat, Dec 121 event
    13. Sun, Dec 13None
    14. Mon, Dec 14None
    15. Tue, Dec 15None
    16. Wed, Dec 161 event
    17. Thu, Dec 171 event
    18. Fri, Dec 183 events
    19. Sat, Dec 19None
    20. Sun, Dec 20None
    21. Mon, Dec 21None
    22. Tue, Dec 22None
    23. Wed, Dec 231 event
    24. Thu, Dec 24None
    25. Fri, Dec 25None
    26. Sat, Dec 26None
    27. Sun, Dec 27None
    28. Mon, Dec 28None
    29. Tue, Dec 29None
    30. Wed, Dec 301 event
    31. Thu, Dec 312 events

    Dec 1 - Dec 6 (9 events)

    Arts
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Arts
    See website

    Time not listedCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical at Des Moines Civic Center

    Entertainment
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Entertainment
    See website

    7:30 PM CTHoyt Sherman Place

    A Drag Queen Christmas

    A Drag Queen Christmas concert/show at Hoyt Sherman Place.

    Entertainment
    DEC
    2
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Music
    DEC
    3
    Thu
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    Pouya

    Presented by First Fleet Concerts. Pouya live at Val Air Ballroom.

    Comedy
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Comedy
    See website

    Time not listedHoyt Sherman Place

    Dusty Slay: The Neighborhood Guy

    Dusty Slay performs The Neighborhood Guy comedy show at Hoyt Sherman Place.

    Music
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTWooly'sEast Village

    House Party

    Wooly's & IA Live Presents

    Music
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    PetRock: A Tribute To The Smooth Rock Of The 70's

    Val Air Ballroom & IA Live Presents PetRock: A Tribute To The Smooth Rock Of The 70's.

    Music
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    Time not listedHoyt Sherman PlaceDowntown / Court Ave

    An Irish Christmas with Rend Collective Presented by Thrivent

    Holiday concert featuring Irish Christmas music with Rend Collective

    Arts
    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Arts
    See website

    2:00 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical - ASL Interpreted & Audio Described

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical - ASL Interpreted and Audio Described performance at Des Moines Civic Center

    Dec 7 - Dec 13 (3 events)

    Entertainment
    DEC
    9
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Music
    DEC
    10
    Thu
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    Danny Gokey

    Presented by First Fleet Concerts. Danny Gokey with Comedian Mickey Bell.

    Music
    DEC
    12
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    Not Quite New Year's Eve with Not Quite Brothers

    Val Air Ballroom & IA Live Presents Not Quite New Year's Eve with Not Quite Brothers, featuring Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Gallivant.

    Dec 14 - Dec 20 (5 events)

    Entertainment
    DEC
    16
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Entertainment
    DEC
    17
    Thu
    Entertainment
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    MeatEater

    Presented by Live Nation & First Fleet Concerts. MeatEater live at Val Air Ballroom.

    Music
    DEC
    18
    Fri
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    The Nadas

    Val Air Ballroom & IA Live Presents The Nadas live in concert.

    DEC
    18
    Fri
    Arts
    See website

    Time not listedCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Waitress

    Waitress the musical at Des Moines Civic Center

    Music
    DEC
    18
    Fri
    Music
    See website

    7:30 PM CTHoyt Sherman PlaceDowntown / Court Ave

    Sara Evans: Holiday Road Tour

    Holiday tour concert by Sara Evans

    Dec 21 - Dec 27 (1 event)

    Entertainment
    DEC
    23
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Dec 28 - Dec 31 (3 events)

    Entertainment
    DEC
    30
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Music
    DEC
    31
    Thu
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    The Pork Tornadoes

    Val Air Ballroom & IA Live Presents The Pork Tornadoes with special guest Rival 5. New Year's Eve celebration.

    Music
    DEC
    31
    Thu
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTWooly'sEast Village

    NYE with Pianopalooza

    Wooly's & IA Live Presents

    Monthly Events Questions

    Common questions about December 2026 events in Des Moines

    • What events are happening in December 2026 in Des Moines?

      This page lists the events on our calendar for December 2026, Central time, in Des Moines and surrounding areas: a calendar with the count for each day, then the events week by week, with dates, times and venues.

    • How often is the monthly calendar updated?

      New events are collected daily from venue and organizer calendars. All times are Central Time, and each list shows when it was last updated.

    • Do you include events in Des Moines suburbs?

      Yes. The calendar includes events across the Des Moines metro, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston and other nearby communities.

    • Can I filter events by category or type?

      Yes. The category buttons on this page narrow the month to one category, and each day in the calendar opens that day on the events page.