With the Blizzard Warning on 12-22 and 12-23, be sure to call ahead to be sure that events are happening. Many are canceled, delayed, or closed.
| DATE | EVENT | LOCATION | COST | TIME |
| November 22-January 8 | 8th Annual Festival of Trees | Carnegie Library Museum – Perry | ||
| November 25 – January 1
(Closed December 24, 25, and 31) |
Jolly Holiday Lights | Adventureland | $25 per car; $50 per limo; $75 per bus – $5 savings for online purchases | 5:30-10 pm |
| December 13 | A Charlie Brown Christmas w/ The Peter Roberts Band | Noce Jazz Club | $20-45 | 7 pm |
| December 14 | Sounds of the Season w/ The Des Moines Big Band | Noce Jazz Club | $7-45 | 7 pm |
| December 14-18 | A Christmas Carol | Des Moines Civic Center – Stoner Theater | $40 | Wednesday-Friday 7:30 pm; Saturday 2 and 7:30 pm; Sunday 2 pm |
| December 15
Thursday |
Home Free Family Christmas | Stephens Auditorium | $29.50-59-50 | 8 pm |
| December 15 | ‘Tis the Season with The Beach Boys | Des Moines Civic Center | $55-115 | 7:30 pm |
| December 15 | An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line | Hoyt Sherman Place | $63 | 7 pm |
| December 15 | Jingle in the Junction | Valley Junction | Free | 5-9 pm |
| December 15-17 | Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show | Reiman Gardens – Ames | $7 youth; 11-13 adults | 5-8 pm |
| December 16 | East Village Promenade | East Village Neighborhood Des Moines | Free | 5-9 pm |
| December 16 | Shaun Johnson & The Big Band Experience | Hoyt Sherman Places | $25-38 | 7:30 pm |
| December 16-18 | A Very Merry Tallgrass Holiday | Tallgrass Theatre | $35 | Times vary |
| December 16-18 | Max Wellman’s 13th Annual Home for the Holidays | Noce | $20-45 | Times vary |
| December 16-18 | Santa Express | Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad | $18-45 (advanced tix a must) | Times vary
|
| December 16-18 | Tree-mendous Christmas Experience | Jasper County Historical Museum | $5; 7 & under free | Fridays & Saturdays 5-8 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm |
| December 17
Saturday |
Perry Winter Farmers’ Market | Perry Public Library | Free | 11 am-2 pm |
| December 17 | Tonic Sol-fa | Hoyt Sherman Place | $24-52.50 | 7:30 pm |
| December 17 | Santa at the Zoo | Blank Park Zoo | With regular admission | 10 am-2 pm |
| December 18 | Central Iowa Wind Ensemble’s Holiday Spectacular | Franklin Junior High | Free | 3 pm |
| December 18 | Christmas at Terrace Hill | Terrace Hill | $25 individual; $50 family – Advanced tickets required | 1-4 pm |
| December 20 | A Charlie Brown Christmas w/ The Peter Roberts Band | Noce Jazz Club | $20-45 | 7 pm |
| December 21 | Sounds of the Season w/ The Des Moines Big Band | Noce Jazz Club | $7-45 | 7 pm |
| December 22 | Jingle in the Junction | Valley Junction | Free | 5-9 pm |
| December 22 | All That Holiday Jazz! Nutcracker Suite | Turner Jazz Center at Drake | $30 | 7:30 pm |
| December 22 | Michael W Smith | Hoyt Sherman Place | $59-69 | 7 pm |
| December 22 | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical | Des Moines Civic Center | $29-65 | 2 and 7 pm |
| December 22-24 | Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show | Reiman Gardens – Ames | $7 youth; 11-13 adults | 5-8 pm |
| December 23
Friday |
Tree-mendous Christmas Experience | Jasper County Historical Museum | $5; 7 & under free | Fridays & Saturdays 5-8 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm |
| December 23 | A Merry Little Holiday Show | Pura Social Club | Admission
|
6-10 pm |
| December 23 | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | Des Moines Civic Center | $40-94 | 2 and 7:30 pm |
| December 24 | Hope Ministries Holiday Donation Day | Hope Café | Donations for Christmas Dinner – see website for needs | |
| December 25 | Hope Ministries’ Free Christmas Dinner Pickup | Reserve meals in advance between November 28 and December 16 | ||
| December 25 | Hope Ministries Free Christmas Meal | Hope Café | Free | 12-1 pm |
| December 29-31 | Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show | Reiman Gardens – Ames | $7 youth; 11-13 adults | 5-8 pm |
| December 30-January 1 | Tree-mendous Christmas Experience | Jasper County Historical Museum | $5; 7 & under free | Fridays & Saturdays 5-8 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve Pops: Frank & The Great Ladies of Song | Des Moines Civic Center | $30-85 | 7:30 pm |
| December 31 | Comedy Xperiment – Holiday Show | Des Moines Civic Center – Stoner Theater | $15 | 10 pm |
| January 1, 2023 – Last Day | Jolly Holiday Lights | Adventureland | $25 per car; $50 per limo; $75 per bus – $5 savings for online purchases | 5:30-10 pm |
