Welcome to the 2026 Official Des Moines Family Favorite Awards!
We have all seen the fun voting that happens around our city to highlight all the amazing businesses and organizations in the Des Moines area. Now is your chance to share your family’s favorite places to shop, play, eat, and service providers in the Des Moines area.
We invite you to vote for your favorites in multiple categories. We have 60 categories to vote in!
Voting takes place between October 1 – October 31, 2026. Make sure you share with family and friends!
Winners will be recognized online and will have a chance to receive a discounted advertising package with Des Moines Parent. The Winner and Runner-Up of each category will receive a sticker to display in their business.
Des Moines Family Favorites Voting Rules
- One entry per email address. E-mail addresses are not collected; they are only used for identity purposes.
- Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. October 31, 2026 (Happy Halloween!)
- When filling in your favorite, use the complete name of the nominee to ensure votes count.
- Winners will be announced in December 2026.
Let the voting begin!
VOTING HAS CLOSED
2025 Winners + Runner-Up’s
| Category | Place |
| Best Place for Indoor Play | |
| Playgrounds Cafe | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Park | |
| Raccoon River Park | Winner |
| Colby Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Trampoline Park | |
| Get Air | Winner |
| Sky Zone | Runner- Up |
| Best Nature Center | |
| Jester Park Nature Center | Winner |
| Brenton Arboretum | Runner-Up |
| Best Splash Pad/Wading Pool | |
| Grimes Waterworks Park | Winner |
| Legion Park in West Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Outdoor Aquatics Facility/ Water Park | |
| Valley View | Winner |
| Clive Aquatic Center | Runner-Up |
| Best Apple Orchard | |
| Center Grove Orchard | Winner |
| Wilson’s Orchard & Farm | Runner-Up |
| Best Pumpkin Patch | |
| Howell’s | Winner |
| Center Grove Orchard | Runner-Up |
| Best Museum for Families | |
| Science Center of Iowa | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Bowl | |
| Spare Time Des Moines | Winner |
| Warrior Lanes | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Outdoor Entertainment | |
| Blank Park Zoo | Winner |
| Adventureland | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Movie Theater | |
| The Palms Movie Theater | Winner |
| Flix Brewhouse | Runner-Up |
| Best Indoor Play Space for Younger Kids (5 years and younger) | |
| Playgrounds Cafe | Winner |
| JouJou Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Mini Golf Course | |
| West Grand | Winner |
| Fat Putter | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Play Arcade | |
| Sparetime | Winner |
| Dave & Busters | Runner-Up |
| Best Playground | |
| Raccoon River Park | Winner |
| Colby Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Local Library | |
| West Des Moines Public Library | Winner |
| Grimes Public Library | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Roller Skate | |
| Skate South | Winner |
| Skateland | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Party Venue | |
| Playgrounds for Kids | Winner |
| Emerge Academy | Runner-Up |
| Best Christmas Tree Farm | |
| Howell’s | Winner |
| Strautman Tree Farm | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Egg Hunt | |
| Howell’s | Winner |
| Living History Farms | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Festival or Fair | |
| Iowa State Fair | Winner |
| Illumifest | Runner-Up |
| Best Pet-Friendly Spot | |
| Paws & Pints | Winner |
| Raccoon River Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Iowa Vacation – City | |
| Clear Lake | Winner |
| Decorah | Runner-Up |
| Best Holiday Experience | |
| Festival of Trees & Lights | Winner |
| Christkindlmarket Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Summer Camp | |
| Des Moines Y Camp | Winner |
| Blank Park Zoo | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Theatre | |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Winner |
| Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Spot to See a Live Performance | |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Winner |
| Jamie Hurd Amphitheater | Runner-Up |
| Best Toy Store | |
| The Learning Post Toys | Winner |
| Once Upon a Child | Runner-Up |
| Best Arts & Crafts Store | |
| Hobby Lobby | Winner |
| Michaels | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Boutique | |
| Janes Des Moines | Winner |
| Little Children’s Boutique | Runner-Up |
| Best Bike Shop | |
| Bike World | Winner |
| Kyle’s Bikes | Runner-Up |
| Best Shopping Mall or Center | |
| Jordan Creek Town Center | Winner |
| Merle Hay Mall | Runner-Up |
| Best Bookstore | |
| The Little Book | Winner |
| Wandering Raccoon Books | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Consignment Store or Event | |
| Once Upon A Child | Winner |
| Just Between Friends | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Purchase Children’s Furniture | |
| Homemakers | Winner |
| Suite Dreams | Runner-Up |
| Best Donut Shop | |
| Donut Hut | Winner |
| Donutland | Runner-Up |
| Best Pizza Place | |
| Fongs | Winner |
| Pepps Pizzeria | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Coffee Shop | |
| Playgrounds Cafe | Winner |
| Smokey Row | Runner-Up |
| Best Kid’s Eat Free Restaurant | |
| Perkins | Winner |
| IHOP | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Restaurant | |
| Either/Or | Winner |
| Big Grove Brewery | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Brewery | |
| Big Grove Brewery | Winner |
| Barn Town Brewing | Runner-Up |
| Best Bakery | |
| La Mie | Winner |
| ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery | Runner-Up |
| Best Ice Cream Shop | |
| Home Sweet Cone | Winner |
| Snookies Malt Shop | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Chiropractor | |
| Vero Health Center | Winner |
| Thrive Chiropractic | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatric Dentistry | |
| The Nest | Winner |
| Pediatric Dentistry of Des Moines – Dr. Molly | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for Swim Lessons | |
| Goldfish Swim School | Winner |
| YMCA | Runner-Up |
| Best Dance Studio | |
| Devine Dancers | Winner |
| Inspiring Dance | Runner-Up |
| Best Gymnastics Studio | |
| The Little Gym | Winner |
| Emerge Academy | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Take Karate Classes | |
| Dojo’s | Winner |
| Master Jeong’s Tae Kwon Do | Runner-Up |
| Best Parks & Recreation Department | |
| West Des Moines Parks & Recreation | Winner |
| Clive Parks & Recreation | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatrician | |
| Be Well Pediatrics | Winner |
| Iowa Clinic – Dr. Nicole Stoecken | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s/Family Eye Doctor | |
| Elite Eye Care | Winner |
| Wolfe Eye Clinic | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Photographer | |
| Belma Photography | Winner |
| Breanna Maxwell Photography | Runner-Up |
| Best Daycare/Child Care Center | |
| New Horizon Academy | Winner |
| Cadence Academy Preschool | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Bank | |
| Veridian Credit Union | Winner |
| IHMVCU Credit Union | Runner-Up |
| Best Church | |
| Lutheran Church of Hope | Winner |
| Northpoint | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for a Child’s Haircut | |
| Shear Madness for Kids | Winner |
| Trixie’s Salon & Spa | Runner-Up |
| Best Labor/Delivery/Postpartum Staff | |
| Methodist West | Winner |
| Broadlawns | Runner-Up |
| Best Birth and/or Postpartum Doula | |
| Crystel Corbin | Winner |
| Iowa Baby Lady | Runner-Up |
| Special Needs Service Providers | |
| Connect Therapy | Winner |
| 143 Speech Therapy | Runner-Up |
All winners and runner-ups will receive an email and their ribbon sticker in the mail. If you have any questions, please email ehuiatt@desmoinesparent.com