Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair
Join us for the third year of the Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair on Saturday, February 17 at the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines. This event is a FREE event for families to learn about spring and summer programming in the Des Moines, Iowa area. New this year! We will offer a sensory-friendly hour at the beginning of the day.
Every spring parents and families begin researching and planning what their children will do during the Summer months. Everything from summer camps to fun events and activities. This is a 1-day event that brings all of these options under one roof. Families will attend, learn about their options, register, have fun, and more.
The entire day is free! Each vendor offers a free activity, there will be free programming throughout the day, explore everything the Valley Community Center has to offer, and have some fun taking pictures with our fun backdrop, the first 100 families (ONE per family) will receive a FREE swag bag.
Sensory-Friendly Time – Sponsored by Encourage Club
New for 2024! We will be hosting a sensory-friendly time from 9 to 9:45 a.m. We are thrilled to have Encourage Club sponsor this special time. Encourage Club helps parents understand how their child’s brain works, and why they behave the way they do and gain new strategies to minimize the meltdowns. We specialize in educating, encouraging, and equipping parents in the areas of sleep, sensory integration, and the struggles of parenting a neurodivergent child.
Some details you can expect when attending Sensory-Friendly Time:
- Lights will be dimmed and special music will be playing.
- A map will be created and released before the event for families to better plan before they arrive. Look back here for the final map!
- Fun arrows and movement activities are taped to the ground to guide families through vendors.
- Calming space
- All vendors will have an activity at their booths that is sensory-friendly.
Special Treat for YOU!
While you are exploring and playing at the Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair make sure you grab a fun beverage (including a special one created just for us) at the Slap Soda table. Beverages will be $4 each plus tax.
2024 Vendors
- Des Moines Playhouse
- The Des Moines Children’s Museum
- True Roots Chiropractic
- The Country Experience
- Des Moines Chess Academy
- Ankeny Art Center
- Brenton Arboretum
- Steve & Kate’s Camp
- PLAYground Cafe
- binSpire, LLC
- Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
- Pop-Up Games, LLC
- Arrow Academy of Music
- Menace Soccer
- Camp Wesley Woods of Iowa
- Tippi Toes Dance
- City of Clive
- Grace Ballet & Acrobatics
- Iowa Orthodontic Solutions
- Goldfish Swim School
- Encourage Club
- Heartland Youth Choir
- Boy Scouts of America
- Camp Fire Heart of Iowa
- Creative Spirit Art Studio
- Genesis Health Club
- Midwest Autism & Therapy Centers
- BURN Bootcamp
- Central Iowa Music Lab
- Adventures in Social Development
- Valley Church – Health & Wellness
- YMCA of Greater Des Moines
- CAP Theatre
- Mid-Iowa Council, BSA
- Des Moines Art Center
And more to announce soon! Interested in being a vendor? We have a couple of packages and offer payment plans to help work with all budgets. Email ehuiatt@desmoinesparent.com for details.
2024 Free Programming Schedule
We are thrilled to offer FREE programming for children and families during the Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair! Take a look at the schedule below and plan accordingly to join in on all the fun.
- Tippi Toes Des Moines at 10:30 a.m.
- BURN Bootcamp at 11:30 a.m.
- Grace Ballet & Acrobatics at 12:30 p.m.
2023 Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair Re-Cap
Please Note: The Des Moines Parent Summer Camp Fair is sponsored by the Valley Community Center and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 17th. Registration is NOT required and it is a free event.
