Sensory Friendly and Inclusive Holiday Events in Des Moines 2025
Enjoy this list of inclusive and sensory-friendly holiday events for families. From meeting Santa, enjoying fun crafts engaging in holiday-themed activities, and more. We continually update this post throughout the season.
Bookmark these other fun holiday guides to plan this season:
- Holiday Events in Des Moines
- Holiday Shows in Des Moines
- Des Moines Holiday Markets 2025
- Bass Pro Shop Santa Wonderland – All the Details!
- Des Moines Parent Event Calendar – The best way to stay up to date with events and activities.
Sensory Day at Festival of Trees & Lights
Address: Community Choice Convention Center
Date: November 26th from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $10 per person, 2 and younger are free. Children’s activities are now included with your admission. Purchase tickets here.
Sensory Day, presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery, is a special day designed for sensory sensitive individuals of all ages. The event is open to the public for individuals and their immediate families who would benefit from this specially modified Festival day. Festival of Trees & Lights is a fundraiser for Blank Children’s Hospital, supporting programs and services for patients and families.
Dance Without Limits will have a special dance performance at 2 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa
Address: Gigi’s Playhouse
Date: December 6th from 9:00-10:30 AM
Cost: Free
Gigi’s Playhouse provides free educational and therapeutic programs for those with Down Syndrome from birth to adulthood and their families. Join them for Breakfast with Santa and their annual holiday party. Register online.
Hope Foundation Holiday Market
Address: Valley West Mall
Date: Saturday, December 6th at 10 AM-5 PM
Enjoy the Holiday Market with all Items made and sold by individuals with disabilities. There will be unique Christmas gifts at the Hope Foundation thrift sale. Free gift wrapping, holiday photo backdrop and snacks and drinks.
Meet Autism Friendly Santa
Address: Located at New Horizon Academy, 9040 University Avenue, West Des Moines
Date: Sunday, December 7th, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Cost: $12. Register online.
Meet Autism Sensory Santa in a calm, autism and sensory-friendly environment. Enjoy 10 minutes of uninterrupted, child-led time with Santa. Register for a time that works for you! Up to 5 professional photos emailed directly to you. Note: This event sells out quickly.
Sensory Santa
Address: Norwalk Easter Public Library
Date: Sunday, December 7th 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Cost: Free, Sign up for a slot
Sensory Santa is a program designed for children in the Norwalk School District (Iowa) who may have special needs or require special care to truly enjoy a Santa experience.
One child per slot please, unless you know your children will be okay sharing the experience together.
***If there is enough demand we will open up more afternoon slots. Email [email protected] if the slots are full and you would like to participate.
Caring/Sensitive Santa
Address: Merle Hay Mall
Date: Sunday, December 7th and December 14th, 11:00-11:50 AM
Cost: $20
Caring/Sensitive Santa is available for children with special needs. The visit is in a quiet setting, before standard operating hours. This reservation acts as a booking fee, and deposit towards any photo package.
FUSE Mingle & Jingle
Address: Prairie Ridge Church, 825 NW 36th Street, Ankeny
Date: December 9th, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $3 per person
FUSE is a ministry for special needs individuals ages 14 and older. Enjoy Fuse Mingle & Jingle to build and foster relationships in a safe and positive environment. Register and learn more information on their website.
Ballet Des Moines Sensory-Inclusive Nutcracker Matinee
Address: Hoyt Sherman Place
Date: Friday, December 12th at 10:30 AM
Cost: $3/per person, scholarships also available
Join us for our sensory-inclusive Nutcracker matinee!
This 80-minute staged performance will have sensory-inclusive activities in the Hoyt Sherman Place lobby beginning at 10:00 a.m. This sensory-inclusive performance is geared towards those on the autism spectrum, individuals with other physical sensitivities and their friends and families.
Doors will open at 9:45 a.m., allowing audience members to enjoy activities in the lobby from 10:00-10:30, including a meet-and-greet of Ballet Des Moines company dancers in Nutcracker costume.
ASL Interpreters will be provided and Live Audio Descriptions will be provided by IRIS.
Hand in Hand Christmas Connect Event (14+)
Address: Valley Community Center
Date: December 19th 5:30-7:30 PM
Cost: $10 per person (including caregivers) and registration required on their website
Come join us for this Christmas event for individuals with special needs (14+) at Hand in Hand Christmas Connect Event. Enjoy dinner, crafts, games, & fun! Registration closes on Wednesday, December 12th.
Adapted Skate
Address: Brenton Skating Plaza
Dates: December 20th, January 3rd, February 21st 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
Cost: $5 admission (includes skate rental)
Des Moines Parks and Recreation provides Adapted Stake for individuals with a range of physical and developmental abilities to ice skate. For just $5 (admission and skate rental/sled rental), this skate session is designed to engage these individuals in the sport for recreational activity and enjoyment.
Sensory Skate
Address: Brenton Skating Plaza in Des Moines
Dates: December 27th, January 24th, February 28th 9:30-11:30 AM
Cost: $5 admission (includes skate rental)
Des Moines Parks and Recreation provides Sensory Skate for those with sensory processing challenges a time to ice skate. For just $5 (admission and skate rental/sled rental) this skate session is designed to engage these individuals in the sport for recreation activity and enjoyment.
EVENTS AROUND THE STATE
Check out other events happening around the state.
Deck The Stalls: Sensory Friendly
Address: Menagerie Stables ; 3237 NE 108th Street, Mitchellville
Date: December 6th 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $20 per child at the door
Come experience the joy of the holidays at the barn with Deck the Stalls! Children can experience horses through a winter wonderland, visit with Santa and get a photo, play games, make a craft, and enjoy treats and snacks!
Christmas of Hope
Address: Cultivating Hope Farms; 5500 240th, Ames
Dates: Sunday, December 7th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Cost: Free
Merry Christmas from Cultivating Hope Farms! Christmas of Hope is a FREE exclusive Christmas event celebration for neurodivergent and varied ability families in the community barn.
Hawkeye Downs Santa Village: Sensory Friendly Day
Address: Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center in Cedar Rapids, IA
Dates: Sunday, December 7th 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cost: Free
During the Sensory-Friendly day, Hawkeye Downs and ChildServe will create an environment designed for children, teens, and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders in mind so families who have a member with special healthcare needs can visit, explore, and enjoy the event. Guests are welcome to RSVP on Facebook for event updates.
The 2025 Santa Village Sensory-Friendly Day will offer activities planned with modifications, including the mitigation of sounds and motions as much as possible. A ChildServe Calming Space will be available and staffed by ChildServe therapists. If an individual gets overstimulated at the event, this space will provide families with a safe space to take a break. Activities are in place for individuals who need relief from the event’s stimulating environment and those who need to release energy to regulate their bodies.
Christmas Workshop
Address: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; 1436 21st Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA
Dates: December 143h 1:00-2:30 PM
Cost: Free
Join Facing Autism Inc. for an afternoon of Holiday fun! This Christmas Workshop is designed for those with special needs and their families. Free will offerings are welcome but not required. Check their website for more information as it becomes available.
