Sensory Friendly and Inclusive Holiday Events in Des Moines 2024
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 2024
- 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
Community Choice Convention Center
833 5th Avenue, Des Moines
November 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person ages 3 and older. Purchase online or at the door.
Sensory Day 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.
Breakfast with Santa
Gigi’s Playhouse
6507 University Avenue, Windsor Heights
December 7th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
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.
Special Santa Event
Journey Church
4409 121st Street, Urbandale
December 7th from 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free. Register online here.
The 2024 Special Santa Event for children is coming back to Santa’s Workshop a Journey Church in Urbandale! You can register for a personal visit for your family with Santa between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th. Santa and his elves will spend time with each child and family in a quiet environment. Download a letter to Santa.
Meet Autism Friendly Santa
Fi & Friends
2729 86th Street, Urbandale
December 8th from 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Cost: $25. Register online.
Meet Santa in a calm, autism and sensory-friendly environment. Receive 10 minutes of uninterrupted child-led time with Santa. Register for a time and receive up to 5 professional photos emailed directly to you. Accommodations are available upon request. Note: This event tends to fill up quickly.
Sensory Santa
Valley West Mall
1551 Valley W Drive, West Des Moines
December 8th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Photo package purchase is optional.
Santa will be at Valley West Mall before the mall opens, offering a sensory-friendly photo experience. This special event allows families and children of all ages and abilities to take magical holiday photos in a serene atmosphere
FUSE Ho Ho Ho Holiday Gathering
Prairie Ridge Church, 825 NW 36th Street, Ankeny
December 10th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person
FUSE is a ministry for special needs individuals ages 14 and older. This is a chance to build and foster relationships in a safe and positive environment. Check online for registration and more information as the event gets closer.
December Christmas CONNECT Event
Valley Community Center in West Des Moines
December 13th, 5:30-7:30 PM
Cost: $10 per person (including caregivers) and registration is required on their website
CONNECT events are social gatherings for those with special needs ages 14 and up. Come join us for Dinner, Crafts, Games, & Fun!
Sensory Friendly Showing of Frozen
The Varsity Cinema
1207 25th Street, Des Moines
December 14th at 10 a.m.
Cost: Free. Register online.
Join us for a FREE sensory-friendly showing of ‘Frozen’! Thanks to the generous support of the BWA Foundation, each attendee will also receive a free small popcorn and medium drink.
Lights at the Museum: Sensory Sensitive Playdate
Des Moines Children’s Museum
1551 Valley W Drive, Suite 108, West Des Moines
December 20th from 5 to 6 p.m.
Play under the lights and learn about light festivals around the world in the Des Moines Children’s Museum annual special holiday event. This sensory-friendly play time is for children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities and their families to connect and explore. All regular exhibits will be open. They will have sensory bins, and communication boards, and the holiday lights create a low-light calming space throughout the entire museum.
Adapted Skate
Brenton Skating Plaza in Des Moines
December 21st 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
Cost: $5 admission (includes skate rental)
Adaptive Skating invites individuals with a range of physical or developmental abilities to ice skate during this open skate time with a smaller crowd.
Sensory Skate
Brenton Skating Plaza in Des Moines
December 28th, 9:30-11:30 AM
Cost: 45 admission (includes skate rental)
Des Moines Parks and Recreation invites those individuals with sensory processing challenges a time to ice skate. 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.
Hawkeye Downs Santa Village
Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center in Cedar Rapids, IA
December 5th, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Cost: Free
Sensory-Friendly Night at Santa Village is designed for children, teens, and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders, offering activities planned with modifications, including the mitigation of sounds and motions as much as possible. A ChildServe Calming Space will also be available and staffed by ChildServe therapists for the duration of the evening.
Deck The Stalls: Sensory Friendly
Menagerie Stables
3237 NE 108th Street, Mitchellville
December 7 & 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: $20 per child at the door
Come experience the joy of the holidays at the barn, on December 7th and December 8th (sensory-friendly hours)! Children can ride a horse through a winter wonderland, play games on horseback, visit Santa and get a photo, play games, make a craft, and enjoy treats and snacks!
Cost is $20 per child. No pre-pay tickets are available; please pay admission at the front door when you arrive. A signed release form will be available to sign if children wish to ride. Riding helmets are provided and will be fit by one of their instructors. All are welcome – you do not need to be a rider in our lesson program to participate! Part of the barn is heated, but the riding area is not. Please dress accordingly.
The Live Animal Christmas Show
Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, IA
December 10th, 6:00 PM
Cost: Free but registration is required on their website
Enjoy a Christmas production with live animals that share the Christmas story. This show is held on multiple nights but December 10th is a showing for those with ASL and special needs. It’s not specified if the show is modified this night.
Holiday Workshop
Blanden Art Education Center in Fort Dodge, IA
December 14th, 1:00-2:30 PM
Cost: Free
Join Facing Autism Inc. for an afternoon of Holiday fun! We will have crafts, cookie decorating, and sensory fun for the whole family. This Holiday Workshop is designed for those with special needs and their families. Free will offerings are welcome but not required.
Sensory Friendly Showing: The Polar Express
Putnam Museum and Science Center
1717 W 12th St, Davenport
December 15th at 1 PM
Cost: $5 per person
In collaboration with the Autism Society of Quad Cities, enjoy a sensory-friendly showing of The Polar Express. This includes dimmed theater lights, lower volume, movies in 2D, no trailers, handicap-accessible seating, freedom to move around and make noise in the theater, and a “chill out zone” outside of the theater. Reserve tickets by calling 563-324-1933.
Christmas of Hope
Cultivating Hope Farms
5500 240th, Ames
December 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Cost: Free
Merry Christmas from Cultivating Hope Farms! This is a FREE exclusive Christmas event celebration for neurodivergent and varied-ability families in the community barn.
