Top 8 Things To Do in Des Moines in January
Don’t let the winter blues set in. Get outside and go ice skating, have a night out at Mixology, or enjoy a play with the Red Riding Hood. January doesn’t have to be boring. Plan your January in Des Moines today.
Check out these other fun winter resources to keep you busy all season long:
- Sledding in Des Moines
- Ice Skating in Des Moines
- Snowshoeing in Des Moines
- 10+ Fun Ways to Play in the Snow
- Indoor Play in Des Moines
- 50 Things To Do in Iowa This Winter
Events at the Brenton Skating Plaza
Address: Brenton Skating Plaza, 520 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Throughout January
Cost: See here
Throughout the winter, Brenton Skating Plaza is filled with a wide variety of events. Check out the list below.
- Adapted skate: January 3, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM ($5 admission-skate/sled rental included)
- Family skate date: January 10, 12:00 PM-2:00 PM ($5 admission includes skate rentals and refreshments)
- Learn to skate clinic: January 17 and 31, 10:30 AM-11:30 AM (Free-but must register)
- MLK Jr donate and skate: January 19, 12:00 PM-9:00 PM (free admission and skate rental with a non-perishable food item or adult socks)
- Sensory skate: January 24, 9:30-11:30 AM ($5 admission-skate/sled rental included)
Winter Wonderland Palace
Address: Raccoon River Lodge, 2500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
When: Saturday, January 3, 9:00 AM-2:30 PM (sign up for a 90-minute time slot)
Cost: $34 for one adult and one child. Must register.
Take a trip into the Winter Wonder Palace. West Des Moines Parks & Recreation is hosting this magical event. Sign up for a 90-minute time period where you and your little royal will experience three different worlds and meet four storybook characters.
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
Address: Casey’s Center, 233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Friday, January 9, at 7:30 PM and Saturday, January 10 at 7:30 PM
Cost: Tickets start at $28 each
Head to the Casey’s Center for Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo. Doors open at 6:00 PM with a free pre-show event (included with your ticket), “down on the dirt”. Take a pony ride, meet the cowboys, hop in the clown’s barrel, take a seat in the bucking chutes on the live photo bull Silver Dollar, or check out behind the chutes. The show begins at 7:30 PM with action, entertainment, and competition between the cowboys who are trying to be crowned Pro Rodeo’s World Champion.
Big Indoor Garage Sale Extravaganza
Address: Iowa Event Center, 233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Saturday, January 10, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Cost: $5 admission at door ($3 for children)
Don’t wait for spring to start garage sale hunting! Instead, head to the Big Indoor Garage Sale Extravaganza to find hidden treasures. Shop the variety of items, including clothing, home goods & decor, books, games, electronics, and more. Cash or card will be accepted by most vendors.
Iowa Bike Expo
Address: Iowa Events Center, 790 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Saturday, January 24, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Cost: Free admission
If you are counting down the days until Ragbrai or just interested in learning more about cycling, then the Iowa Bike Expo is for you. Check out the latest bike gear, view demonstrations, and meet fellow cyclists. Following the expo is the Bike Banquet. Purchase a ticket to the Bike Banquet where you can enjoy an afternoon of live music, delicious food and drinks, and inspiring stories from renowned speakers.
Mixology Night at the Science Center of Des Moines
Address: Science Center of Des Moines, 401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Friday, January 16, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Cost: Purchase tickets (21+ over event)
- $20 per ticket
- $10 for members
Gather your friends for an adults-only evening at Mixology Night at the Science Center of Des Moines. Become a detective for the night and solve a mystery as you find hidden clues throughout the museum. Mingle and enjoy cocktails as you crack the case. You can also buy an additional ticket to see Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon exhibit in the immersive 50-foot planetarium dome.
Clive’s Cabin Fever Reliever
Address: Linnan Park and Harbach Center, 8505 Harbach Blvd, Clive, IA 50325
When: Saturday, January 24, 5:00-7:00 PM
Cost: Free
Clive’s Cabin Fever Reliever is a great excuse to get out of the house during the dreary days of winter. Due to construction, the event will be held at Linnan Park and Harbach Center. This 5th annual event will include professional ice sculpting, chainsaw art/wood carving, ice fishing demonstrations, stargazing telescopes, indoor crafts, campfire rings for smores, and food trucks.
Red Riding Hood
Address: 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312
When:
- Friday, January 9 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, January 10 at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
- Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 PM
- Friday, January 16 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, January 17 at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
- Sunday, January 18, at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
- Friday, January 23 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, January 24 at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
- Sunday, January 2,5 at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM (4:00 PM show is sensory friendly)
Cost: Purchase tickets here
- Adult: $25 each
- Child: $20 each
Hear both sides of the story at Red Riding Hood. “Wolfgang, the greatest actor in the world, is interrupted in his tale-telling when a delivery person arrives with a mysterious package – but the show must go on, and a wolf’s gotta eat. Like an unexpected package, when you open up a fairy tale, you never know what you’ll find.” NEW this year is a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, January 11 at 4:00 PM.
