“Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End”, Dec. 3-21, Temple Theater
The Second City
Oct. 29-Nov. 3. A touring team from Chicago’s famous improv company, now in its 65th year, brings the funny for a run at the Temple Theater. dmpa.org
Vitamin String Quartet
Nov. 1. The musicians that alchemize pop hits into the soundtrack for “Bridgerton” will bring that same sparkle to Hoyt Sherman Place. With two violins, a viola and a cello, they’ll go for baroque with covers by Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and many more. hoytsherman.org
Magos Herrera
Nov. 8. The Mexican-born jazz singer-songwriter who’s nudging Latin jazz into new territory comes to Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium to sing a few tunes from her nine albums. civicmusic.org
“Charlotte’s Web”
Nov. 8-24. The Tallgrass Theatre Co. in West Des Moines stages the classic barnyard tale about a girl, a spider and “some pig.” tallgrasstheatre.org
“Last Stop on Market Street”
Nov. 8-24. The Des Moines Playhouse teams up with City Voices and the Pyramid Theatre Co. to present the classic children’s story about a little boy and a memorable bus ride with his force-of-nature grandma. dmplayhouse.com
Living History Farms Race
Nov. 9. The annual cross-country stampede through 300 years of history, plus a few muddy fields and streams, offers one more chance to wear your Halloween costume. Still not persuaded? All finishers get a cowbell. lhf.org
Nikki Glaser
Nov. 9-10. The unflinching comedian and “best roaster on the planet” brings her no-holds-barred stand-up routine to town for three shows at Hoyt Sherman Place. hoytsherman.org
Jazz at Caspe Terrace
Nov. 10. Trumpeter Kirk Knuffke and pianist Harold Danko buzz in from New York to play a set in the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines’ beautiful concert hall in Waukee. jazzatcaspe.weebly.com
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”
Nov. 11. The hard-charging musical about the late great Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, written by Pulitzer-winner Katori Hall, takes the stage at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. center.iastate.edu
A Motown Christmas
Nov. 12. Past and present members of legendary Motown groups — Ali Woodson’s Temptations, The Miracles, The Contours — put their signature spin on holiday classics at Hoyt Sherman Place. hoytsherman.org
Patton Oswalt
Nov. 14. The actor and comedian who’s racked up eight TV specials and a stack of nominations — four Emmys, six Grammys — brings his dark humor for a night of laughs at Hoyt Sherman Place. hoytsherman.org
The Queen’s Cartoonists
Nov. 15. Six top-notch musicians from Queens, New York, mix jazz and classical into a show that celebrates music from more than a century of animated cartoons. Sometimes the group recreates soundtracks note for note; other times, they spin out in new directions. dmpa.org
Des Moines Holiday Boutique
Nov. 15-17. More than 200 vendors offer jewelry, children’s items, gourmet foods and more at this festive shopping weekend at the Iowa Events Center. iowaeventscenter.org
Iowa’s Largest Arts & Craft Show
Nov. 15-17. If it can be made by hand, you can probably find it among the 250- plus booths at the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. iowastatefairgrounds.org
Irish Christmas in America
Nov. 23-24. Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada, this holiday concert at the Temple Theater showcases traditional song and dance, with a backdrop of projected photos from the Old Country. dmpa.org
Des Moines Symphony: Gershwin
Nov. 23-24. The orchestra plays Gershwin’s ebullient Concerto in F, with piano soloist Jon Kimura Parker, between local composer Linda Robbins Coleman’s “The Celebration: A Symphonic Jubilee” and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. dmsymphony.org
Hip Hop Nutcracker
Nov. 26. Hip-hop standout MC Kurtis Blow and his team offer a fresh mashup of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet, with dancers, a DJ, a violinist and, of course, a mischievous pack of enchanted rats at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmpa.org
Winterset Festival of Lights
Nov. 29. For small-town revelry, your best bet is the Madison County seat, where you’ll find live music, a lighted parade and a holiday movie at the historic Iowa Theater. madisoncounty.com
Festival of Trees & Lights
Nov. 29-Dec. 1. The 41st annual pop-up forest takes temporary root at the Iowa Events Center to raise funds for Blank Children’s Hospital. unitypoint.org
“Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End”
Dec. 3-21. The beloved columnist’s domestic trials and triumphs take center stage at the Temple Theater in this biographical play written by sisters and former Des Moines Register reporters Allison and Margaret Engel. dmpa.org
Chelsea Handler
Dec. 5. The sharp and sharp-tongued comedian and TV host brings her stand-up show to the Des Moines Civic Center. Fair warning: Everything is fair game. dmpa.org
“Dear Evan Hansen”
Dec. 5. The national tour of the Tony-winning musical about a high schooler’s struggle to fit in stops for a single night at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. center. iastate.edu
Christkindlmarket
Dec. 5-8. The annual outdoor holiday market brings its Old World charm to the plaza outside Principal Park, where you’ll find European-style goodies, hand-crafted gifts, traditional music and — new this year — a cozy after-hours party at Yuletide Hall. christkindlmarket.com
Holiday Cabaret
Dec. 6-8. The A-Sisters and friends return to Tallgrass Theatre Co. for another weekend of festive songs from way back when. tallgrasstheatre.org
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”
Dec. 6-22. Belle, her furry lover and his enchanted household objects cordially invite you to be their guest at the Des Moines Playhouse. dmplayhouse.com
Christmas with the Choral Society
Dec. 7. Soak in the sounds of one of the city’s finest choirs during the annual concert at St. Ambrose Cathedral. dmchoral.org
Family Christmas
Dec. 7. Bundle up for a 19th-century Iowa Christmas at Living History Farms, where you can hop on a horse-drawn wagon (with honest-to-goodness jingle bells), make an orange-clove pomander, visit St. Nick, and chime in with Victorian carolers at the Flynn Mansion. lhf.org
Holly & Ivy
Dec. 7-8. Tour the grand old Salisbury House, where local designers, florists, home stagers and other creative types will deck the halls with holiday splendor, and pianists will tickle the ivories on the custom-built Steinway. salisburyhouse.org
“The Nutcracker”
Dec. 12-15. Ballet Des Moines stages one of several local productions of the classic fairy tale about a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream about rodents and candied fruit. balletdesmoines.org
“A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 13-22. Iowa Stage Theatre revives the beloved Dickens fable for another staging at the Des Moines Civic Center’s Stoner Theater. iowastage.org
The Peppermint Trail
Dec. 14. Catch a free trolley ride along The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand to enjoy the festivities (and deals) at area shops and restaurants. theavenuesdsm.com
The King’s Singers
Dec. 18. The world-famous men’s a cappella group known for balancing precision with creative expression bring the fa-la-la to Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium for a concert in the Civic Music Association’s 99th season. civicmusic.org
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Dec. 22. Treat your parents to an early Christmas gift and take them to Hoyt Sherman Place for this big-band holiday concert, starring the group founded by Clarinda’s favorite son. hoytsherman.org
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Dec. 22. Sure, Santa can laugh like a bowl full of jelly. But can he juggle knives, twist himself into a pretzel and swing from a flying trapeze? See who can during this extravaganza at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmpa.org
Noon Year’s Eve
Dec. 31. Get a head start with midday, family-friendly festivities at the Science Center of Iowa – and then get a good night’s sleep. sciowa.org
New Year’s Eve Pops
Dec. 31. Ring in the new year with the Des Moines Symphony and the Doo Wop Project, a singing group that revives the magic of everyone from Frankie Valli to Maroon 5, all with 2,700 of your closest friends at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmsymphony.org
First Day Hikes
Jan. 1. Start the new year with an invigorating hike through one of Iowa’s state parks. If you’re feeling ambitious, download a digital State Parks Passport and see how many stamps you can collect in 2025. iowadnr.gov
For more ideas, sign up to receive our free newsletter, dsm Season Preview, which offers our editors’ essential recommendations for the months ahead.
