“Life of Pi” Feb. 25-March 2, Des Moines Civic Center. Photo: Johan Persson
“Acts of Projection: Magic Lantern Shows and the U.S. Civil War”
Nov. 7-Jan. 17. Before moving pictures, “magic” lantern shows projected hand-painted slides onto screens to portray works of art, travel images and, by the 1860s, moving photos from the Civil War. See historic images and the new artwork they inspired at Drake University’s Anderson Gallery. andersongallery.wp.drake.edu
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
Garden Parties
Jan. 3-March 30. Ready for a tropical escape? At the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, stroll through colorful lights during Dome After Dark (Fridays, Jan. 3-March 28) or listen to live music during Botanical Blues (Sundays, Jan. 5-March 30). dmbotanicalgarden.com
V Spehar
Jan. 9. V Spehar broke it down into bite-sized, 60-second stories for their “Under the Desk News” podcast on TikTok. With 3 million followers and counting, Spehar plans to take a turn in the Capital City Pride Speaker Series at the Temple Theater. capitalcitypride.org
Big Head Todd and The Monsters
Jan. 10. The platinum-selling Colorado rockers led by Todd Park Mohr bring their 40th anniversary tour to town for a concert at Hoyt Sherman Place. hoytsherman.org
Figments and Phantoms
Jan. 10-April 27. The portrait subjects are fragmented, distorted or conspicuously missing in this exhibition in the Des Moines Art Center’s John Brady Print Gallery. dmpa.org
Harlem Globetrotters
Jan. 12. The famous ballers show off their skills in a game against their rivals, the Washington Generals, as part of a new global tour, which makes a fast break at Wells Fargo Arena. iowaeventscenter.com
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
Jan. 17-Feb. 2. Middle school is full of highs and lows: Just ask Greg Heffley in the new musical at the Des Moines Playhouse, based on the award-winning book series by Jeff Kinney. dmplayhouse.com
Mireya Mayor
Jan. 21. Once described in the New York Times as “the female Indiana Jones,” the primatologist and Emmy-nominated TV presenter shares a talk she calls “Pink Boots and a Machete” in the Explorer Speaker Series at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmpa.org
“In Conversation: Will Wilson”
Jan. 21-May 4. Iowa State University Museums opens its 50th year with an exhibition by the contemporary Navajo photographer Will Wilson, whose photos explore the relationship between science, culture and identity and respond to portraits of Native Americans that Edward Sheriff Curtis photographed in the early 20th century. museums.iastate.edu
Indulge
Jan. 24-25. Enjoy unlimited samples of wine, cheese and chocolate at West End Architectural Salvage. What’s not to love? in-any-event.com
“Shucked”
Jan. 28-Feb. 2. The national tour of the proudly corny, “farm-to-fable” musical about a farmgirl’s quest to save her hometown comes to the heart of the Heartland for a run at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmpa.org
Judy Carmichael
Jan. 31. The versatile jazz singer and pianist best known for her stride keyboard style performs at the Temple Theater. dmpa.org
“Ripcord”
Jan. 31-Feb. 16. When two women — one chipper, the other grouchy — are forced to share a room at a senior living facility, their rivalry quickly escalates in David Lindsay Abaire’s play at Tallgrass Theatre Co. in West Des Moines. tallgrasstheatre.org
Guster
Feb. 4. The band’s current tour, “We Also Have Eras,” retraces its 30-year hit-making history and its latest album, “Ooh La La,” with a stop at Hoyt Sherman Place. hoytsherman.org
“Folsom Prison Experience”
Feb. 7. Part play, part concert, this show recreates Johnny Cash’s legendary 1968 performance at the Folsom State Prison near Sacramento. hoytsherman.org
“Men on Boats”
Feb. 7-March 2. Join a ragtag group of explorers on an 1869 expedition along the Colorado River in a show the Des Moines Playhouse bills as “a true(ish) adventure on the American frontier.” dmplayhouse.com
Des Moines Symphony
Feb. 8-9. Guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen leads the orchestra through Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances” and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with guest soloist Anne Marie McDermott. dmsymphony.org
VOCES8
Feb. 11. The British a cappella group mixes and matches its eight voices for a concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. center.iastate.edu
Momix: “Alice”
Feb. 12. The famous dance company from Connecticut puts a new spin on “Alice in Wonderland” in the Dance Series at the Des Moines Civic Center. dmpa.org
Tee Franklin
Feb. 13. The writer behind the hit series “Harley Quinn” takes a turn in the Capital City Pride Speaker Series at the Temple Theater. capitalcitypride.org
Des Moines Home and Garden Show
Feb. 13-16. To help ward off cabin fever, hundreds of exhibitors — landscapers, gardeners, interior designers and others — offer products, demos and inspiration during the 47th annual expo at the Iowa Events Center. iowaeventscenter.com
Winter Blues Fest
Feb. 14-15. The Central Iowa Blues Society heats things up with its 30th annual festival at the downtown Marriott. cibs.org
A Celebration in Song
Feb. 15. Three well-trained choirs — the Luther College Nordic Choir, Iowa State Singers and Des Moines Choral Society — sing to the rafters of downtown’s St. Ambrose Cathedral. dmchoral.org
Czech National Philharmonic of Moravia
Feb. 15. Pavel Snajdr leads the orchestra from Prague in a concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. center.iastate.edu
Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble
Feb. 16. The singers let loose for a cabaret at Noce. Grab a drink and get ready for a good show. dmvae.org
Des Moines Community Orchestra
Feb. 23. Carl Johnson conducts a program of favorites by Bach, Shostakovich, Wagner and more. desmoinescommunityorchestra.org
“Life of Pi”
Feb. 25-March 2. Ready for a boat ride with a giant tiger? The Tony-winning play uses innovative puppets and dazzling stagecraft to tell the story from Yann Martel’s 2001 novel. dmpa.org
“See the Music”
Feb. 28. In a program at Hoyt Sherman Place, pianist Douglas-Jayd Burn and the acclaimed Aizuri (string) Quartet team up with Ballet Des Moines to premiere work choreographed by the company’s artistic director, Tom Mattingly. civicmusic.org
Yamato: The Drummers of Japan
Feb. 28. The world-famous Taiko drummers bring their massive drums, including one made from a tree that was at least 400 years old, for a concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. center.iastate.edu
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