Tony Zika helped lead a cardio dance party at last year’s PrideFest. The festival returns June 12-14.
Downtown Farmers Market, May 2, Court Avenue. It’s back! Come grab some radishes with 30,000 of your closest friends and their dogs, every Saturday morning through October. dsmpartnership.com
Cinco de Mayo, May 2, Valley Junction, West Des Moines. The annual fiesta celebrates the neighborhood’s past and present connections to Latino culture with live entertainment and plenty of delicious food. valleyjunction.com
Valley Junction Farmers Market, May 7, Fifth Street, West Des Moines. The weekly neighborhood market returns for the season, every Thursday evening through September. valleyjunction.com
Cody Johnson, May 9, Casey’s Center. Get ready, country fans: “CoJo” is coming to town, with special guest Clint Black. iowaeventscenter.com
Jim Brickman, May 9, The Ingersoll. The singer, songwriter, pianist and radio host with a devoted following plays two shows in the intimate dinner theater. theingersoll.com
Market to Market Relay, May 9, Jefferson to Des Moines. Teams of runners cover the 75 miles, step by step, from Jefferson’s Mahanay Bell Tower to downtown Des Moines. markettomarketrelay.com
Des Moines Symphony, May 9-10, Des Moines Civic Center. The orchestra wraps up its season with Richard Strauss’ brassy “Alpine” Symphony and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, featuring guest soloist Amaryn Olmeda. dmsymphony.org
Des Moines Community Orchestra, May 10, Sheslow Auditorium. The orchestra’s “Mozart & Motherhood” program honors both on Mother’s Day. desmoinescommunityorchestra.org
Karrin Allyson, May 14-15, Noce. Whether she sings new material or jazz standards, the five-time Grammy nominee tells a story with every song. nocedsm.com
Choir! Choir! Choir! May 15, Temple Theater. The popular sing-along show teaches the audience how to belt out anthems from Queen. It’s safe to say you’ve never heard anything like it. dmpa.org
Rupert Wates, May 16, First Unitarian Church. The prolific singer-songwriter from London rounds out the church’s 15th annual Progressive Voices concert series. ucdsm.org
Karla Bonoff, May 16, Temple Theater. The singer-songwriter who’s written hits for the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt comes to town to step into the spotlight herself. dmpa.org
“Cinderella,” May 16-17, Des Moines Civic Center. Ballet Des Moines and the Des Moines Symphony team up for the first time to stage the classic fairytale set to Prokofiev’s famous 1945 score. balletdesmoines.org
Valley Junction Arts Festival, May 17, Fifth Street, West Des Moines. Local and regional artists set up shop, rain or shine, at the annual showcase of creativity. valleyjunction.com
CelebrAsian. Photo: Iowa Asian Alliance / MeenaSnaps / PhotosbyTrang
CelebrAsian, May 22-23, Western Gateway. The exuberant festival celebrates dozens of Asian cultures with music, dancing, cultural exhibits and food. So. Much. Tasty. Food. iowaasianalliance.com
Decoration Day and Baseball, May 24, Living History Farms in Urbandale. Learn about the post-Civil War origins of Memorial Day during a ceremony and procession, followed by a game of 1870s baseball. lhf.org
Dam to DSM Half Marathon, May 30, Saylorville to downtown. The 47-year-old race formerly known as Dam to Dam starts on the Saylorville Dam and finishes with a well-earned party at Cowles Commons. damtodsm.com
“I’m Gonna Marry You, Tobey Maguire,” June 5-14, Stoner Theater. Iowa Stage Theatre Co. stages the dark comedy about an awkward eighth-grade fangirl who sets out to kidnap the movie star at the heart of his “Spiderman” fame in 2004. iowastage.org
“Noises Off,” June 5-21, Des Moines Playhouse. Murphy’s Law prevails in this comedy where everything wobbles (deliberately) off the rails. Because, really, who doesn’t love a fiasco? dmplayhouse.com
Greek Food Fair, June 5-7, St. George Greek Orthodox Church. For nearly 50 years, the annual celebration of all things Greek has offered a feast for the senses. Go hungry. facebook.com/ StGeorgeDSM
Iowa Craft Brew Festival, June 6, Water Works Park. A full day of beer, cider, food trucks and music? See you there. iowacraftbrewfestival.com
Zenith Chamber Music Festival, June 9-13, downtown venues. See professional musicians from around the world, as well as local artists during the free summer concert series dedicated to classical instruments. zenithchambermusicfestival.org
Principal Charity Classic, June 10-14, Wakonda Club. The annual tournament draws PGA Tour champions to help raise millions of dollars for programs to support local youth. principalcharityclassic.com
PrideFest, June 12-14, East Village. Capital City Pride’s flagship weekend offers an array of music, dancing, drag royalty, a 5K run/walk/sashay and not one but two parades — one for people, another for pets. capitalcitypride.org
Emancipation Day and Election Day, June 13, Living History Farms, Urbandale. Even though Iowa entered the Union as a free state in 1846, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 still reverberated among Black Iowans, including many who had once been enslaved. Learn more about Juneteenth and, more locally, the mayoral election in Walnut Hill. lhf.org
“Topographies,” June 13-Sept. 20, Des Moines Art Center. The museum’s next big group show explores how artists create maps to process information, express ideas and navigate a complex world. desmoinesartcenter.org
“The State of Water,” June 16-Aug. 11, Living History Farms. Photos by the Guggenheim Award-winning photographer Brad Temkin showcase the beauty of water in all its forms. lhf.org
Iowa Juneteenth, mid-June, various venues. Celebrate freedom and Black heritage at a handful of community events around the city. iowajuneteenth.org
Free Range Music and BBQ Festival, June 20, Jasper Winery. The second annual festival will feature a mouthwatering lineup of local barbecue, craft brews, live music and family-friendly fun. freerangemusicfestival.com
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, June 26-27, Sheslow Auditorium. The chorus rounds out its 25th season of “music that matters” with a Silver Party concert at Drake University. dmgmc.org
Des Moines Arts Festival, June 26-28, Western Gateway. The city welcomes artists, musicians and visitors for a weekend of creative celebration around the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. desmoinesartsfestival.org
Des Moines Metro Opera, June 26-July 19, Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola. This year’s festival features Puccini’s “Tosca,” Karol Szymanowski’s “King Roger” and Carlisle Floyd’s “Of Mice and Men.” dmmo.org
Valley Junction Pride, June 28, Fifth Street, West Des Moines. The neighborhood celebrates the LGBTQ community with live music, food, vendors and a full-on street party. valleyjunction.com
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