Top 8 Things To Do in Des Moines in March
Spring is on its way! See all the new cars (or just have a reason to get out of the house) at the All Iowa Auto Show, enjoy a night out at #IMOMSOHARD, or play with the dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest. Plan your March in Des Moines today.
Bookmark these other fun guides to enjoy your March and Spring Break:
- Spring Break in the Midwest
- Spring Break in Des Moines
- Easter in Des Moines
- Des Moines Spring Break Staycation
- St. Patrick’s Day Fun in Des Moines for Kids
All Iowa Auto Show
Address: Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When:
- Friday, February 28, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
- Saturday, March 1, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
- Sunday, March 2, 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Cost: Free admission
Check out all the newest cars at the All Iowa Auto Show. Each day will have a variety of activities. The Iowa Clean Cities Coalition will present the EV Summit at 3:00 PM each day. They will discuss all there is to know about living an EV (electric vehicle) lifestyle in Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol will be there with their Seat Belt Convincer, giving people the chance to experience a 5 mph head-on collision to learn the importance of wearing a seat belt. Benny from Spare Time will be there Friday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM to hand out exclusive coupons and take pictures. Alpha from the Iowa Wolves will make an appearance Friday 5:00 PM-6:30 PM for pictures and autographs. Be sure to come on Sunday for Family Day. Kids will get goodie bags, meet an animal from Blank Park Zoo, enjoy a visit with Cy the mascot from Iowa State, and an appearance by Cubbie Bear!
Family Fun Night with Des Moines Parks & Recreation
Address: Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center, 2100 S1E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
When: Saturday, March 1, 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Cost: $10 per person. Register here.
Join Des Moines Parks & Recreation for Family Fun Night. Meet live animals from the Blank Park Zoo, jump through the inflatable obstacle course, see a magician, make a special project with the Des Moines Botanical Garden, meet members of the Des Moines Police Department, say hi to the K-9 unit dog, tour a fire truck with the Des Moines Fire Department, test your video game skills, and play laser tag. Take a break and have a slice of pizza and drink to refuel.
Wine, Food & Beverage Showcase
Address: Des Moines Marriott Downtown, 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Friday, March 7, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Cost: Purchase tickets
- The Grand Showcase: $55 online or $65 at the door
- The Reserve Experience: $150
Plan a night out with your partner or friends at the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase. Featuring 30-40 of the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and distilleries in the area, the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase is Des Moines Metro Opera’s signature fundraiser. You can purchase the Reserve Experience and gain access to exclusive rare and fine wines from the private collections of members of The Wine Group, paired with high-end culinary creations from Aura Restaurant + Lounge, the Des Moines Embassy Club, Lucca, and Chellie’s Sugar Shack.
#IMOMSOHARD
Address: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314
When: Friday, March 14 at 7:30 PM
Cost: Purchase Tickets
- Tickets start at $39.50
Grab a few friends for a night out and attend the #IMOMSOHARD tour. #IMOMSOHARD, was created by Jen and Kristin. They are a hilarious duo with their relatable banter about womanhood, motherhood and friendship.
Jurassic Quest
Address: Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
When:
- Friday, March 14, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday, March 15, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday, March 16, 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Cost: Purchase tickets
- Kids Ultimate Admission (Ages 2-10) $36
- General Admission (Ages 11+) $22
Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest dino event. Children will get a chance to ride on the animatronic dinosaurs, jump in dinosaur bounce houses (socks are required), create a dinosaur craft, dig for fossils, meet baby dinos that are very life-like, run around with the adolescent dinosaurs, and greet the underwater sea creatures including the 50-foot megalodon! There will be a live interactive Raptor show and a “triceratots” soft play area. Learn more about the Jurassic Quest experience here.
Entirely Kids Day at the Des Moines Art Center
Address: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
When: Saturday, March 15, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
Cost: Free
Come explore the Des Moines Art Center at Entirely Kids Day. Learn all about the center’s current exhibition, Op Art: Abstract Illusion. There will be hands-on activities, performances, and artistic discoveries. Children will learn all about the world of optical illusions and artistic magic.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Address: Grand Ave, Downtown Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Monday, March 17, 12:00 PM
Cost: Free
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a Des Moines area tradition, hosted by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Central Iowa. With music, dancing and shenanigans, everyone will find something fun at the parade. Staging will start on Robert D. Ray Drive next to the Brenton Skating Plaza. The parade will turn on Grand Ave and head west towards downtown. Bring chairs and a blanket and see what festive floats come out this year!
Twice Blessed Consignment Sale
Address: Shepherd’s Flock Early Learning Center, 3900 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265
When:
- Friday, March 28 9:00 AM-7:00 PM
- Saturday, March 29, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM
Cost: Free to attend
Children go through A LOT of clothing. Luckily, we have a variety of consignment sales and shops around Des Moines. The Twice Blessed Consignment Sale is a great place to shop for clothing, toys and more. You can also be a seller and clear out those closets. The sale is an annual fundraiser for Shepherd’s Early Flock Learning Center so part of each purchase will go to the school.