Family events in Des Moines, IA

This monthly pork loin dinner fundraiser serves a $10 meal featuring pork loin with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and a roll. Guests can dine in or choose carryout. Drinks and desserts are available for an additional charge.

A trivia night celebrating the movies and characters of a beloved film studio. Expect questions about princesses and villains, animated characters, and touching scenes from childhood favorites. Play solo or team up to put your knowledge to the test. Registration is required.

The Jason Wells Band performs a blend of late 60s and 70s blues, jazz, and rock and roll as part of Music in the Junction, a weekly concert series held in the beverage garden at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Years of touring and performing shape Jason’s music, with songs drawn from lived rock and roll experience. The event takes place in Historic Valley Junction, and the beverage garden is situated in Railroad Park. Admission is free and suitable for all ages.

A camp-inspired fundraiser supports Camp Fire Heart of Iowa in creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for central Iowa youth. It brings the spirit of camp to life with activities, music, food, and a cozy campfire, along with a s'more. Camp Fire youth will share how their time at camp has supported their growth and contributions to the community. The event welcomes alumni, supporters, families, campers, and community members.

Friday nights at Skate South put the spotlight on family time with roller skating set to lively music and glowing lights, plus a pizza special each week. It brings back the classic rink experience many grew up with and makes space for new memories on wheels. Mark a birthday, meet up with friends, or simply enjoy time together as a family while you skate. The focus is on fun, connection, and swapping screen time for shared laughs and laps around the floor.

A weekly Pokémon Trading Card Game league at Never Bored Games in Norwalk offers structured, beginner-friendly, community-focused play where participants can learn, build, battle, and grow. Expect three Swiss rounds each week with league points tracked and monthly leaderboard rewards, all in a welcoming yet competitive setting that is open to all ages. A free learn-to-play session is available before league play begins, and those who already have a deck can jump straight into matches. Entry is $5 per week, or included at no extra cost with the purchase of a Never Bored League Deck. The in-store Training Grounds make upgrading and building decks affordable, featuring bulk Pokémon sorted by type, a dedicated Trainer section, energy on hand, and bulk pricing that encourages experimentation. Ready-to-play preconstructed League Decks, Fire Surge and Lightning Rush, are available and each includes a complimentary league entry. The goal is simple, to prioritize playing Pokémon while fostering a consistent, welcoming competitive community in Norwalk where newcomers and returning players alike can improve and compete.

Book lovers can explore a wide range of clean or Christian reads from local authors across many genres. Show support for Iowa Christian writers while discovering fresh titles for yourself and thoughtful gifts for family and friends.

Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k in Des Moines brings together runners and walkers of all paces for a supportive, family-friendly day featuring multiple distances, including a half marathon, 10k, 5k, 1 mile, and a Kids Dash. Packet pickup is available before the start. Kids Dash participants meet at the start line and are guided to the starting area, the National Anthem precedes the main races, and live results with awards can be found at the registration tent after participants finish. All entries come with thoughtful perks. Expect chip-timed racing with live results, complimentary race photos, post-race snacks at the finish, and event keepsakes. Registration for the half marathon, 10k, and 5k includes a custom bib, a specially designed shirt, and a finisher medal crafted for the event. The 1 mile option is untimed and also includes a custom bib, a specially designed shirt, and a finisher medal. The Kids Dash is an untimed experience for ages 10 and under that includes a mini bib, a youth-sized shirt, and a medal designed for the kids event, and children who prefer to run the dash without the swag may do so at no cost. Youth pricing is available for the 5k and 10k, with entry for ages 12 and under set at 17 dollars. To guarantee a shirt, register by midnight two Thursdays before race day.

Southside Sunday Market offers a lively community marketplace set up outside Genesis Health Club at Southridge Mall. Shoppers can explore fresh local produce, homemade baked goods, and a variety of handcrafted art, jewelry, and other goods. Hot food and food trucks are part of the experience, with more than 30 local vendors to discover. Admission is free and the atmosphere is kid and family friendly. Paying with cash is appreciated because it helps small vendors avoid processing fees and keep more of each sale, though most also accept credit or debit.

Talk face to face with local breeders and reptile businesses while exploring a show packed with thousands of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and feeders. A large selection of supplies will also be available to the public, including enclosures and tanks, bedding, toys, and decorative items. Families are welcome to explore together. VIP and general admission tickets are sold at the door and do not sell out. Vendors accept credit cards and cash, and there is an ATM on site. The organizers host this as a community event, and all vendors are required to follow federal, state, county, and city laws regarding what they display or sell.

Spend Sunday at Skate South for a family-friendly skating session that keeps everyone moving. Enjoy lively music, an upbeat atmosphere, and time on wheels for skaters of every age. Make it a new tradition with skating available throughout the day, great tunes, and plenty of smiles as you create lasting memories together.