Perfect little place to have a wedding! Loved the space and the manager lady was so wonderful to…read morework with! She was in top of everything and very helpful!

This was actually an accidental stop, as I wanted to re-route my GPS. The building is open limited…read moredays & hours according to the sign in the window, and of course not open the day we stopped. We did take a walk along the grounds to the back of the building where they have a small set up of a town(?). Good place to stretch the legs and let the kids run around for a few minutes. Lots of parking available.

I have attended the Zenith Chamber Music Festival for the last two years, and I love it! Our kids…read moreloved it too.

Sheslow Auditorium is an absolutely beautiful theater in the center of Drake University Campus! I…read morehave been here for a few events and every single one I have been impressed with the acoustics and sight lines of this theater! This is my kinda theater, you can tell it's older and has a lot of history, but has also been updated so you are comfortable and have the best concert going experience! The bathrooms are clean and modern. The shows that are put on by the Civic Music Group have wine and beer for sale but it's cash only, so bring some bucks! I have never sat in the balcony but it looks really cool and I bet it sounds awesome up there! All in all if you get the chance to see a performance or talk here.. Check it out, it's beautiful!

An annual tradition for my family on Thanksgiving weekend, and we are not alone. Seems like…read moreeveryone I knew went, and why not? Beautifully decorated trees, silent auction, kids activities, holiday shopping, Dutch pastries, local dance studio performances, and more! Indoors at the Iowa Events Center to escape the cold Iowa weather, only $5 admission and all this benefits Blank Children's Hospital. Did I mention several free, fun selfie stations? It's a must do!

This festival is 35 years old. It is for the benefit of Blank Children's Hospital! What a great…read morecause. This festival has a variety of activities (craft, lectures) plus shopping. They have snacks for purchase and they have a photo opportunity with Santa too... There were young and old alike that was partaking in this event! It is fun to see all the trees that individuals or companies decorated for this great organization. There are a few that are also available for purchase. If you are looking to see these trees you must hurry as this festival only runs from the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving to Sunday. It does not allow you to think about as it will be gone for another year in a blink of an eye.

I do enjoy new opportunities to support local vendors. This…read morewas my first trip here and so happy I got the chance to do so. I ment to write as soon as I got home from the event but I was in a sugar coma from the delicious ice cream from The Outside Scoop. I lucky got to go down Friday evening. Parking is marked on the opposite side of the street of the venue. As we walked up the food trucks were feeding the masses. We entered the main door, here you purchase the entrance fee as make your way in. Right inside is a couple vendors and a bar where you can wet your whistle. From here you climb a couple flights of steps and enter a room full of magic. Here the magic is made by multiple vendors that are all local. There was everything you can imagine. Beautiful hand made jewellery, soaps, music, clothes, food, coffee, wood products and more and more. The vendors change a little bit with talking with a few I can see they all like the inside venue. It had great light add even a sky light. I think I'll be visiting this market again.

Saturday was my first Legit Local Market, and I loved it…read more. It was also my first time at the Barnum Factory which is an incredible space for an event like this! Lots of local hand made and crafty type vendors, selling goods and have a good time.. Records playing, free coffee brewing, and artist talking shop.. I rolled in with my son who is 2 and he loved running around seeing all booths full of unique and local items from local businesses that might not have a store front! There was a bar, there was a food truck, there was plenty to buy and to see! Awesome bi-annual local event that truly shows the local love!

I get to review my one visit! Concert in the summer of '24…read more I cant believe that this is my first time here since this was built in 2019. It is rare that we go to an outdoor concert but I was able to find one that the hubby was interested in. We went early as I feared there would be a huge line to get in. We went about an hour before the concert. Came from the north on MLK and turned right into the park. Parking was extra and they lined us up on the lawn. There were people who looked like they had been there for awhile and enjoying the weather doing a little tailgating. We got our vehicle situated and pulled out our chairs. We walked only a little bit to security. You need to remove your chair from the carry bag and not take any big bags inside. The venue is nice open space. Flat ground. The Amphitheater was not even used, they had another stage set up in front of it. An area marked off for standing admission so you can be close to the stage. We opted for the general admission which put you further back and could sit. You snag a spot on the lawn and claim it. Food trucks and venues all around for your grazing pleasure. Everyone at our concert was respectful. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed the people watching. Had a couple drinks and enjoyed it all. We were far enough back that even with people standing up close to the stage we could still see and enjoy. The getting out of the parking venue is a pain. Only 1 major exit on our side and hundreds of cars trying to get out. Thank goodness for the traffic help otherwise we would have been there forever. It did take about 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot, but once back on MLK it was normal traffic.

It's great to have a new venue for live music in Des Moines! I went here this summer (2019) during…read morethe first year it has been open. I admit I rarely go to outdoor concerts so take that with a grain of salt. The amphitheater is located in Water Works Park. We went for the Ben Folds/Violent Femmes concert. Traffic was backed up on Fleur which did not anticipate. It was a 10 minute or so delay. Parking cost $10 which really was outrageous considering I did not see any actual parking lot! We parked along a road, then walked to join a long line of people waiting to enter. I enjoyed listening to the band we came to see. But since the place is brand new I have a few ideas for what could have made it better- Parking of course The whole venue is flat, why did they not slope the general admission area slightly to improve the view?

I heard about the Tallgrass Theater Company on the WHO Saturday morning news. They hosted the actor…read moreand actress in the play. When they said that Oleanna made people feel uncomfortable, I knew I had to see what the buzz was about it. I didn't know the Rex Mathes Auditorium existed prior to this play. It was $17/ticket and the theater itself is quite quaint. They had a little table in front of the entrance for a snack stand. It's pretty cool to find little pockets of art happening in the metro like this.

This event continues to get better year after year. And there is something for everyone:: live…read moremusic (3 stages!), parade, tons of kid events, food trucks, car show, craft sale, and so much more. Bring your family and friends for a good time.