A Year in Des Moines: Your 2026 Seasonal Activities Guide

Des Moines has a full calendar locked in for 2026, no matter the weather. Summer is already in full swing with the Hinterland Music Festival kicking off July 30 and running through August 2. The Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market is on Saturday mornings from May through October, and the Iowa State Fair hits in mid-August. For a quick cool-down, aquatic centers such as Cascade Falls and Valley View are open for the season, according to the city’s summer guide.

These are the kind of dates you want to circle now, because once the heat breaks, the fall lineup shifts into apples, pumpkins, and flea markets. The Iowa State Fair Flea Market runs monthly through the summer, while Upstream Gardens offers You-Pick produce and Wills Family Orchard serves up apple treats. For pumpkins, Howell’s Farm is the go-to spot. Source materials from Catch Des Moines peg these as the core fall offerings.

Winter and Spring: Ice, Blooms, and Parades

Winter in Des Moines doesn’t mean hibernation. Brenton Skating Plaza will have ice skating from January 1 through January 31, 2026. The Winterfest Market is set for January 24, and the Winter Blues Fest follows on February 13-14. Sledding is available at Winter Park. These dates come from city recreation guides and the Des Moines Mom winter bucket list. Registration for West Des Moines summer programs opened March 3, 2026, according to the West Des Moines Parks and Recreation department.

Spring arrives with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, followed by the blooms at the Arie den Boer Crabapple Arboretum. Tulip Time happens in Pella, and the Renaissance Faire takes over Sleepy Hollow the first three weekends in May. Strawberry picking at Center Grove Orchard rounds out the season. Des Moines Parks and Recreation has already published its Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Activities Guide, so residents can plan ahead.

Plan Ahead, The Guides Are Live

The key takeaway: these programs and events are on the books, but some require early registration. West Des Moines released its Summer 2026 Program Guide, with resident registration opening March 3, 2026. Des Moines Parks and Recreation’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Activities Guide is already available, according to the city’s official recreation publication. For summer 2026, the city’s digital flip book lists all the aquatic center hours and fair schedules. If you’re eyeing the Hinterland Music Festival, mark July 30-August 2. For winter ice skating at Brenton Skating Plaza, January 1-31 is your window. The best advice: grab the guides now and lock in your plans before the seasons slip by.