Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register, showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa.
‘Waitress’
July 16-20: How can pie baking change your life? For Jenna, a waitress at Joe’s Diner, winning a pie-baking contest could help her escape her husband. “Waitress” is based on the movie and later Broadway musical with songs by Sarah Bareilles. You’ll be dreaming of a slice of marshmallow mermaid pie. See it at 7:30 p.m. on July 16-19 and at 2 p.m. on July 20 at the Des Moines Community Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines. JoAnn Beeman, a local home baker, won a competition to find the best apple pie in the state when “Waitress” first came to Des Moines in 2017. Her salted caramel apple crumble pie inspired her to launch Once Upon an Apple Pie, and miniature versions of her pie will be on sale at the shows. Tickets start at $29 at dmplayhouse.com.
Shakespeare on the Lawn: ‘The Comedy of Errors’
July 16-20: What happens when a set of identical twins, each unaware of each other’s existence and both named Antipholus, and their servants, another set of twins who also don’t know about each other and both named Dromio, meet? The quartet converges in the Greek city of Ephesus with misunderstandings, slapstick comedy, clever turns of the tongue, and laughs along the way during William Shakespeare’s play “The Comedy of Errors.” Shakespeare on the Lawn presents this performance at the Salisbury House & Gardens, 4025 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines, for shows at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 at shakespeareonthelawn.com.
Fridays in the Park
July 18: Head to Water Works Park, 2251 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, for Fridays in the Park from 5 to 9 p.m. with brews and bites, all served by food trucks and mobile food vendors in Des Moines, The event takes place east of the Lauridsen Amphitheater at the Biergarten and includes yard games. A portion of the revenue generated from Fridays in the Park will be donated to the Water Works Park Foundation. Baan Vaan Ice Cream & Goodies, Hotel Luna Food Truck, and Harrington’s Diner Car will be on hand.
Clive Festival
July 18-19: This community event at Clive Parks & Recreation Department, 1900 N.W. 114th St., Clive, includes live music, Thunder Over Clive Fireworks, a giant Slip-N’ Slide, bounce houses, activities for kids, food trucks, a kids art expo, the Clive Running Festival, Clive Lions Club pancake breakfast, Touch a Truck, a cardboard boat regatta at the Clive Aquatic Center, and more. For times and a complete list of events, visit cityofclive.com.
Waukee Arts Festival
July 18-19: Make it a day of art when the Waukee Arts Festival takes place at 1255 Warrior Lane, Waukee, from 5 to 10 p.m. July 18 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 19. The Waukee Area Arts Council expects more than 10,000 people from across the Midwest to attend this event with more than 100 artists, concerts, acoustic music, food vendors, a beer garden, activities for the kids, and entertainment. The Second Annual Waukee Fine Arts Footrace takes place at 7:30 a.m. July 19. For a full schedule, visit waukeeartsfestival.org.
Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival
July 19: Bluegrass bands take over Tower Park, 4900 Hickman Road, Des Moines, from 2:30 to 10 p.m. for the Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival. The free event includes 20 food trucks and vendors and three local breweries with beer for sale. Bands include The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Weary Ramblers, Songs from the Road Band, and more. For the full list of artists and vendors, visit beaverdalebluegrass.com.
Des Moines Water Lantern Festival
July 19: Riverview Park, 710 Corning Ave., Des Moines, hosts the Water Lantern Festival from 6 to 10 p.m. For $57.99, set a lantern afloat on the Des Moines River. The event includes food trucks, music, activities, and thousands of lanterns lighting up the night. Visit waterlanternfestival.com/events/des-moines for tickets.
Bop To The Top
July 19: Take part in a “High School Musical” sing-along night celebrating Disney and Nickelodeon bangers as well as other pop hits from the 2000s and 2010s at Bop to the Top. Tickets for the 9 p.m. show at Vibrant Music Hall, 2938 Grand Prairie Pkwy, Waukee, start at $19 at vibrantmusichall.com.
National Hot Dog Day and Daiquiri Day celebration
July 19: The Cheese Bar, 2925 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, celebrates National Hot Dog Day and National Daiquiri Day with a party from 4 p.m. to close with specialty daiquiris and hot dogs from The Good Butcher. Proceeds from sales go toward One Tail at a Time, a non-profit organization that rescues and shelters homeless dogs from overpopulated shelters. Dogs can join the festivities on the patio. The Cheese Bar, one of the Des Moines Register’s Essential Restaurants in 2025, also adds late-night hours, open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with Snacks & Daiqs all evening long.
National Ice Cream Day celebration
July 20: Get a taste of Bauder’s ice cream with chocolate sundaes and peppermint bars at the Third Annual Ice Cream Social at the Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E. Fifth St., Des Moines. The event from 1 to 3 p.m. includes information on the history of ice cream in Des Moines.
Burton Cummings
July 20: You may not know Burton Cummings by name, but you do know his music. The frontman for The Guess Who recorded and wrote/co-wrote hits such as “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “American Woman,” “Share the Land,” “Hand Me Down World,” “Albert Flasher,” “Star Baby,” “Clap for The Wolfman” and “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature.” As a solo artist, Burton sang “Stand Tall,” “I’m Scared,” “You Saved My Soul” and his signature “My Own Way to Rock.” He brings his music to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, for an 8 p.m. show. Find tickets starting at $69 at hoytsherman.org.
Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour
Through Sept. 30: Check out 45 bookstores across the state during the Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour. Each stop on the tour includes a passport stamp for items purchased and a bingo challenge. Participants can win prizes including audiobook credits, gift cards to bookstores, and more. Last year, the tour brought in an estimated $140,000 in sales to participating stores, with more than 4,000 individual passports distributed. Locally, find stops at Beaverdale Books, Dungeon’s Gate, The Little Book, Nos Books, Reading in Public, Storyhouse Bookpub, and Wandering Raccoon. See the full list and details online at iowaindiebookshoptour.com.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do in Des Moines this weekend include ‘Waitress,’ ice cream, and bluegrass
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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