Holiday Hullabaloo
The holidays come to life at Holiday Hullabaloo! As soon as you step inside, you’ll see nothing but holiday décor including a toyland, candyland, Holiday Hullabaloo-villie, life-size snow globe, life-size gingerbread house, and so much more filling dozens of square feet. Make your trip even more exciting with a snowball fight or by visiting the sock ice skating rink. You can also get your photo with Santa and decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus’s kitchen. The fun doesn’t stop there, check out the different events you can attend throughout Holiday Hullabaloo. Get your tickets and see hours here.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines
It’s time for some Glühwein, bratwurst, and shopping at Christkindlmarket Des Moines, December 5 – December 8. Immerse yourself in the European culture at the Christmas market. Located a Principal Park, you can shop from vendors set up in wooden stalls, nosh on German foods, listen to diverse entertainment, and sip on warm mulled wine. Grab the coats and the kids and enjoy the free outdoor Christmas market.
Jolly Holiday Lights
Jolly Holiday Lights returns for another year – in a new location – the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Attendees will now be able to walk through all of the lighted displays and enjoy the Lights to Music Shows every evening. It will be free for you to walk through the lights. There will be five different ticketed events throughout the holiday season, some starting at $5. Jolly Holiday Lights opens on November 29 and runs through January 4, and will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Graze Craze
If you don’t have the time or the patience to make that Pinterest worthy charcuterie board, Urbandale’s newest establishment, Graze Craze, has you covered. Specializing in creating beautiful charcuterie boards, Graze Craze offers boards for anywhere from two to up to 20 people per board. Grab a seasonal board like the game day board, or an everyday board like the gone crazey. If you’re craving charcuterie but don’t want a full board, they also offer grab and go individual options, perfect for an afternoon snack.
Jingle in the Junction
Looking to shop locally for the holidays? Head to Historic Valley Junction on Thursday nights for Jingle in the Junction. Under the glow of 125,000 holiday lights, enjoy extended shopping hours in your favorite Valley Junction stores! This gives you time to find the perfect gift, enjoy dinner, as well as enjoy three blocks of entertainment. Thursdays through December 19.
East Village Holiday Promenade
Another great opportunity to shop locally, the East Village Holiday Promenade, happens on Friday evenings through December 20! Stroll the streets of Historic East Village for extended shopping hours with local shops. Along with shopping, enjoy holiday-themed activities, entertainment, and family-friendly fun.
The Peppermint Trail
Head to The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand on December 9 for a new Holiday event, The Peppermint Trail. More than 50 local shops, restaurants, and businesses will be featuring peppermint and holiday-themed specials. Enjoy Gingerbread house decorating, carolers, visits from Santa Claus, and so much more. Make a stop at Bauder’s for one of their famous Peppermint Ice Cream Bars, Crème for peppermint hot chocolate, and stop at The Station on Ingersoll for their Holiday pop-up, Miracle on Ingersoll. Learn about all the specials here.
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
The viral TikTok sensation KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot is officially open in West Des Moines. Diners get the opportunity to cook their own meal on a table-side grill, or in a hot pot, a large pot of broth. Enjoy meats, veggies, noodles, and so much more, all cooked to your liking. The best part? It’s all you can eat, so try all the combinations your hungry heart desires.
