As the summer season comes to an end, spend Labor Day weekend taking a break outside. Explore Greater Des Moines and all the different events happening throughout the long weekend.  

RVTV at Outlets of Des Moines
Labor Day kicks off a monumental week in Iowa – CyHawk Week. WHO Channel 13 is heading out for RVTV for the 27th year with the first stop in Altoona on Monday, September 5. Spend the afternoon and evening at Outlets of Des Moines celebrating the start of rivalry week. From 3 – 10 p.m., enjoy food trucks, games, vendors, a mechanical bull, and so much more. There will be live music from Royce Johns and Cody Hicks, as well as appearances from Carson King and Cy and Herky! WHO Channel 13 will broadcast at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and end the night with the 10 p.m. broadcast. Can't make it on Monday? They will finish off their week in Indianola on Friday, September 9!

Last Day at the Bay with Sean Kingston
Celebrate the last day of Adventureland Bay at Adventureland on Monday, September 5. Award-winning singer Sean Kingston will be taking over the bay for a concert at 4:30 p.m., and there will be DJs all day long. There will be an exclusive 21+ section, but all ages are welcome throughout the water park all day long. Celebrate the end of summer with one last pool day! 

Labor Day Weekend Patio Fest
Head out to Confluence Brewing Company for Labor Day Weekend Patio Fest! All weekend long they will have live, local music for your enjoyment on the patio! Along with the live music, there will be food trucks and trivia on Monday night. No tickets or cover charge required; all you have to do is show up.  

Water Lantern Festival
The trend that has taken over the internet is coming to Des Moines Labor Day weekend. Water Lantern Festival will be at Water Works Park on Saturday, September 3. Tickets start at $25.99, and this gets you the lantern set, pens to draw on your lantern, and a led candle to light up the water. The Instagram-worthy lanterns are said to carry hope, happiness, healing, and so much more. There will also be food trucks and live music for entertainment. The festival opens at 5 p.m., but the lantern launch begins at 8 p.m.

The Music of Whitney Houston
Grab your lawn chairs and head to Lauridsen Ampitheater at Water Works Park on Saturday, September 3 for a tribute to Whitney Houston with the Des Moines Symphony. Broadway sensation Rashidra Scott will join the symphony to celebrate the most-awarded female artist of all time. Hear all your favorite hits while enjoying a picnic or food trucks. If you decide you want more, there will be another concert on Sunday, September 4 featuring music from Hollywood Hits such has Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Both of these events are free and open to the public! 

Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow
Step back in time to when Kings and Queens ruled the land at The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow this weekend. The first of three weekends of the giant themed festival begins this weekend with Celtic Ceilidah, a celebration of dance. Experience entertainment all weekend long including jousting, street dancing, juggling, and so much more. Plus, after hours is 21+ with a special show and beverages from the bar. Tickets start at $19, and you can get a season pass for $35. Find your best costume and don’t miss out on the fun! 

REO Speedwagon and Styx
Go back to the 70s when REO Speedwagon and Styx with special guest Loverboy perform at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday, September 4 with their Live and Unzoomed Tour. If you’re feeling like you Can’t Fight This Feeling, you’ll want to go to the show. Tickets are still available for as low as $29.50 and the show starts at 6:45 p.m.