In September 2009, the Des Moines Art Center and the City of Des Moines partnered to open a 4.4-acre sculpture park in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. It features 27 works of art donated to the museum by John and Mary Pappajohn from their renowned collection of contemporary sculptures.

Where Earth's elements of stone, wood and metals are blended into unique works of art, stone oil lamps, jewelry, vases, fountains and furniture for your home and garden. Additionally, Light the Earth can create custom pieces of "Memory Art" from your own unique stones that hold special significance to you.

The Craft Cottage is located in Van Meter, 20 miles west of Des Moines. It's a cozy home that provides space for scrapbooking, stamping and quilting. The Craft Cottage also works well for parties and club gatherings. You can rent the cottage for a few hours or for a weekend.

ArtFest Midwest 'The Other Art Show' was initiated in response to several local artists’ requests for a show that would include more Iowa artists. Now the largest fine art show in Iowa, ArtFest Midwest features approximately 230 artists with the majority from Iowa and the Midwest. The show is held the same weekend as the downtown art show. June 23-24, 2012

ArtFest West features affordable fine art in the pedestrian-friendly outdoor setting of Village of Ponderosa - a new forward-thinking commercial/residential community in an upscale West Des Moines suburb. Free admission attracts shoppers looking for a fun-filled weekend of good food and entertainment punctuated by a vast variety of artistic mediums.

The Des Moines Arts Festival returns June 22-24, 2012, to Western Gateway Park in Downtown Des Moines. The Festival features visual art, live music, performing arts and activities along with the Interrobang Film Festival, John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Jazz and Wine Pavilion and plenty of eclectic food booths providing guests with an extraordinary community arts and culture festival!

See website for upcoming events.

Support local agriculture and buy direct from Iowa farmers while shopping the Downtown Farmers' Market. The Downtown Farmers' Market presents Iowa producers from 51 counties across Iowa, offering fresh fruit, vegetables and so much more. Come for the freshness and stay for the fun! Regular market runs every Saturday from May 5 - October 27, 2012.

HeartFest is a juried fine art show held at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines just in time for Valentine's Day gift-giving. HeartFest is a partner show to June's ArtFest Midwest 'The Other Art Show' and October's ArtFest West. Featured are mid-western artists' works in metal, fiber, clay, jewelry, photography, painting and mixed media. February 11-12, 2012

The Iowa Events Center provides clean, state-of-the-art facilities that are well suited for conventions, meetings, tradeshows and entertainment events from 20 people to 17,000. With a new $42 million construction project transforming Vets into meeting, convention and ballroom space, the facility will boast the state’s largest ballroom, 150,000 square feet and 37 meeting rooms opening January 2012.

The Latino Heritage Festival is the largest Latino Festival in the state, as well as the largest ethnic event in the state. The Festival offers traditional foods, authentic arts, crafts, cultural exhibitors, educational areas, entertainment and a Saturday night street dance.

"Nothing Compares" to the annual August extravaganza that inspired the novel State Fair & is featured in the New York Times bestseller "1000 Places to See Before You Die." The Iowa State Fair features one of the world’s largest livestock shows, mouth-watering foods, fabulous free entertainment & zany contests. Get ready to bite into all the food, fun and festivities August 9-19. It’s Fairlicious!

The theme for iWeek 2012 is imagination. This event will feature special presenters, interactive workshops, informative sessions and hands-on demonstrations. iWeek is free and open to the public.

Music Under the Stars has been a favorite summertime tradition in Des Moines since the concert series began on the State Capitol grounds in 1947. The concerts feature the Des Moines Metro Concert and Big Bands performing a wide variety of great music. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets!

The Principal Charity Classic works to raise funds "Fore our Kids" by conducting an annual Champions Tour Golf Tournament held at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, May 29 - June 3, 2012. See golf's greatest players like Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Fred Funk and defending Champion Bob Gilder. All proceeds benefit children's charities in Iowa.

Rockin' Des Moines all summer long with hot bands, cold drinks and great food all in a fun, family-friendly setting! Rendezvous on Riverview features live music from some of Central Iowa's best bands. This free concert series is held every Friday night in June and July.

Iowa's premier wine tasting event draws over 1,800 people each year. Enjoy an impressive line-up of international, national and Iowa wineries, as well as seminars and entertainment. Proceeds from Winefest go to "Connecting Kids and Culture", a program designed to provide culturally-enriching educational opportunities for elementary students in Greater Des Moines- June 7-9, 2012.

The museum honors black soldiers of WWI and female soldiers of WWII. The 20,000 square foot building features artifacts, photographs and interactive exhibits, situated on a referent five-acre park.

The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, Iowa's premier veterans museum, displays artifacts and tells the story of Iowa veterans from the Mexican War of 1846 to present day. It also has a reference library on military subjects and Iowa veterans. This is the perfect venue for a two-hour outing.

Experience Iowa like never before! Filled with dozens of hands-on interactive exhibits, the Iowa Hall of Pride tells the stories of Iowa's communities and their heroes. It's fun for kids, adults and families and a great venue for group meetings and events. All Iowa students, grades K-12, are admitted free.

Salisbury House and Gardens, a beautiful 42-room mansion built in the 1920s, is filled with original art, rare books and antique furnishings from around the world. Come for a memorable experience that takes you back in time! Or attend one of many public programs we host throughout the year.

Iowa's history lives on in this modern granite and glass structure at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol. Unique permanent and temporary exhibits explore the people, places, events and issues of Iowa's past. The museum features a genealogy and Iowa history library, museum store and an open atrium area under glass peaks.

Terrace Hill, a National Historic Landmark and Iowa Governor's Residence, is among the best examples of American Victorian Second Empire architecture. The Carriage House at Terrace Hill Gift Shop, located in the original ice house, features Terrace Hill and Iowa related merchandise.

The magnificent Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates is home to the World Food Prize, known as the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture." Visit this beautifully restored 19th-century building and learn through art and storytelling about global achievements in science, agriculture and humanitarian efforts. Please call for tours.

Ankeny Community Theatre has been the place for people of all ages to participate in or to enjoy watching live theater since 1981. Six shows are performed yearly. See our website to find out what is showing next. Call or email tickets@ankenycommunitytheatre.com to reserve your tickets today! ACT also holds the ever popular Children's Drama Camp each summer.

Ballet Des Moines, established in 2002, is re-establishing professional ballet in Central Iowa. Our goals are to provide aspiring dancers with world-class training and opportunities once offered only in larger cities; and to bring world-class dance entertainment to audiences in Iowa and ultimately throughout the United States.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines presents the best live, professional theater direct from Broadway. Its President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, is a member of The Broadway League.

The Des Moines Symphony is a not-for-profit, full-service professional orchestra formed in 1937 to enrich, educate and entertain the community. Performances include seven pairs of Masterworks concerts, the traditional pops performance on New Year's Eve, education and family concerts and other special events in its home at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.

Since 1923, the 1,250-seat theater has hosted an array of national and local performing arts talents. Hoyt Sherman Place is known for excellent acoustics, balcony seating and unique historic interior. The theater is available for public and private performances and for corporate meetings.