The recent snow is enough to remind us that Des Moines winter is in full swing. Maybe there isn’t an outdoor farmer’s market or a state fair coming up, but there is still so much to do in downtown Des Moines near the Gray’s Station neighborhood. Whether you are a music lover, a sports fan, or anything in between, here are just a couple events and happenings this winter.

Botanical Blues

The Botanical Garden may not be your first thought for a winter weekend, but the Des Moines Botanical Garden Conservatory hosts Botanical Blues every Sunday until March 27^th. Listen to some of the best blues artists in the Midwest and enjoy beautiful landscapes inside of the cozy conservatory. With one hour shows at 1pm and 3pm every Sunday, Botanical Blues is the perfect quick trip from the Gray’s Station neighborhood.

Craft Bru Concert Series

Looking to enjoy music other music spots? You can enjoy local artists in Craft Bru every Friday and Saturday as part of the Craft Bru concert series. These artists will be singing from 7-10pm in this taproom with 60 rotating beers from all over the nation to choose from, not to mention fantastic giant pretzels. The best part for our Gray’s station residents, it’s located on the first floor of LINC at Gray’s Station, keeping you out of the cold as much as possible during the winter.

Des Moines Civic Center & More Music

If these aren’t enough music and entertainment to warm you up this winter, The Des Moines Civic Center and Hoyt Sherman have you covered. These locales are home of performances from both the Des Moines Symphony and the Des Moines Ballet this winter. There are also traveling musicals and shows every week this winter - just check out their full calendars. Make sure to get your tickets to Tootsie and Hadestown, the Tony-Award Winning Musical, before they sell out!

Looking for something more low-key and jazzier? Noce is literally a two-block walk from Gray’s Station and offers up poetry, jazz and cabaret-style nights all winter long.

Sledding

All of these are great ways to have fun and stay warm, but if you are willing to brave the cold to enjoy the city, sledding at Waterworks Park is calling your name. Grab a sled, a friend, (and kiddos if you have them) and head over to enjoy the park the only way you can in the winter: on a sled. With Des Moines being the capital of Iowa, the hill right in front of our beautiful capital building is another great sledding location, and it is lit at night for a beautiful experience! Sadly, Sleepy Hallow ski and tubing park is closed for yet another season, but they vow to be back for 2022’s next winter.

Iowa Wild and Wolves

Sports are a great escape, and Des Moines hometown hockey and basketball teams have games at Wells Fargo arena until April. Grab your tickets and get downtown to see the Iowa Wild play, with games all the time and so many home games left until the season ends in April. There are group rates, suites, birthday plans, and more options to enjoy watching the Wild or the Wolves play on the hardest surface in sports.

Teehee’s Comedy Club

For a good laugh, just a couple of blocks away from Gray’s Station, check out Teehee’s Comedy Club. With shows every weekend and a full bar, this is the perfect place to spend a wintry night. Teehee’s was founded by local comedians and has only been on the scene for a few years, but they know how to draw in great headliners from around the country. Besides, what warms you up on a cold night better than laughing?

There you have it. Downtown Des Moines has all kinds of events to keep you occupied this winter, all withing striking distance of our Gray’s Station community. Take an adventure this season to try one of the events you have never been to or return to an old favorite.

Nevertheless, we are proud to call downtown Des Moines our home.

Looking for more warm events? Check out the Catch Des Moines events calendar for even more options!