Jazz in July


Where: Hispanic Education Resource Center
828 SE Scott Avenue
Des Moines, IA

Website: www.metroarts.org
Date: Friday Jul 30, 2010
Time: 5 p.m.
Admission: free
Description: 

Salsa Vibe

Fridays at the Fountain


Where: Stone Brooke Terrace, behind Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Website: www.westglentowncenter.com
Date: Friday Jul 30, 2010
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Admission: $5
Description: 

Celebrate your weekend freedom at West Glen’s Fountain Plaza every Friday this summer. We’re serving up rockin’ hot tunes & wildly cool drinks. $5 admission gets you awesome giveaways, samples & prizes!

National Balloon Classic


Where: Memorial Balloon Field
15335 Jewell Street
IndianolaIA 50125

Website: www.nationalballoonclassic.com
Date: Friday Jul 30, 2010 - Saturday Aug 7, 2010
Time: All day events (see website)
Admission: $3/adults; 12 & under free
Description: 

41st annual hot air balloon festival. This is a great family event with 100 hot air balloons filling the sky, live stage entertainment, kid’s rides, food and beverage vendors. Some nights offer nite-glows, while other nights have fireworks.

Viva L'Italia/Italian Festival


Where: Downtown Des Moines
Court Avenue Bridge
Des MoinesIA 50309

Website: www.italianfestivalofiowa.com
Date: Friday Jul 30, 2010 - Saturday Jul 31, 2010
Time: varies (see website)
Admission: Free (except 5pm - midnight: $5)
Description: 

The 1st Annual Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa, “VIVA L’ITALIA” will feature live entertainment, artists and craft persons, imported Italian products, specialty items & food. Representatives from three local Italian American organizations (the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa, the Society of Italian-Americans & the Societa Vittoria Lodge) have banded together in their efforts to make this one of the premier Italian American festivals in the Midwest

DMACC Huff Theatre: Hotel Paradise


Where: Civic Center of Greater Des Moines' Stoner Theater
221 Walnut Street
Des MoinesIA

Website: www.civiccenter.org
Date: Friday Jul 30, 2010 - Sunday Aug 1, 2010
Time: Fri 8pm; Sat 3pm & 8pm; Sun 1pm
Admission: $1 all seats
Description: 

A teen pop-star checks into rehab, after signing a lifetime contract requiring that she remain 14 years old. This is a comedy with social commentary. This show features DMACC's best and brightest.

Barnyard Readers/Chickens


Where: Living History Farms
11121 Hickman Road
UrbandaleIA 50322

Website: www.lhf.org
Date: Tuesday
Jul 27, 2010 - Thursday Aug 5, 2010
Time: 
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Admission: varies (see below)
Description:  Do you know a 3, 4, or 5-year-old that cannot get enough of farm animals? If so, then this 90-minute reading & activity filled program will be perfect for them! The program begins at the
Living History Farms Visitor Center, where they gather to read a book or two about each week’s featured animal.

IAHSAA Boys State Baseball Tournament


Where: Principal Park
One Line Drive
Des MoinesIA 50309

Website: www.iahsaa.org
Date: Friday
Jul 23, 2010 - Saturday Jul 31, 2010
Time: varies
Admission: see website

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat


Where: The Des Moines Playhouse
831 42nd Street
Des MoinesIA 50312

Website: www.dmplayhouse.com
Date: Friday
Jul 16, 2010 - Sunday Aug 8, 2010
Time: Weds. - Fri.: 7:30pm; Sundays @
2pm
Admission: $18 - $29 (discounts for students, seniors; group pricing available)
Description: 

Andrew Lloyd Webber's first big hit is a retelling of the story of Joseph, who can interpret dreams, and his 11 jealous brothers.

Iowa Artists 2010


Where: Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312

Website: www.desmoinesartcenter.org
Date: Friday Jun 11, 2010 - Sunday Sep 19, 2010
Time: Art Center hours
Admission: Free
Description:

Iowa Artists 2010 features the work of 15 artists, selected from a large & richly talented pool of entries. Working in various methods & media, they represent painting, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, video & performance.

Nature Play Dates


Where:
various parks - Greater Des Moines, IA

Website: www.leadingyououtdoors.org
Date: Wednesday Jun 9, 2010 - Wednesday Aug 4, 2010
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Admission: Free
Description: 

Explore, discover & play in your local parks with a Polk County Naturalist. Meet families interested in getting their children outdoors for natural play & discovery. Wear clothes & shoes that can get wet & dirty! We may be hiking, discovering life in a log or playing in the creek.  This is a morning of adventure & discovery with curiousity being the most important ingredient!
SCHEDULE:
June 9: Jester Park Playscape
June 23: Fort Des Moines Part, Shelter #1
July 7: Easter Lake Park, Shelter #4
July 21: Brown's Woods
August 4: Jester Park, Shelter #5

Going Places Exhibit


Where:
State Historical Museum
600 E. Locust
Des Moines, IA 50309
Website: www.iowahistory.org
Date: Saturday May 15, 2010 - Wednesday Aug 11, 2010
Time: Tues-Saturday 9-4:30pm; Sunday 12-4:30pm
Admission: Free
Description:  The State Historical Museum will be “Going Places” when it opens a National Endowment for the Humanities exhibit that explores society’s transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles.
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Community Events Calendar



 

Other Things to Do Around Central Iowa:

Guided Tours of Terrace Hill
Terrace Hill, 2300 Grand Avenue. Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission: $5 adults, $2 children ages 6-12. Terrace Hill is open from March through December for tours. Guided tours are given Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the hour and the half hour. Terrace Hill is closed to tours on Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Reservations are not required for groups of ten or fewer. Parking is available on Forest Drive. For questions, call (515) 281-3604

Honor the Colors: Iowa's Civil War Battle Flags
State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street. Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission: Free. Original equipment, period prints and paintings, and uniforms wills be featured at the State Historical Building. Highlighting selected original battle flags, the Historical Society will tell how the Civil War Battle Flags in the Capitol will be preserved.

Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge
Experience the breathtaking beauty of over 5,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and native Midwest wildlife. The Refuge reconstructs the native plant and animal communities that greeted Iowa's earliest settlers. Events are ongoing. For more information, visit
tallgrass.org

Salisbury House
Visit this 42 room mansion modeled after the King's House in Salisbury, England. This American estate is located on a 10-acre plot of woodlands in the heart of Des Moines. Built between 1923 and 1928, the house has ongoing special events. For more information, visit
salisburyhouse.org

Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave. - Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays and the first Friday of each month. Free. 277-4405.

Des Moines Botanical Center, 909 E. River Drive - Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday. $2 adults, $1 seniors and children ages 6-15, Sundays free. 323-8900.

State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust St. - Museum hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Free admission. Free parking in lot east of building. 281-4011.

Terrace Hill, 2300 Grand Ave. - Tours 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday on the half hour. Adults $5, children $2. First Lady Teas held the third Monday of each month. 281-3604.

Beginning Salsa - 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio, 2745 Douglas Ave. $7 per session. 277-3545.

Night Club Dance - 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio, 2745 Douglas Ave. $7 per session. 277-3545.

Farm House Museum, Knoll Road, Iowa State University, Ames - Tours available through the National Historic Landmark home, the first building constructed on what is now the ISU campus. Includes furnishings from the 1860s to 1910. Open noon-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays (closed Saturdays). Free admission. Tours available for 10 or more. (515) 294-3342.

Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum, 3702 Convenience Blvd., Ankeny - Featuring WWII trainers, memorabilia, uniforms and more. Open by appointment. Free. 964-8556.

Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, 7700 N.W. Beaver Dr., Johnston - Featuring exhibits on Iowa military history from 1846 to the present. The current exhibit includes archaeological materials recovered from the World War I Camp Dodge incinerator. Free. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. 252-4531.

Science Center of Iowa, 401 W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway - Center hours: Monday-Wednesday 9am-6pm, Thursday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. The SCI IMAX Dome Theater may present films during and outside general facility hours. $7.50 adults, $5.50 children ages 2-12 and seniors age 65 and older are $6.50. 515-274-6868 or www.sciowa.org.