Tree lighting 2026Des Moines · Iowa’s capital

Tree lighting in Des Moines, 2026.

We found five Christmas tree lightings in and around Des Moines whose organizer page shows a 2026 date, a time and a place. The first one on the list is Holiday Promenade Tree Lighting with Santa on Nov 20. None of these pages says the lighting is free, so none of the cards calls it free. Five do not state a price.

The quick answersChecked
When’s the tree lighting?Holiday Promenade Tree Lighting with Santa: Nov 20 · 5–8 p.m. Plus 4 more.5 lightingsIs it free?None of these pages states a price.See cards

Last checked · 5 lightings · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

By date

Every tree lighting, soonest first

Tap one for the time, the price and what the organizer says about little kids.

20NovFriHoliday Promenade Tree Lighting with Santa5–8 p.m. · Historic East Village21NovSatOutlets of Des Moines Tree Lighting5–7 p.m. · Outlets of Des Moines21NovSatTinseltown Tree Lighting6–6:30 p.m. · Water Works Park, Killinger Family Stage24NovTueMiracle on 86th Street Tree Lighting5:30 p.m. · Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park4DecFriWaukee WinterFestTree lighting 6 p.m. · Downtown Triangle

Tree lightings

Tree lightings in and around Des Moines

Date, time, place and price come from each organizer’s own page. A page that does not state a price stays “No pricing information.”

Dec4Fri

Waukee WinterFest

Downtown Triangle · Downtown Triangle

SantaCocoa
Time
Tree lighting 6 p.m.
Price
No pricing information

For little kids: Santa is part of the evening. Cocoa is part of the evening.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check the date, time and place.Suggest a lighting

Nearby cities

Tree lightings in nearby cities

Each city has its own list, checked the same way.

Before you go

Three things that make a lighting easier with little kids

TimeGo by the cardThe time on each card is the one posted when we checked. Recheck the organizer’s page the day you go.
WarmDress for standing stillA lighting is usually outdoors at dusk. A blanket for the stroller helps more than a walk would.
SpotStand where they can seeA tree lighting is short. A spot near the tree, not the back of the crowd, is the one little kids can see.

Keep planning

More for little kids in Des Moines

November: things to do in Des MoinesEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Des MoinesEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in Des MoinesFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in Des MoinesIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in Des MoinesStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branchSledding in Des MoinesSledding hills and snow tubing, with height rulesThanksgiving weekend in Des MoinesParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in Des MoinesKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in Des MoinesParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in Des MoinesBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in Des MoinesChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in Des MoinesChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesPlaygrounds in Des MoinesParks with a playground, restrooms and sheltersSplash pads in Des MoinesSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in Des MoinesStarting prices, ages and what’s includedYouth soccer, basketball and learn to skate in Des MoinesSoccer, basketball and learn to skate for kids under 6, with sign-up datesMore things to do with kids in Des Moines this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Tree lighting in Des Moines: the FAQ

Holiday Promenade Tree Lighting with Santa at Historic East Village: Fri, Nov 20, 2026, 5–8 p.m. Outlets of Des Moines Tree Lighting at Outlets of Des Moines: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 5–7 p.m.; tree lit at 6. Tinseltown Tree Lighting at Water Works Park, Killinger Family Stage: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 6–6:30 p.m.; Tinseltown runs 1–9 p.m. Miracle on 86th Street Tree Lighting at Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park: Tue, Nov 24, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Plus one more on this page.

None of the organizer pages on this list says the lighting is free. Each card says “No pricing information.”

Santa: Waukee WinterFest. Cocoa: Waukee WinterFest. Only what that lighting’s own page states is listed.

Parade dates and start times are on the Christmas parades page. This page is the tree lightings.

The month’s other dated listings are on the December page, and November’s are on the November page.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Nov 11, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. How we choose and check.

Get next week’s Santa, lights and holiday events for Des Moines in your inbox every Thursday.

One email a week. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.

Des Moines skyline