November 2026Des Moines · Iowa’s capital

November in Des Moines with little kids.

41 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Des Moines in November 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

41 listings · 19 free

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

18 listings

Nov 12 to Nov 15

Nov12Thu

Sing & Shake

Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library · 1250 SW District Dr., Ankeny, IA 50023

Free
When
Thursday, Nov 12
Time
10:45am–11:15am
Price
Free
Ages
Ages 0–5
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov12Thu

Story Time

Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library · 1250 SW District Dr., Ankeny, IA 50023

Free
When
Thursday, Nov 12
Time
10am–10:30am
Price
Free
Ages
Ages 0–5
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov13Fri

Friday Fun

Main Branch · 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50265

When
Friday, Nov 13
Time
10–11am
Price
No pricing information
Ages
Ages 0–5
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov14Sat

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309

Holiday lights
When
Saturday, Nov 14
Time
5pm–9pm
Price
$18 ages 1–13; under 1 free
Ages
Ages 0–13
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

4 listings

Nov 16 to Nov 22

Nov21Sat

Tinseltown Tree Lighting

Water Works Park, Killinger Family Stage · Des Moines

Parade or tree lighting
When
Saturday, Nov 21
Time
6–6:30 p.m.; Tinseltown runs 1–9 p.m.
Price
Not listed; the Tour de Cycle ride has a registration fee
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

12 listings

Nov 23 to Nov 29

Nov26Thu

Ankeny Turkey Trot

DMACC Ankeny Campus · Ankeny

Thanksgiving
When
Thursday, Nov 26
Time
Kids Dash 8:45 a.m.; 5K and 5K Kid's Division 9:00 a.m.
Price
Kids Dash $0; 5K Kid's Division $12.99; 5K $44.99
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov26Thu

Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero

Casey's Center · Downtown Des Moines

Thanksgiving
When
Thursday, Nov 26
Time
Thu Nov. 26 6:00 p.m.; Fri Nov. 27 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; Sat Nov. 28 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; Sun Nov. 29 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Price
No pricing information
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov26Thu

FAM Turkey Trot

Raccoon River Park, Coneflower Shelters · West Des Moines

Thanksgiving
When
Thursday, Nov 26
Time
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Price
$30 race fee plus $2.80 SignUp fee through Nov. 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.; $35 plus $3.10 after that through Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.; $5 off per person for groups of 4 or more
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov26Thu

The Des Moines Turkey Trot

Court Avenue District · Downtown Des Moines

Thanksgiving
When
Thursday, Nov 26
Time
5K and 5-mile 9:00 a.m.; Tot Trot 10:15–10:30 a.m.
Price
5K and 5-mile $54 race fee plus $5.11 SignUp fee through Nov. 22, then $58 plus $5.37; Tot Trot $15 plus $2.58 through Nov. 22, then $20 plus $2.90; family of 4 $198 plus $13.98 through Nov. 22
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov27Fri

Festival of Trees & Lights

Iowa Events Center, Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center · Downtown Des Moines

Thanksgiving
When
Friday, Nov 27
Time
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Price
$10 per person; 2 and younger free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov29Sun

Pajamas and Pancakes with Santa

Des Moines Heritage Center · 120 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Santa
When
Sunday, Nov 29
Time
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., open-house style
Price
General family tickets $80 for 2 people to $180 for 7; with professional Santa photos $180 for 2 to $280 for 7; under 1 free and not counted in the family size
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

7 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Nov12to 30

Santa's Wonderland photos at Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops Altoona · Des Moines

SantaFree
When
Nov 8 to Dec 24
Time
Free reservations open up to seven days ahead; walk-ins are first come, first served
Price
Free 4x6 photo and shareable video; additional packages cost extra, and CLUB members get 20% off those packages
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov20to 30

Jolly Holiday Lights

Iowa State Fairgrounds · 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

Holiday lights
When
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Time
Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.; Dec 20–27 5:30–10 p.m.
Price
$25; bus, limo or RV $50; season pass $65 for unlimited 2026 visits; taxes and fees not included
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Nov27to 30

Winter Wonderscape

Reiman Gardens · 1407 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50011

Holiday lights
When
Nov 27 to Dec 27
Time
5:00–9:00 p.m. (last entry window 7:30–8:00 p.m.)
Price
No pricing information
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Every year

Usually in November, dates not posted yet

These come back most years. Each page keeps the last dates we confirmed, and the 2026 dates go up there once the organizer posts them.

Día de los Muertos at the Des Moines Art CenterUsually November, last time Nov 1, 2026

Guides

More November guides for Des Moines

Santa visits in Des MoinesBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in Des MoinesDrive-thru and walk-through displaysIndoor play for toddlersThings to do with toddlers in Des MoinesEvery year in Des MoinesAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in Des Moines

December: 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 notesTree lighting in Des MoinesDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsPlaygrounds 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

November in Des Moines: the FAQ

41 dated listings so far, including Baby Bounce (Nov 12), Family Storytime (Nov 12), Family Storytime (Nov 12) and Science Center of Iowa (Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 14 and Nov 15). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

Baby Bounce (Nov 12), Family Storytime (Nov 12), Sing & Shake (Nov 12), Story Time (Nov 12) and Toddler Time (Nov 12), plus 14 more marked Free below. For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Des Moines.

The Thanksgiving weekend page lists the parades and turkey trots, plus what’s open on Thursday and Friday.

12 start this November: Dome for the Holidays (Nov 14), Just Between Friends Winter Sale (Nov 14), Cortum Farm Holiday Happenings (Nov 21), Christmas in Olde Town (Nov 28) and Pajamas and Pancakes with Santa (Nov 29), plus 7 more below.

Cold or rainy days are on indoor play for toddlers in Des Moines, with ages, prices and hours from each place’s own site.

Yes, at the same address. After Nov 30, 2026 it switches to November 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

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 12, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Des Moines that weekend.

Des Moines skyline