Iowa

DES MOINES - This year’s holiday calendar is filling fast with celebrations like never before. With health and safety rules in place, even the most cautous are finding ways to get together with family, friends and loved ones. Here are some of the events we think will be the most popular.

Nov. 6/11 a.m. - 3p.m. A great way to spend time with your Ankeny community and embrace the fall spirit. Big sreens w/football games; acoustic musicians, Thanksgiving Fare cuisines by talented chefs, kids activities, and more. Tickets are $25.

Nov. 9/6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Pick up your box and supplies from the library from Oct 28th through November 8th! Take your box and supplies home and decorate it however you like! Bring back your decorated box on November 9th and sit in it while you watch a short movie or two and enjoy a snack! an adult and child. Each team will get 20 free throws (10 per person). High score in each age group wins a turkey. Age groups for boys and girls will be available. To register call the Walnut Creek YMCA @ 224-1888. FREE!

THE CAKE Stoner Theater

Nov. 12-21/7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Matinees) By Bekah Brunstetter

Jen’s dreamed of her wedding day her whole life. She finally found the one and returns to her North Carolina hometown to ask Della, the best friend of her deceased mother, to bake her wedding cake. Della refuses because Jen is marrying a woman. Mix in a baking reality show and a dormant marriage and things get very, very interesting. Tickets are available at https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-cake-istc/

Nov. 14/12 pm – 2 pm.

Join Warrior Lanes for another popular family-glow bowling parties! $55 per lane for up to 5 bowlers. 2 hours of glow bowling, shoe rental, 1 large 1 topping pizza and a pitcher of pop! This is a family friendly, alcohol free event with MOM-Approved music and a tolerable noise level! Deadline to reserve your lane is 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. Payment is non-refundable. by Fitness Sports, raises funds for Living History Farms and others. You will again be challenged by the world’s richest farm land as you wade through creeks, dodge animals and claw your way to the top of gullies with 7500 (limit) other runners of questionable senses.

It’s a great way to end the racing season and experience running stories to re-live and re-tell throughout the winter. Stay for the “Outdoors in November” post race lunch, door

Nov. 11/ 7 pm – 8 pm.

A wonderful holiday event for children and adults. Teams will consist of

Nov.19/ 9 am -The 38th annual Living History Farms Race, put on

prizes and awards ceremony.

Nov. 19/10:30 am - Families with kids age 3 years to 6 years are invited to explore Thanksgiving with stories, activities, and a craft. No registration required. Check the program calendar for updates. https://www.urbandalelibrary.org/programs/kids-programs/

Nov. 20th/1:30 - 2:30 p.m. -

Come enjoy a vigorous hike on the trails of beautiful Brown’s Woods. Polk County Conservation will talk about turkeys and how animals are preparing for winter all while burning some calories. Registration is required.

Nov. 26– Jan. 2 / 5:30 – 10 pm.

Jolly Holiday Lights is back and at a new location! Come out and celebrate the holiday lights at Adventureland! Bundle up the family and enjoy a 2.5 mile ride through more than 100 magical light displays. 100% of admission fees go directly to MakeA-Wish® Iowa! Jolly Holiday Lights is a drive-through holiday light display that is set up annually by Make-AWish Iowa at Adventureland. $25 per car (purchase online for $20 at https://makeawishiowa.ticketspice. com/jolly-holiday-lights-2021). You can also get your picture taken with Santa for $10 and enjoy a cookie and cocoa at Santa’s Wish Shop!

Nov. 26th-28th. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the Iowa Events Center. Festival of Trees & Lights is usually a five-day public event that is the main fundraiser for Blank Children’s Hospital. Thisyear, the 3-day-only event features beautifully decorated trees, entertainment, children’s activities, food, shopping and more! For more information, visit https://www. unitypoint.org/blankchildrens/festival-of-trees-attend.aspx

DISNEY ON ICE: Mickey’s Search Party.

November 24-28 at the Wells Fargo Arena. The Disney cast will be making an appearance at the Iowa Events Center! Do not miss seeing your favorite characters. Tickets for each performants may be purchases at https://www.disneyonice.com/tickets

DES MOINES TURKEY TROT

Nov. 24th/ 9 a.m. The Second Annual Des Moines Turkey Trot is a great way to experience downtown Des Moines, or show it off to your visiting family and friends. Runners will start their Thanksgiving run near the Des Moines Courthouse. From there both 5K and 5 mile runners will make their way across the Des Moines River and through the center of the Historic East Village.

DES MOINES HUNGRY TURKEY HALF MARATHON & 5 K

Nov. 27th /8:30 a.m. Burn off all the big meals during this event.This year, fly solo or with your family flock on your own course!