Harry Potter, Shrek rave among top 12 things to do this weekend in Des Moines: Feb. 22-25
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The Des Moines Home + Garden Show
Thursday afternoon: Four days of the biggest home show in central Iowa take over the Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., Des Moines, through Sunday. The Des Moines Home + Garden Show brings everything from garden displays to a marketplace for home goods. Celebrities such as Ati Williams from Netflix’s “Hack My Home” and HGTV’s “DC Flippers” take the stage on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon, while Patric Richardson, dubbed The Laundry Guy, speaks on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Friday at 5 p.m. The show runs from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $14 at the door to $3 off online with the promo code PROJECT.
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’
Friday night: Harry Potter fans, get ready for a night of witchcraft and wizardry when “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is shown in concert with the Des Moines Symphony at the Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Friday show and 1:30 p.m. Saturday show range from $35 to $126 online.
Benny Green
Friday night: Fans could say that Benny Green is “one of the most exciting hard-swinging pianists to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.” He takes the stage at Noce, 1326 Walnut St., Des Moines, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $65 for this show.
Comedy Xperiment
Friday night: Two nights of games and scenes inspired by audience suggestions make up this night of improv during the Comedy Xperiment at the Tallgrass Theatre, 2019 Grand Ave., Suite 100, West Des Moines. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show Friday and Saturday nights are $13 in advance; $15 at the door.
Shrek rave
Friday night: Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and the rest of the gang take the stage during this rave at Wooly’s, 504 E. Locust St., Des Moines. Tickets for the 9 p.m. show start at $25.
Death Kill Overdrive
Friday night: Head over to xBk Live, 1159 24th St., Des Moines, for Death Kill Overdrive, with Greg Wheeler & The Poly Mall Cops and Odd Pets, both from Des Moines, opening. The 8 p.m. show features the punk rock band Death Kill Overdrive from Iowa City for fans of Green Day, Elliot Page, and cats. Tickets run from $12 in advance to $15 at the door.
Russell Dickerson
Friday night: Country pop singer Russell Dickerson brings his song “God Gave Me a Girl” and “She Likes It” to Vibrant Music Hall, 2938 Grand Prairie Parkway, Waukee, for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets start at $41.
Postmodern Jukebox
Friday night: “Pop music in a Time Machine” concert act Postmodern Jukebox brings their new world tour to celebrate their 10th anniversary of touring and their 1,000th show in 2024 to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines. The “10” Tour combines “modern-day earworms and iconic pop hits alike” that are then “reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, swing, doo-wop and Motown.” Tickets for the 8 p.m. show start at $55.
Pretty for Prom
Saturday morning: Need a prom dress? Stop by Pretty for Prom, 6959 University Ave., Windsor Heights, where girls and families who might be in a financial hard spot can shop, try on and take a prom dress for free. Donations accepted as well. The pop-up shop is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until March 30.
Coldest Night of the Year walk
Saturday afternoon: Head out on a 2K or 5K walk during the Coldest Night of the Year, a chance to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. The 4 p.m. walk starts at Des Moines Water Works, 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines. Visit cnoy.com/location/desmoines for more information.
Centro truffle dinner
Saturday night: Centro holds a five-course truffle dinner at 6 p.m. Executive chef Michael Kolodzej and the Centro culinary team created dishes including a beef carpaccio with king crab and brown butter truffle aioli, egg yolk raviolo with shaved winter truffles, and milk-braised pork belly with truffle jus. Each course features an optional wine pairing. Tickets start at $100. Check the Centro website for future events including wine dinners that cover one region in Italy.
Marty Stuart
Saturday night: Five-time Grammy winner Marty Stuart brings country music to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines. The Country Music Hall of Famer worked in the bands of bluegrass artist Lester Flatt and renowned country artist Johnny Cash in the 1970s and 1980s. Tickets start at $36 at ticketmaster.com.
Chili cookoff
Sunday afternoon: Stop by Firetrucker Brewery, 716 S.W. Third St., Ankeny, for the chili cookoff from 1 to 4 p.m. For $15, participants can taste the contenders and get a pint and bowl of their favorite chili. Chefs can sign up to participate as well for $30. Proceeds of this event will be donated to help Perry Community School District and the families impacted by the shooting. Tickets are available online.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do this weekend in Des Moines for Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25
