Take in a Jordan Davis concert, experience Oktoberfest this weekend in Des Moines

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It's a weekend of celebrations, from community and history to culture. Experience a night of live music and carnival games with the Beaverdale Fall Festival, which continues through Saturday with a parade. Country music fans can catch Jordan Davis of "Buy Dirt" and "Singles You Up" fame at Water Works Park Friday night or songwriter Margo Price at Wooly's Sunday evening. Folks looking to do some learning this weekend can do so while appreciating nature with the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's Asian culture festival or Woodland Cemetery's 175th anniversary event.

Grab a happy hour special in the East Village

Thursday afternoon: Stop by Bar Nico, 428 E. Locust St. in the East Village of Des Moines, for happy hour every Tuesday through Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. for dine-in only. Order $5 small plates such as Nico's chips and salsa, guacamole with a spicy pumpkin seed hummus, papas bravas roasted in duck fat, Iowa sweet corn “ribs” with a honey glaze and crispy chicken wings. Find half off tacos, as well as $5 Nico margaritas, $6 seasonal margaritas, and half off drafts.

Experience a performance that blends hip hop and jazz

Friday night: Trombonist and University of Missouri-Kansas City educator Marcus Lewis brings Brass and Boujee to Noce, 1326 Walnut St. in Des Moines. Brass and Boujee is a collaboration between Lewis and musicians Kemet the Phantom and Kadesh Flow in which Kemet the Phantom and Kadesh Flow’s songs are arranged by Lewis for a sound that combines hip hop and big band jazz. Tickets show from 7 to 9:15 p.m. start at $25.

Bring your family and friends to a longstanding fall festival

Friday night: The Beaverdale Fall Festival returns Friday and Saturday, celebrating the Des Moines neighborhood in an event that began decades ago as Beaverdale Days. The festivities kick off Friday at 5 p.m. with food vendors, a carnival and live music which continues Saturday. Also on Saturday is the Beaverdale Fall Festival’s parade at 10 a.m., which starts at Amick Avenue and Beaver Avenue. Beaverdale Fall Festival is from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. It’s free to attend.

Celebrate Asian heritage and culture through a series of events

Friday night: The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr. in Des Moines, continues its event series, "The Ray Way: Asian Culture and Heritage Festival," all centered around former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray and his efforts to welcome Asian refugees to the state. As part of the festivities, stroll through the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden with a glass of wine and learn what’s in bloom with Aaron Harpold, botanical garden director of horticulture. There are two times for the sip and stroll, 5:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Tickets for nonmembers are $20. Other events during the weekend include the free Mid-Autumn Celebration, which invites guests to learn about the cultural ties with different samples of food.

Catch a concert that all ages can enjoy for free

Friday night: Folk music duo Dan and Claudia Zanes perform two free concerts back-to-back, presented by Des Moines Performing Arts. Dan Zanes is a Grammy-winning children’s performer and wife Claudia Zanes is a music therapist and jazz vocalist. The couple began performing together in 2016, soon frequently holding sensory-friendly concerts. Friday’s concert starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, 4100 Millis Civic Pkwy. in West Des Moines, and Saturday’s concert is at 10:30 a.m. at Doanes Park, 4900 Doanes Park Road in Pleasant Hill.

See a Country Music Association winner perform live

Friday night: Country musician Jordan Davis, known for songs including “Singles You Up” and “Next Thing You Know,” comes to the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, 410 Fleur Drive in Des Moines. “Buy Dirt,” the song by Davis that features Luke Bryan, won song of the year at the CMAs last year. Danielle Bradbery and Greylan James open the 7:30 p.m. concert. Tickets start at $38.

Learn about Des Moines history

Saturday morning: Woodland Cemetery, 2019 Woodland Ave. in Des Moines, is hosting a 175^th anniversary event with storytelling led by historians, re-enactors and descendants of people buried at the cemetery. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to attend.

Plant lovers, experience the first-ever Midwest Tropical Show

Saturday morning: The Central Iowa Houseplant Club and Ted Lare Design & Build present the first annual Midwest Tropical Show, featuring more than a dozen vendors in an event that celebrates plants. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center, 2701 Cumming Ave. in Cumming, Iowa. The Midwest Tropical Show is free to attend.

Join in on Oktoberfest festivities

Saturday afternoon: Everyone 21 and up can visit Adventureland Park, 3200 Adventureland Drive in Altoona, for the ninth annual German festival Oktoberfest celebration. Experience live performances all day ranging from music to comedy, including headliners and popular Iowa act the Pork Tornadoes on the main stage at 7 p.m. That’s in addition to games like keg bowling and pumpkin launching or getting on rides at the park. The theme park’s hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets start at $39.99.

Snag a new brunch from a Detroit pizza specialist

Sunday morning: Typically, Parlor, 4041 Urbandale Ave. in Des Moines, offers Detroit pizzas, but now the Beaverdale restaurant has a new brunch for the weekends. Look for scrambles or skillets, a breakfast burrito, eggs Benedict, buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy, pineapple upside-down pancakes and a skillet cinnamon roll. Stop by from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

More: 21 great brunches to try in the Des Moines area right now, including Early Bird, Eatery A

Head to Wooly’s for an evening of country

Sunday night: Country singer-songwriter Margo Price comes to Wooly’s, 504 E. Locust St. in Des Moines, on her ‘Til The Wheels Fall Off tour. The “All American Made” singer, who performed at Hinterland music festival in 2018, comes to Des Moines less than a month before her new album, “Strays II,” will release on Oct. 13. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $26.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do this weekend in Des Moines include Oktoberfest, concerts