Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: which venues?

Busiest venues: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (46), Christian Petersen Art Museum (3), Brunnier Art Museum (3).

Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: is anything free?

Yes. Free: 10, including Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection, Christian Petersen: Memory in Metal.

Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: which day has the most?

Tuesday, December 1, 2026, with 8 events.

Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: what’s on?

57 events from Tuesday, December 1 to Thursday, December 31, 2026. Highlights: Christian Petersen: Memory in Metal (Christian Petersen Art Museum, Tuesday, December 1), Dome for the Holidays (Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Wednesday, December 2), Friday Soirée (Maintenance Shop (M-Shop), Friday, December 4). Free: 10. Busiest venues: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Christian Petersen Art Museum, Brunnier Art Museum.

Tuesday, December 1, 2026

until Dec 18

Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection

Christian Petersen Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
until Dec 18

Christian Petersen: Memory in Metal

Christian Petersen

Christian Petersen Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
until Jul 23

Create and Replicate - Single Object Focus

Brunnier Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
until Dec 18

Luis Jiménez: The Mythic Southwest

Luis Jiménez

Christian Petersen Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
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until Jan 31

Midwest Maker Series: Mary Merkel-Hess

Mary Merkel-Hess

Brunnier Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
until Jan 31

Wood for Function and Expression

Brunnier Art Museum · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
until Jan 24

Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way: Contemporary Latinx Painting

Des Moines Art Center · Greenwood-Ashworth
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested
Dec 1 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

Dec 2 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Thursday, December 3, 2026

Dec 3 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Friday, December 4, 2026

Dec 4 · 10:30 AM

Story Sprouts Children’s Story Time

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 4 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested
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Dec 4 · 5 PM

Friday Soirée

Maintenance Shop (M-Shop) · Ames (Iowa State University)
- Music
- Theatre
Free

Going Interested
Visual arts
Dec 4

First Friday: Clay

Mainframe Studios · Downtown
- Visual arts
Free

Going Interested

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Dec 5 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Sunday, December 6, 2026

Dec 6 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Tuesday, December 8, 2026

Dec 8 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Wednesday, December 9, 2026

Dec 9 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Thursday, December 10, 2026

Dec 10 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Friday, December 11, 2026

Dec 11 · 10:30 AM

Story Sprouts Children’s Story Time

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 11 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Saturday, December 12, 2026

Dec 12 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Sunday, December 13, 2026

Dec 13 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested
Comedy
Dec 13 · 7:30 PM

Runaway Twain Improv

Des Moines Playhouse · Waveland Park
- Comedy
$7–$10

Going Interested
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Tuesday, December 15, 2026

Dec 15 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Wednesday, December 16, 2026

Dec 16 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Thursday, December 17, 2026

Dec 17 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Friday, December 18, 2026

Dec 18 · 10:30 AM

Story Sprouts Children’s Story Time

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 18 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Saturday, December 19, 2026

Dec 19 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested
Comedy
Dec 19 · 6:30 PM

Willie Farrell

Funny Bone Comedy Club · West Glen, West Des Moines
- Comedy
$20

Going Interested

Sunday, December 20, 2026

Dec 20 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Monday, December 21, 2026

Dec 21 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Tuesday, December 22, 2026

Dec 22 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 22 · 10 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 22 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested
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Wednesday, December 23, 2026

Dec 23 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 23 · 10 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 23 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Saturday, December 26, 2026

Dec 26 · 9 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 26 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 26 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Sunday, December 27, 2026

Dec 27 · 9 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 27 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 27 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Monday, December 28, 2026

Dec 28 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested
Dec 28 · 5:30 PM

Botany Book Club

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$15

Going Interested

Tuesday, December 29, 2026

Dec 29 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
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Dec 29 · 10 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 29 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Wednesday, December 30, 2026

Dec 30 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 30 · 10 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 30 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Thursday, December 31, 2026

Dec 31 · 10 AM

Air Plant Ornament Drop-In

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$12

Going Interested
Dec 31 · 10 AM

Winter Break Staycation Activities

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$14

Going Interested
Dec 31 · 4 PM

Closed at 4PM on New Year’s Eve

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
- New year’s
- New Year’s Eve
Free

Going Interested
Dec 31 · 5 PM

Dome for the Holidays

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Music
$18

Going Interested

Everything on in Des Moines

Questions and answers

Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: how many events?: 57 events from Tuesday, December 1 to Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: what are the highlights?: Highlights: Christian Petersen: Memory in Metal (Christian Petersen Art Museum, Tuesday, December 1), Dome for the Holidays (Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Wednesday, December 2), Friday Soirée (Maintenance Shop (M-Shop), Friday, December 4).
Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: which venues?: Busiest venues: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (46), Christian Petersen Art Museum (3), Brunnier Art Museum (3).
Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: is anything free?: Yes. Free: 10, including Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection, Christian Petersen: Memory in Metal.
Events for $20 or less in Des Moines in December 2026: which day has the most?: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, with 8 events.