The Wire

Events Calendar

Des Moines arts, music, and events, from venue calendars Jesse follows. Archived — the live, filterable calendar is moving to /events (see docs/M13-EVENTS-DESIGN.md).

edition happenings-2026-08-06

This edition is more than 48 hours old — labeled here rather than hidden, per this site's real-data-or-no-data rule.

Dragons in the Garden Camp Continues Its Week at the Botanical Garden

A five-day summer day camp built around plant-like dragons and dragon-like plants, using the conceit to teach how organisms adapt to deserts, wetlands, and rainforest. Campers design their own dragon and identify a plant to go with it. Thursday is day four of the August 3-7 session.

Good to know: Designed for students entering first through fifth grade. $265 members, $305 nonmembers for the full five-day camp; registration required and covers the whole week rather than single days.

When: Thursday, August 6, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original Dragons in the Garden Camp Continues Its Week at the Botanical Garden Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com

The Crowfoot Rakes Headline the Botanical Garden's Thursday Concert Series

This week's installment of Music in the Garden, the Botanical Garden's summer Thursday-evening concert series, held outdoors in the walled Koehn Garden. Food and drink are available on site.

Good to know: Tickets sold in advance online or at the door. Members pay $7 adult, $6 senior, $4 child; nonmembers pay $14, $13, and $11 respectively. A season pass covering all twelve concerts runs $70 for members and $140 for nonmembers, and includes 5:30 PM early entry.

When: Thursday, August 6, 6:00-9:00 PM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Koehn Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original The Crowfoot Rakes Headline the Botanical Garden's Thursday Concert Series Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com

Botanical Garden Holds Its Doors Open Until 7:30 PM on Friday

Part of the Extended Summer Evenings program, which keeps the Botanical Garden open late on Tuesdays and Fridays from June through September. No program or itinerary attached; the point is unhurried access to the grounds through golden hour.

Good to know: Free for members and donors. Everyone else pays standard general admission. Runs through the end of September.

When: Friday, August 7, 10:00 AM-7:30 PM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original Botanical Garden Holds Its Doors Open Until 7:30 PM on Friday Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com

Story Sprouts Takes On 'Let's Play Outside' for Preschoolers Friday

A thirty-minute interactive story time pairing books with a themed hands-on activity, set in the Botanical Garden's indoor plantings. This week's theme is Let's Play Outside. Families can explore the gardens and the Nature Play area before or after.

Good to know: Geared toward children ages two to five. Included with general admission; members enter free. No separate registration.

When: Friday, August 7, 10:30-11:00 AM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original Story Sprouts Takes On 'Let's Play Outside' for Preschoolers Friday Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com

Bonsai for Beginners Closes Out Its Two-Part Wiring and Shaping Class

The second session of a two-part introduction to bonsai taught by members of the Iowa Bonsai Association, covering the form's history, care requirements, and the wiring and shaping techniques that turn a starter plant into a trained specimen. The class fee includes a starter bonsai to take home.

Good to know: $90 members, $100 nonmembers, covering both sessions plus Garden admission afterward. This session is full - the venue is directing interested people to a waitlist for the next offering.

When: Saturday, August 8, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original Bonsai for Beginners Closes Out Its Two-Part Wiring and Shaping Class Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com

The Art Center Turns Its Galleries Into a Silent Disco for Social Saturday

August's Social Saturday, the Art Center's monthly free family day. The anchor is a silent disco hosted by Iowa Silent Disco from noon to 2 PM, surrounded by drop-in programming: a gallery scavenger hunt with a prize at the front desk, a custom collection-inspired playlist to walk the galleries with, mosaic disco ornament making in the Art School studios, and a paint-and-play station in the Macomber Lobby. Storytime runs 11:15 to 11:30 AM in Levitt Auditorium and an all-ages guided tour goes 1 to 2 PM from the Macomber Lobby.

Good to know: Free, no registration required. Four special exhibitions are on view, including Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging and Elle Perez: La Despedida. Members get 10% off in the cafe and Museum Shop. The event is photographed. Live captioning is provided for Levitt Auditorium programs; ASL interpretation is available by request only, due to interpreter shortages statewide.

When: Saturday, August 8, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.

Read the original The Art Center Turns Its Galleries Into a Silent Disco for Social Saturday Des Moines Art Center · desmoinesartcenter.org

Art Spectrums Opens the Art Center Studios to Autistic Kids and Their Families

A monthly program for children and teens on the autism spectrum and their families. Participants look at and discuss a work in the museum's collection, then move to the studio to make their own art responding to what they saw.

Good to know: Free, but registration is required. Open to kids ages 5 to 18 and their family members.

When: Sunday, August 9, 1:00-3:00 PM CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.

Read the original Art Spectrums Opens the Art Center Studios to Autistic Kids and Their Families Des Moines Art Center · desmoinesartcenter.org

Dragons in the Garden Camp Opens Its Second August Week

The August 10-14 session of the Botanical Garden's dragon-themed summer camp, running the same format as the previous week: campers study how plants adapt to extreme environments, then invent a dragon and pair it with a plant of their own choosing.

Good to know: For students entering first through fifth grade. $265 members, $305 nonmembers for the five-day session; registration required.

When: Monday, August 10, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Read the original Dragons in the Garden Camp Opens Its Second August Week Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · dmbotanicalgarden.com