July 29, 2026

This week's Garden Artists Summer Camp continues Wednesday, with campers entering first through fifth grade spending the day painting, sculpting, and designing gardens inspired by the Botanical Garden's collection and grounds.

Good to know: This five-day session is full; a waitlist is open in case a spot opens up.

When: Wednesday, July 29, 9am-4pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

The Botanical Garden's Thursday-evening outdoor concert series continues with The Swallowtails performing in the Koehn Garden, part of a summer-long series pairing regional and local bands with the garden's walled landscape. This week's show also features a pop-up "Poems and Polaroids" experience, with a crew photographing guests and writing a short poem to accompany each one.

Good to know: Single tickets run $7-$14 for adults depending on membership, with reduced pricing for seniors and children; available in advance online or at the door.

When: Thursday, July 30, 6-9pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Koehn Garden.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

The Botanical Garden keeps its paths, lawn, and gardens open past the usual closing time, giving visitors extra time to catch golden-hour light through the grounds, part of a recurring Tuesday/Friday evening series that runs through September.

Good to know: Free for members and donors; general admission applies for everyone else.

When: Friday, July 31, 10am-7:30pm CDT (recurring Tuesdays and Fridays through September). Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

This week's Story Sprouts session, geared toward children ages two to five, explores the theme "Sun and the Clouds" through stories and a hands-on activity in the Botanical Garden's indoor or outdoor spaces.

Good to know: Included with general admission; free for members.

When: Friday, July 31, 10:30-11am CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

The Botanical Garden hosts a reception during Extended Summer Evenings for "Wild & Wonderful," a group exhibition by Iowa artists on view in the Evergreen Gallery, with light refreshments and a chance to meet the artists behind the all-botanical show.

Good to know: Included with admission; free for members. Tickets can be prepurchased.

When: Friday, July 31, 5-7pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Evergreen Gallery (Juniper/Agave Room).

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

A Museum Highlights Tour walks visitors through a selection of the Des Moines Art Center's paintings, sculptures, and other works from its permanent collection, guided by staff who cover the stories and techniques behind each piece.

Good to know: Free; no registration required. Recurring every Saturday, 1-2pm.

When: Saturday, August 1, 1-2pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.

This monthly meetup for adults gathers around one work of art, with a docent guiding discussion through questions and prompts rather than a scripted talk, no art background required, and brunch itself isn't provided but is easy to pair with a Cafe stop before or after.

Good to know: Free; registration required.

When: Sunday, August 2, 11am-12pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.

This monthly program pairs adults age 55 and older with an Art Center docent for collaborative discussion of a single work of art, followed by an informal social with coffee and tea, designed to build community connections alongside cognitive engagement.

Good to know: Free; registration required, with sessions offered at both noon and 2pm.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 12pm CDT (also offered at 2pm). Where: Des Moines Art Center.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.