Central IA

is Hoops & Hops at Cowles Commons, which combines the NCAA basketball tournament action with an Iowa craft beer tent, a distillery bar, all-day music and food trucks. Des Moines is a top place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a marathon race and holiday-themed bar crawl. If you plan to visit during another time in the spring, don’t miss the Cinco de Mayo bar crawl in Des Moines, Kinky Boots performances at the Des Moines Playhouse and Dome After Dark at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

You’ll definitely want to add Pella, Iowa to your springtime travel bucket list. Tulip Time 2023 takes place on May 4, 5 and 6 and celebrates Dutch heritage with over 300,000 brightly colored tulips. Some craft beverage businesses in Pella, such as the Cellar Peanut Pub that has over 50 craft beers on tap plus fabulous bloody marys, embrace this festive time of year and host their own onsite events too.

Other Central Iowa Attractions to Visit

In addition to the holiday events, state capitol sites in Des Moines and tulip festivities in Pella, there are additional towns worth checking out during your spring trip to central Iowa. Here are some examples of where to go and what to do.

Des Moines, IA

• Capitol Building: Tour the Iowa State Capitol building, the only U.S. Statehouse with five domes.

• Iowa State Fairgrounds: Each August, it’s a fairground, but for the