Ankeny and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Ringling Bros. Circus, Les Miserables, Norah Jones

There’s plenty to do in Ankeny in the days ahead, and if you want to travel into to Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

Here are some selected events, with a full list of Des Moines metro events available here.

Can Do Cancer Accessory Swap: Attend Friday's Can Do Cancer Accessory Swap at Ankeny First United Methodist Church — Christian Life Center at 7 p.m. The event will go to benefit those undergoing breast cancer treatments. A $20 donation gets you access to the event, which also features crafts, a silent auction and other local vendors. Find out more here.

12th Annual Brain Injury Awareness Walk: DMACC Ankeny campus is hosting the 12th Annual Brain Injury Awareness Walk on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature live music, food, door prizes and more before participants walk around the DMACC pond to raise awareness for those struggling with brain injury.

Izaak Walton League Female Shooting Event: Are you a female who's ever wanted to learn how to shoot a handgun, pistol or rifle? The local Dragoon Trail Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will be giving lessons Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at 4857 NE 110th Ave, Elkhart. This is specifically designed for beginners. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. Girls ages 12-100 are welcome.

Need something to do Sunday? Why not head out to Growing Family Fun at Geisler Farms in Bondurant, just east of Ankeny on First Street? Open every Sunday in September and October, families can partake in an corn maze, go walking through the pumpkin patch, take a hay ride or just play around. Check the website for more info, including hours and admission fees.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND

Les Miserables: Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schö's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: The fun begins as soon as the audience enters Ringling Bros. Presents BARNUM BASH with a rockin’ Pre-show party happening directly on the arena floor. Party goers can learn fresh dance moves from Ringling Bros. clown DJ Dean, style in glitzy costumes, learn balancing and juggling skills, meet and take photos with circus stars, and even step behind the curtain for an exclusive backstage experience which includes an up-close look at the most exotic animal menagerie only at BARNUM BASH.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.
Thursday, Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Tickets.

American Quilter’s Society National Show: More than 1,000 quilts, a huge Merchant Mall with new and antique quilts, the newest quilt-making supplies, and jewelry and other gifts that are quilt related.
Iowa Events Center, Des Moines.
Thursday, Friday, 9 am. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tickets.

Cityview Martinifest: Sample the metro's finest martinis at this year's Martini Fest! Try specialty martinis from all of your favorite West Glen retailers. For all beer lovers, for the first time there will also be a Summit Beer Garden at Cabaret.
West Glen Town Center, West Des Moines.
Friday, 5 pm. - 9 p.m.
Tickets.

UPCOMING

Norah Jones: Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Norah Jones just released her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts. Since coming on the scene in 2002, Jones has sold over 36 million albums worldwide. Her three studio albums have each topped the Billboard top 200 album charts in the U.S. and gone to No. 1 around the world.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Thursday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m.
Tickets.

Bill Maher: For the past 17 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last eight years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him twenty-six Emmy nominations.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.

Celtic Thunder: Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has been hailed as BILLBOARD’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for their most current disc, Heritage.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.