Community Corner

Ankeny and Metro Weekend Events: Spring Show Choir Spectacular, Kidsfest, NAIA Wrestling, plus David Byrne at 80/35

Time, dates and ticket information for what's going on in Ankeny and the metro, including "The Ugly Duckling" and Hoyt Sherman Art Show, plus upcoming Max Wellman, Tosh.0 and Tracy Morgan shows.

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.

ANKENY

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Spring Show Choir Spectacular: Don't miss your chance to see all three Ankeny High School show choirs this weekend at the Spring Show Choir Spectacular held at Ankeny High School:

  • Friday, March 1 at 7:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 PM
  • Sunday, March 3 at 2:00 PM

Tickets are available online at ankenychoirs.com.  Everyone is encouraged to buy tickets online in advance of the show. Remaining seats will be sold at the door 45 minutes before each show.  Ticket prices are $10. 

Find out what's happening in Ankenywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

METRO

Kidsfest: The Children & Families of Iowa’s annual Kidsfest is a kid-centered festival with activities, games and entertainment for kids, including inflatables and special guests like Dora the Explorer and Spider-Man.

Where: Iowa State Fairgrounds Varied Industries Building, Des Moines
When: March 1-3
Cost: $7 per person; children under 2 are free

NAIA Wrestling Championships: The 56th annual event for small colleges will be held at the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds this weekend. Individual national championships in 10 weight classes, plus a team championship will be decided. There are two sessions per day in the two-day, double elimination event.

Where: Iowa State Fairground, Jacobson Exhibition Center, Des Moines
When: 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: $45 for adults for all sessions, $16 for individual sessions; students, $30 for all sessions, $12 for individual sessions; kids 3-14, $15 for all sessions, $6 for individual sessions.

105th Annual Art Exhibition: The Des Moines Women’s Club’s annual event showcases professional and non-professional Des Moines and Central Iowa artists in the historic Hoyt Sherman Place Art Galleries. The 105th Annual Art Exhibition is open to the public, and there is no admission charge. Selected works of art will be available for purchase.

Where: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
When: 5-8 p.m. Friday wine and cheese reception; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free
More info: Hoyt Sherman Place

Bottoms Up Blues Bash: The bash is organized by the Central Iowa Blues Society and David’s Fight, a group that builds awareness about colorectal cancer. The event will feature jams by the Bel Airs, Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts and The Jean Marie Salem Project. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Where: Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines
When: 8 p.m. March 2
Cost: $20 in advance or $25 at the door
Tickets: At the Val Air Ballroom box office or www.valairballroom.com.

Iowa Deer Classic: The line-up for this year’s show includes the Biggest Big Buck Contest in Iowa, the Iowa Whitetail Hall of Fame featuring over 100 B&C Iowa whitetails, trophy shed antler contest, archery contests, hunting exhibits, kids activities and much more.

Where: Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., Des M0ines
When: Friday, 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: In advance at www.dahlstickets.com or at the door.
Cost: $12 Kids: $5; Friday night is Ladies Night, ladies get in free.

“The Ugly Duckling”: Classic tales “The Ugly Duckling” and “The Tortoise and The Hare” are brought to life with the brilliant light of electroluminescent wire.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

When: 1 p.m. March 2
Cost: $12.25
Tickets: www.desmoinesperformingarts.org

“The Kid Who Ran for President”: The play chronicles the story of 12-year-old Judson Moon, who runs for president after deciding he could do a better job than the adults.

Where: Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St. Des Moines
When: March 1-17
Cost: $12 students, $15 adults
Tickets: www.dmplayhouse.com

“Meet Me in St. Louis”: The Des Moines Onstage Children’s Theater will perform a dramatic adaptation of the popular musical, as four sisters anticipate the opening of the World’s Fair in St. Louis, and meddle in the love life of their only brother.

Where: Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St. Des Moines
When: March 1-10
Cost: $12 adults; $8 kids
Tickets: www.desmoinessocialclub.org

The Second City - Laughing Matters: Founded in Chicago in 1959, The Second City has become the premier training ground for the comedy world's best and brightest. Their alumni list includes: Joan Rivers, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. No topic or subject matter is off limits for The Second City.

Des Moines Civic Center
Feb. 20-March 3
Buy tickets

Daniel Tosh Tickets on Sale: Tosh.0's Daniel Tosh will visit the Iowa State Center  in Ames June 4. Tickets to his The June Gloom Tour go on sale Friday. He will present two shows one at 7 p.m. and another at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday June 4 at Stephen's Auditorium.

Kenny Chesney Tickets on Sale: The country superstar will play in concert April 27 at Wells Fargo Arena. Tickets are $22-$79.50 and go on sale Friday through www.dahlstickets.com. Chesney’s tour is called “No Shoes Nation,” and includes the Eli Young Band and Kasey Musgraves.

B.B. King Tickets: Blues guitarist B.B. King and his guitar, named Lucille, will be in town later this spring, but tickets are on sale now. The 87-year-old legend comes to Prairie Meadows on May 24. Tickets are $44-$84 and go on sale now through Ticketmaster.

UPCOMING

“Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical”: “American Idol” star and Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis joins Grammy nominee Deborah Cox in new, lively version of the classic tale of good and evil that spent four yours on Broadway. This new pre-Broadway production includes all the classic songs -- “This is the Moment,” “A New Life,” “Someone Like You” -- that first won over audiences.

Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
March 5-10
Buy tickets

Beer ‘n’ Bread: Sample more than 20 different Iowa micro-brewed beers along with fresh artisan breads and other goodies. Explore the art of home brewing with the experts from Beer Crazy and taste food and beer samples from 515 Brewing Company, Confluence Brewing, Exile Brewing, Great River Brewery, Twisted Vine, Back Pocket Brewing, The Beer Bread Company, Cabot Creamery, Doll Distributing, DMACC Culinary Arts, Iowa Brewers Union, La Mie, Madhouse, Millstream, Peace Tree Brewing, Raccoon River Brewing Company, South Union and Sweet Binney's.

Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
March 9
Tickets are $20 and are on sale now atwww.livinghistoryfarms.org/cabinfever.

Tracy Morgan – Excuse My French: The former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star brings his comedy tour to Des Moines in March.

Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
7 p.m., March 15
Tickets: $45.50-$55.50; visit theater box office online

Max Wellman: The area singer returns to Des Moines with his big band at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
When: 8 p.m. March 23
Cost: All seats $20
Tickets: On sale now through the box office

David Byrne at 80/35: David Byrne and St. Vincent’s summer tour dates include a July 5 stop at the 80/35 Music Festival. It’s not official until the Des Moines Music Coalition releases its lineup on April 9. Byrne and St. Vincent released an album together last summer, "Love This Giant." In live shows their sets have been a mix of Talking Heads and Byrne solo material, St. Vincent songs and selections from the new album.

Tickets: On sale to music coalition members March 29 and to the general public April 1.
Details: Des Moines Music Coalition website

Impractical Jokers: The hidden camera-practical joke reality series on TruTV follows the four members of the comedy troupe The Tenderloins as they goad one another into doing public pranks while being filmed by hidden cameras. The interactive comedy show will feature videos, an audience Q&A, stand-up comedy and more.

Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
7:30 p.m. April 27
Tickets: ($35) go on sale Friday through Ticketmaster or visit theater box office online

Jon Bon Jovi: The New Jersey rocker and his band will return to Des Moines on April 14 with the "Because We Can" Tour at the Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Ticket prices start at $19.50; tickets for the Iowa show went on sale Dec. 3 through dahlstickets.com.

Taylor Swift: Country star Taylor Swift returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Aug. 1. No word yet on ticket prices or an on-sale date. The event is listed on Swift's website but is not listed on Ticketmaster or its partner website. In nearby Kansas City, MO tickets range from $30 to $85.

Justin Bieber: Pop star Justin Bieber will also make an appearance at the Wells Fargo Arena on July 7. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets range from $40 to $95.


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