November in Iowa: 12 can’t-miss events

From Christmas events to high-profile concerts and more, Iowa is bringing copious joy and laughter to the Midwest this November. Here’s how to get in on the fun.

As winter approaches and the days get shorter, many of us tend to get sleepier a little earlier, but if you’re looking for a good time this November, you don’t want to sleep on these 12 events. Iowa’s set to be home to a whole slew of gleeful—and even merry—events this November, including dreamy holiday displays, heart-pumping concerts, and devilishly delicious foodie fests. In fact, there’s so much variety in November’s events that you might just leave some of them having learned a thing or two—who knew education could be so fun?

Without further ado, here are 12 events that are livening up the Hawkeye State this November. (Spoiler alert: There are so many good events happening that only one on our list is Thanksgiving-themed.)

1. Bison Fest at Botna Bend Park

Date: Saturday, Nov. 2

Location: 42926 Mahogany Road, Hancock, Iowa 51536

Cost: $3 park entry fee; otherwise free

Held on National Bison Day and sponsored by the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation (named after the Potawatomi Native American tribe), Botna Bend Park’s Bison Fest is a true celebration of this majestic animal. Bison have long been important to Indigenous tribes in North America, and this festival can help everyone understand just how special these animals really are. Festival-goers will be able to see a herd of bison in its natural habitat, as well as enjoy presentations to gain a deeper understanding of the bison’s role in human history, try a bit of bison wool spinning, and appreciate bison artifacts. Of course, delicious food will be served, too. Altogether, Bison Fest is a blast for the whole family and lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so don’t forget to mark your calendars so you don’t miss out on an equally fun and educational outing.

Photo courtesy of USFWS Midwest Region.

2. Freight House Farmers’ Market Fall Harvest Festival

Date: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 2-3

Location: 421 W River Dr, Davenport, IA 52801

Cost: Free

The Freight House Farmers’ Market serves the Davenport community year-round thanks to having both indoor and outdoor space, but it’s also known to throw some end-of-season celebrations, especially at the end of fall, to signal the closing of the outdoor space for the winter. This year’s Fall Harvest Festival is slated for November 2-3, and it’s bound to put you in a good mood. You can, of course, expect to go home with a cornucopia worth of lush fall produce (hello, acorn squash!), but that’s only where the fun begins. Live music is set to fill the building, and local vendors will be selling a wide variety of wares. Plus, food trucks will be set up on-site to fill all of your hunger needs—we all know shopping makes you hungry! Overall, the Fall Harvest Festival is shaping up to be a bountiful time, and folks on the event’s Facebook page are already posting their memories of last year in anticipation of this year’s event. “I went last year and it was a beautiful day weather wise,” one visitor wrote. Here’s hoping the sun looks down kindly on this year’s event, too! 

3. Iowa Wolves opening night

Date: Friday, Nov. 8

Location: 233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Cost: $21+

Winter is prime basketball season, and the Iowa Wolves’ opening night this year lands on none other than November 8, filling the first half of the month with state pride. Naturally, the Wolves’ home games, this one included, will be at Wells Fargo Arena, and the game is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. (Note that this is a departure from previous seasons, as home games began at 7 p.m.) Who will the Wolves be facing on opening night? We’re glad you asked. The Wolves will be taking on the neighboring Wisconsin’s Herd in its first head-to-head match of the season. There’s no telling how this season will go, but one thing’s certain: The more people who show up to cheer on Iowa’s basketballers, the more supported they’ll feel—and potentially the better they’ll perform. 

Photo courtesy of Tom Hagerty/CC BY 2.0.

4. BaconTown

Date: Saturday, Nov. 9

Location: 102 Church St, Ottumwa, IA

Cost: Free

Held at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., BaconTown is the city’s bacon festival that keeps on giving. Admission is free, while you can grub on most of the event’s treats for only a dollar a pop, meaning your hard-earned cash goes a long way in BaconTown (and we could all use an escape from real-world inflation). Plus, you get to support local chefs, who all bring their own specialty dishes that feature bacon, giving guests the opportunity to enter their culinary worlds and taste all the different flavor profiles bacon really has to offer. On top of that, carnival rides and other fun activities will be available for children, and live music will tie the whole event together. And if you’re curious, BaconTown is a true celebration because Ottumwa produces more bacon than any other singular town in the U.S. If you’re in the area, definitely consider bacon some time to try some yummy treats this November (we’ll see ourselves out). 

5. Nikki Glaser’s comedy shows

Dates: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 9-10 

Location: 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Cost: $39.75-$69.75

This November, the queen of roasting—aka Nikki Glaser—is bringing serious (and unserious) laughs to Des Moines’ Hoyt Sherman Place for two consecutive nights on her Alive and Unwell Tour. You might know Glaser for her guttural laugh-inducing roasts on Comedy Central, or perhaps you’re more familiar with her from her standup specials. Devoted fans may even know her from her many reality TV appearances, from starring in her own series (“Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?”), competing on “The Masked Singer” or guest-judging on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.” But if you haven’t seen her in person, you’re missing out. Glaser knows how to read a room better than most comics, and she’s sure to bring that prowess to Des Moines this November. And if we’re being honest, her ticket prices aren’t bad, considering how top-tier of a comic she is. These tour dates would be the perfect date night—we’re just saying.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Gansky/CC BY-SA 2.0.

6. Little Big Town & Sugarland concert

Date: Saturday, Nov. 16

Location: 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL 61265

Cost: $29.50-$169.50

Country fans, rejoice—two of the biggest names in the genre are walking their (faux) snakeskin boots into Iowa this November. Little Big Town and Sugarland are set to headline Vibrant Arena on their joint Take Me Home Tour, bringing Southern charm aplenty to the Midwest. They’re being supported by The Castellows, three young sisters who put their own spin on country music. Truth be told, many phenomenal country stars are slated to light up venues Iowa-wide this November—from Craig Morgan to Hailey Whitters and Conner Smith—but this Vibrant Arena show both features some of the biggest country names and is women-forward, celebrating everything poignant that women bring to country music. If you can get out and support Jennifer Nettles, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and the Balkcom sisters, we highly recommend it, “Babe.” 

Photo courtesy of Picryl.

7. ZZ Top concert

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Location: 2938 Grand Prairie Pkwy, Waukee, IA 50263

Cost: $97+

If country music isn’t your thing, don’t worry—an equally exhilarating and high-profile rock concert is gracing the state the week after Little Big Town and Sugarland sing the house down at Vibrant Arena. ZZ Top is slated to headline Vibrant Music Hall on November 21, which is pretty historic when you remember that the band has been active since the ‘60s. Now, that unfortunately doesn’t mean you’ll see all of the band’s original members. One near-OG member, Dusty Hill, passed away in 2021, but filling in his shoes is vocalist and bass player Elwood Francis. ZZ Top’s Iowa tour stop is one of their final shows of 2024, with the group’s first 2025 show listing on its website not being until April. So, if you want to see these iconic rock stars in action, now’s your chance. 

Photo courtesy of Ralph Arvesen/CC BY 2.0.

8. The Nutcracker

Date: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 22-24

Location: 8201 Dakota St, Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Cost: $19+ for kids, $23+ for adults

For a classic theater experience, check out “The Nutcracker” at the University of Northern Iowa’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center this November. This story is one of whimsy—and one of breathtaking dance—and it’s brought to the stage this fall by a combination of professional dancers from the Minnesota Ballet and other local dancers that call northeast Iowa home. Supporting local artists—whether dancers, singers, writers, or anything in between—is important, and going to a show that you’ve likely seen before can be incredibly comforting, making this show a true win-win. (And we wouldn’t blame you if you left the show humming Pentatonix’s version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”)

9. Irish Christmas in America shows

Date: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 23-24

Location: 1011 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Cost: $40+

Since 2005, Irish Christmas in America, a touring group of performers from Ireland, has been sprinkling smiles on audiences’ faces across the U.S. to truly kick off the holidays with fervor. The group’s 2024 tour includes two tour dates at Des Moines’ Temple Theater, and with Iowa having such a large number of people with Irish heritage, we knew this tour had to make it onto this list. Just what can you expect to see? Well, according to the group’s website, it promises to deliver “a fascinating performance of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions,” and attending one of this group’s performances, which are set on a backdrop of beautiful Irish imagery, is a lot cheaper than traveling to Ireland for the holidays.

Previous theatergoers agree that Irish Christmas in America is absolutely worth seeing, with one reviewer from 2023 writing, in part, “The dancers, singers, and musicians were just marvelous! It could not have been better!” Meanwhile, another review mentioned that they found the stories “confusing” but still lauded the “[g]reat singers and dancers.” Ultimately, if you’re interested in Irish culture and want to get into the holiday spirit, attending an Irish Christmas in America show could prove fruitful.

10. Cedar Rapids Turkey Trot 5K

Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

Location: 1st St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Cost: $42.99 until Nov. 6, $60 after Nov. 6

Thanksgiving’s all about the turkey, but it’s also about the Turkey Trot 5K in Cedar Rapids, which draws in large crowds year after year. And because the event starts at a ripe 9 a.m., you can run or walk the 5K and still be home in plenty of time to enjoy the rest of your holiday, especially because the time limit for the course is an hour and 20 minutes. (Do note, though, that you can register for an untimed 5K to take the pressure off of the holiday.) This event also has a virtual option, allowing people to get in on the action without actually being at the designated 5K course. Perhaps the best part about this 5K, however, is the donut from the local favorite, Donutland, anticipating your arrival at the finish line. Sure, you’ll have pumpkin pie later in the day, but a donut a day keeps the doctor away (or however that saying goes). If that weren’t enough, your entry fee for the 5K supports folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so you can really give back this Thanksgiving. 

11. Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party

Date: Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 28-Dec. 1

Location: 233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Cost: $26+

The Disney on Ice series has been bringing joy to kids for decades through its engaging productions, including smash-hit films like “High School Musical.” This year, though, Disney’s returning to its roots and bringing Mickey back out onto the ice—and, as the event’s website confirms, into the air. For a few days only (and nine total showtimes), Iowans can catch the iconic mouse’s latest entry in the series—”Mickey’s Search Party”—at Wells Fargo Arena, and just in time for the holidays. Disney’s website is mum when it comes to details about the show, but reviews note that you can expect myriad classic characters to return to the ice if you see “Mickey’s Search Party,” including Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, Moana, Aladdin, and many more. Altogether, these characters imbue the show with so much charisma that blogger Lovestalgia called “Mickey’s Search Party” “one of THE BEST Disney on Ice shows we’ve seen.” With reviews like this, you won’t want to miss this event!

12. Weihnachtsfest

Date: Friday, Nov. 29

Location: 307 Main St, Manning, IA 51455

Cost: Free

If you’re ready to ring in the Christmas season, don’t forget to head to downtown Manning on November 29 for this year’s Weihnachtsfest, which literally translates to English from German as “Christmas party.” This is an open event where all are free to attend, and it’s set to include plenty of fun for the entire family. That said, you’ll want to bring some extra cash for delicious food, drinks, and even early Christmas shopping, as stores all over Main St. will be open for some festive gift-buying. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned the highlight of the event yet: Starting at 6 p.m., you can catch a stunning, lighted parade to kick off an evening of colorful glee. There will even be live music before the parade for those who arrive early. From there, you can indulge in hot apple cider, catch a hayride, roast marshmallows with others in the community, and more. The cherry on top of this already-sweet evening is the bout of cookie decorating you can take part in. Ultimately, there’s something for everyone at Manning’s Weihnachtsfest—just don’t forget to grab your scarf before heading out the door. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.