You might sound great belting out holiday tunes in the car but wait until you see the professionals bring them to life on stage. It’s the gift you don’t need a gift receipt for. Check out this comprehensive list of holiday shows, concerts, and plays in Greater Des Moines for you and the family to enjoy. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!
HOYT SHERMAN PLACE
Michael W. Smith – Every Christmas with special guest Rily Clemmons
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 7 p.m., November 25
Tickets: $62 – $72
Christmas with Lorie Line
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 7 p.m., December 5
Tickets: $63 – $65
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus: Thankful
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., December 7
Tickets: $35
Ballet Des Moines presents The Nutcracker
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 7 p.m., December 12; 7 p.m., December 13; 2 p.m. and 7 pm., December 14; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., December 15
Tickets: $32 – $144
Christmas with C.S. Lewis
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 7:30 p.m., December 17
Tickets: $45 – $60
In the Christmas Mood with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Where: Hoyt Sherman Place
When: 7 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $65.50 – $80.50
DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER
Hip Hop Nutcracker
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
When: 7 p.m., November 26
Tickets: $32 – $78
Iowa Dance Theatre presents: The Nutcracker
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
When: 7 p.m., December 13; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., December 14
Tickets: $31 – $59
A Christmas Carol
Where: Stoner Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. December 13 and 14; 2 p.m., December 15; 7:30 p.m., December 18 – 20; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., December 21; 2 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $40, $25 for students
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
When: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., December 21
Tickets: $40 – $94
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
When: 4 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $40 – $94
The Des Moines Symphony New Year’s Eve Pops: The Doo Wop Project
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
When: 8 p.m., December 31
Tickets: $40 – $90
WELLS FARGO ARENA
Disney on Ice
Where: Wells Fargo Arena
When: 6 p.m., November 28; 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., November 29 and 30; 1 p.m., 5 p.m., December 1
Tickets: $26 – $94
Pentatonix
Where: Wells Fargo Arena
When: 7 p.m., December 18
Tickets: $49 – $153
NOCE
All I Want for Christmas: Gina Gedler
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 5; 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., December 13
Tickets: $25 – $49
Max Wellsman’s 15th Annual Home for the Holidays
Where: Noce
When: 5 p.m., December 8; 7 p.m., December 16
Tickets: $25 – $49
A Charlie Brown Christmas with Tanner Taylor Trio
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 9,10, and 17; 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., December 20
Tickets: $25 – $49
Sounds of the Season with the Des Moines Big Band
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 11 and 18
Tickets: $15 – $28
Lauren Vilmain: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 12
Tickets: $25 – $42
A NOLA Christmas
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., December 14; 7 p.m., December 23
Tickets: $25 – $49
Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 19
Tickets: $25 – $49
Christmas with the Nate Sparks Big Band
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 21; 5 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $25 – $49
The Early Show: New Year’s Eve
Where: Noce
When: 7 p.m., December 31
Tickets: $28 – $52
Noce’s 10th Annual Wild Party
Where: Noce
When: 9 p.m., December 31
Tickets: $120 – $175
TALLGRASS THEATRE
Holiday Cabaret
Where: Tallgrass Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m., December 6 and 7; 2 p.m., December 8
Tickets: $33
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
Sounds of the Season: Many Moods of Christmas
Where: Plymouth Church
When: 7 p.m., December 6; 2 p.m., December 7
Tickets: free
Sounds of the Season: Christmas in Brass
Where: Plymouth Church
When: 7 p.m., December 20
Tickets: free
ST. AMBROSE CATHEDRAL
Christmas with the Choral Society
Where: St. Ambrose Cathedral
When: 7:30 p.m., December 7
Tickets: $10 – $30
SALISBURY HOUSE AND GARDENS
Holiday Concert at Salisbury House
Where: Salisbury House and Gardens
When: 7 p.m., December 8
Tickets: $65
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Christmas with Vocal Arts
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church
When: 4 p.m., December 15
Tickets: $25
Des Moines Symphony Holiday Brass Concert
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church
When: 7:30 p.m., December 21; 4 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $30 – $60
STAPLIN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Deck the Halls – performed by the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble
Where: Staplin Performing Arts Center
When: 3 p.m., December 15
Tickets: free
Blue Violin Candlelight Christmas
Where: Staplin Performing Arts Center
When: 7 p.m., December 22
Tickets: $15 – $30
DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
Final Act Ensemble: Holiday Show
Where: Des Moines Community Playhouse
When: 7 p.m., December 17
Tickets: $10
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
The King’s Singers: Holiday Concert
Where: Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University
When: 7:30 p.m., December 18
Tickets: $21 – $75
