5 Free Things to Do in Downtown DSM in February

_{Header image from Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation.}

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a great place to be year-round — and it’s affordable, too! This month, take a look at these five totally free events and things to do in Downtown DSM taking place during February.

Wander the Wintry Sculpture Park

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Western Gateway
You may think of the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park as a warm weather activity, but picture how beautiful the artful sculptures are when covered in a soft blanket of snow! Snag a hot coffee or hot chocolate from a nearby café and stroll the park’s 4.4 acres with the visitor guide in-hand. Free audio tours are also available, using your SmartPhone to scan QR codes near each piece of art. Don’t forget to use #downtownDSM when you post your obligatory selfie!
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Celebrate Groundhog Day

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
The High Life Lounge’s Groundhogs Day celebration might be one of Downtown DSM’s best kept secrets. Join in the festivities and watch whether Polk County Paula sees their shadow this year to predict an early spring or a few more weeks of winter. (Don’t recognize the local lingo? Polk County Paula is a person dressed up in a groundhog costume!) Doors open at 6 a.m. on Groundhog Day — Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 — and free beer is served, while supplies last.
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Tour the Iowa State Capitol

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic East Village
Open to the public Monday through Saturday, take a self-guided tour of the gold-gilded Iowa State Capitol or schedule a formal tour intended for groups of 10 or more. Peek inside the impressively beautiful State Law Library with regal windows overlooking the Downtown DSM skyline, and stop into the gift shop to browse Iowa-centric merchandise. Additionally, you can brush up on the latest news from Iowa's Legislature before you visit, as the State Legislators are currently in session.
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Dive Into Black History Month

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Western Gateway
Here are several tangible, free ways you can engage in Black History Month in Downtown DSM throughout February:

• Discover inspiring Black authors at Central Library’s I Spy: Black History Month – Authors event, Feb. 3-16, 2025! Visit the children’s area, explore books by Black authors and complete the hidden picture challenge to win a prize!  
• Attend the Capital City Pride Speaker Series featuring Tee Franklin on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 at Temple Theater. A groundbreaking DC Comics writer and creator of the GLAAD-nominated Harley Quinn series, Franklin made history as the first Black woman to write Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. She is also the first Black woman writer to have multiple series published by Image Comics. 
• Celebrate innovation at Central Library’s I Spy: Black History Month – Inventors event, Feb. 18-28, 2025. Explore the children’s area to learn about groundbreaking Black inventors whose historic discoveries continue to shape our world. Complete the hidden picture challenge and win a prize! 
• Learn about and visit the Kerry James Marshall sculpture, “A Monumental Journey,” at the corner of Grand and 2nd Ave. (pictured at top of page). 

Explore Art at the Polk County Heritage Gallery 

Downtown DSM Neighborhood: Historic Court District
Explore the vibrant world of Iowan art at the current exhibit, Augural | Future’s History, curated by Michaela Mullin. This compelling showcase features paintings, collages, drawings, sculptures, photography and textiles, each telling stories of self, others, and the intertwining of the known and unknown. These works invite viewers to reflect on the combinatory nature of our world and the timeless interplay of what we understand, imagine and hope. Running from Thursday, Feb. 6 to Friday, March 28, 2025, the exhibit kicks off with an opening reception on Thursday from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Housed in the stunning 1908 Beaux Arts Post Office within the Polk County Administrative Building, it’s the perfect cultural stop before a weekday lunch or dinner in the Historic Court District.
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Plan your visit to Downtown Des Moines (DSM) with these tips for parking and navigation and follow @downtownDSMUSA on Instagram for more epic, things-you-just-can’t-miss happening around Downtown.