Celebrate Love Around DSM This Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air — all around Greater Des Moines (DSM)! From The Filipino American Association of Iowa Valentine’s Ball to The Sweet Stroll, there is plenty to do to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year! So grab your sweetheart for a romance-inspired event, gather up a group of friends to attend a galentine’s party or bundle up the kiddos to partake in family friendly activities around the region.

Attend Valentine’s Events in Greater Des Moines

• Vintage Valentine Open House in Ankeny: Make a free-will donation to Ankeny Area Historical Society when you visit the museum to make a valentine and view vintage valentines on display. This event will be held Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 from 2 – 4 p.m.
• The Sweet Stroll in Grinnell: On Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, Downtown Grinnell will hold The Sweet Stroll from 5:30 – 8 p.m. The event is an opportunity to shop, eat and explore downtown businesses in preparation for Valentine’s Day.
• 22nd Annual Chocolate Walk in Perry: Take a self-guided tour of shops around Perry on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 5th Annual Love Is in the Air Vendor & Craft Show in Marshalltown: Pick out a gift for your valentine from local vendors on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marshalltown from 10 am. – 4 p.m.
• Valentines Make & Take Workshop in Clive: Choose your paint and create a piece for your home or to gift. Board & Brush in Clive will provide the materials and instructions to create your very own Valentine’s board.
• Valentine’s Night at the Range in Johnston: CrossRoads Shooting Sports will hold a Valentine’s event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 from 4 – 8 p.m. that includes a one-hour window for shooting, food and sparkling wine.
• Valentine’s Pop-Up Bar at The Vineyard in Saint Charles: Marke your calendar for Friday, Feb. 14 from 4 – 9 p.m. at The Vineyard, where you can enjoy creative cocktails.
• Valentine’s Day 4-Course Dinner in Grinnell: On Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, Prairie Canary will host a four-course dinner for two from 5 – 9 p.m. Enjoy menu items like Stuffed Mushrooms, Forbidden Scallops, Coq Au Vin and Chocolate Fondue.
• Valentine’s Day at the Lodge in Adel: Live music from Jesse & the Medicine Men, dinner provided by Sunflower Chef Catering and a drink from the bar are included with the $35 admission to this Country Lane Lodge event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and doors open at 5:45 p.m.
• Valentine’s Date Night in Des Moines: Head to the Sherwood Forest Event Center for a romantic evening of live music and dinner. Retrospect will perform at the event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 from 6 – 10:30 p.m.
• Heart & Soul – A Tribute to Tim McGraw & Faith Hill in Altoona: Prairie Meadows will present a a tribute show of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill hits. Celebrate on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 at 7 p.m. at The Finish Line Show Lounge. Prairie Meadows is offering an exclusive package that includes two tickets to the show, a hotel stay and a $100 credit to AJ’s Steakhouse.
• Owl You Need is Love with Polk County Conservation in Granger: Attend a free event celebrating Iowa true romantics — owls! This event is free and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the Jester Park Nature Center.
• Couples Valentines Day Painting in Pella: Take a painting class at the Pella Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 from 1 – 3 p.m. The class will include a nature talk in conjunction with Marion County Conservation.
• 41st FAAI Valentine’s Ball in Altoona: The Filipino American Association of Iowa (FAAI) will celebrate Valentine’s Day at the 41st FAAI Valentine’s Ball on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 at 5 p.m. at Prairie Meadows. This formal event will include a parade of past Valentine’s kings and queens, dancing and more.
• Valentine’s Dinner & Live Music in Winterset: Enjoy live jazz music from Matt Terronez Quartet on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Covered Bridges Winery. Dinner includes Chicken Picatta, garlic mashed potatoes and more.

Shop + Dine with Your Valentine in Greater Des Moines

And don’t forget to shop for Valentine’s goodies locally or dine in one of DSM’s many restaurants to help elevate your celebration. Here are a few we recommend:

Flowers

• Adel Flowers & Gifts: Voted a Dallas County Shop by Iowa Living Magazine, Adel Flowers & Gifts offers bouquets like the Cotton Candy Clouds arrangement.
• Bellflower Florist & Gifts: Norwalk’s Bellfower Florist & Gifts is the perfect place to find Valentine’s Day flowers, trinkets and more.
• Bates Flowers by Design: Find Valentine sweets and gifts from this Grinnell florist. Teddy bears, balloons and milk chocolate malt balls are just a few of the options from Bates. 
• Candi’s Flowers: In Knoxville, Candi’s Flowers offers a Valentine’s Day collection of modern bouquets, including the Valentine’s Day Designer’s Choice Vase, Cross My Heart floral arrangement and Dancing Disco Queen bouquet.
• The Wildflower Factory: Shop for fresh flower bouquets at The Wildflower Factory in Dallas Center.

Gifts

• Broheim's Indoor Golf & Pub or Nederlands Tap & Golf: Tee up a great gift or night out with the golfer in your life at Broheim’s in Waukee or Nederlands in Pella.
• Candle Bar DSM: Grab a heart candle or other small gift from Candle Bar DSM in West Des Moines. 
• Little Lions Eclectics: Spruce up your home with home décor and fun finds at this local shop in Polk City.
• Off the Rails Quilting: Bondurant’s Off the Rails Quilting offers heart-themed fabrics and designs perfect for a quilter’s Valentine’s Day gift. 
• Pageturners Bookstore: Grab a gift card or book for the reader in your life at this independent bookstore in Indianola.   
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in West Des Moines offers a selection of flavors, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, almond, toffee and more. 
• The Jewelers Bench: Find custom jewelry from The Jewelers Bench in Newton.  
• vIVid Life Spa: Book an appointment with the latest deals from vIVid Life Spa for a refresh right ahead of Valentine’s Day in Norwalk. 

Restaurants

• Baratta’s: Visit Baratta’s in south Des Moines for Italian favorites including Chicken Piccata, Cavatelli and Amaggio.
• Cooper’s Hawk: Not only does Cooper’s Hawk in Clive have delicious food, but you can grab a bottle of wine, a celebration flute, scented candle or stemless glass to help celebrate Valentine’s Day at home, too. This year, a Galentine’s Wine Club Dinner will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, so make your reservation now to attend. 
• Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Give the gift of dinner at Fleming’s in West Des Moines — try the $79 Land & Sea Prix Fixe, which is available nightly for a limited time! 
• Prairie Canary: Grinnell’s Prairie Canary is the perfect place for Grinnell College and Grinnell High School students to celebrate Valentine’s Day when they receive 20% off every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
• Waterfront Seafood Market: With locations in both Ankeny and West Des Moines, Waterfront Seafood Market offers featured items such as Scallop Marucca and Halibut Royale.

Wineries

• Jasper Winery: Stop by the Tasting Room at Jasper Winery in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) for wine by the glass, sangria, flights, draft beer, cheese and crackers and more. Wine-related gifts are also on-site and available for purchase.
• Tassel Ridge Winery: Take a tour with your valentine or galentine and enjoy complimentary samples of Tassel Ridge wines when you visit the Leighton winery.
• Covered Bridges Winery: This Winterset family winery offers reds, whites and rosé wines, but you can also purchase a gift basket for your loved one. Note: Gift baskets are pick-up only.
• Summerset Winery: Shop online for wine from Summerset Winery in Indianola.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the "Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.