What's on in Ankeny for free?
13 upcoming events
We've rounded up 13 upcoming events in Ankeny for free — concerts, parties, theatre, exhibitions, family outings — updated every day. Pick a theme or just scroll.
Events in Ankeny for free
Sun4
Today
Fri9
Friday 9 October
Later
Mon 12 · 5 PMFree
🀄Mahjong
Mahjong Monday: Open Play
WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny
Fri 16 · 10 AM$0
✂️Workshop💼Career
6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook
Agency Iowa
Fri 16 · 7 PMFree
🎪Street party
Haunted Waters Halloween Bash
2750 NW 82nd Pl
Sat 17 · 8 AMFree
⚔️Miniatures🏆Tournament
Orktoberfest Atlas Games RTT
Atlas Games
Sun 18 · 8 AMFree
🏆Tournament⚔️Miniatures
Beer Brawl - AoS RTT
Firetrucker Brewery
Fri 6 Nov · 5 PMFree
November Wine Club Pick-Up Party
WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny
Sun 8 Nov · 9 AMFree
🎯Board games🏆Tournament
Toys for Grotz
Atlas Games
Fri 20 Nov · 10 AM$0
✂️Workshop💼Career
6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook
Agency Iowa
Thu 26 Nov · 8:45 AM$0–45.99
🏃Running🌳Outdoors
Ankeny Turkey Trot 5K
2006 S Ankeny Blvd
Fri 18 Dec · 10 AM$0
6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook
Agency Iowa
See also in Ankeny for free
Tomorrow · 11 AM$138
✨Pop🎙️Small gig
512: The Selena Experience
The Ingersoll, Des Moines
Tomorrow · 12:30 PM
🎹Blues🎫Concert
2026 Iowa Blues Challenge
xBk Live, Des Moines
Wed 7 · 5 PM
🎷Jazz🎫Concert
Blue Light Jazz with Zane Gedler & Co. @ Surety Hotel
Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection, Des Moines
Thu 8 · 6 PMFree
❓Quiz🎫Concert
Trivia Night at Exile Brewing Company
Exile Brewing Company, Des Moines
Thu 8Free
🎸Rock🏆Tournament
Battle Of The Bands
Prairie Meadows, Altoona
Tomorrow
🎸Rock🎫Concert
Taking Back Sunday (Thrice, Saves The Day)
Val Air Ballroom, West Des Moines
Tomorrow · 5 PM$65.87
🎻Classical🎫Concert
OUTSIDE/IN -- OPENING BENEFIT CONCERT -- Carillon, Viola and Organ
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Des Moines
Tomorrow · 6:30 PM$10
✨Cabaret🎷Jazz
Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble: Cabaret
Temple Theater, Des Moines
Mon 5 · 7:30 PM$34.50–90
🎸Rock🎫Concert
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers: Indigo Park Tour
Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines
Wed 7 · 9 PM$7.68–41.93
🎸Jam / Open mic
Open Stage Table Reservation - 9pm
The Garden Nightclub, Des Moines
Thu 8 · 7 PM$65–1,045
🎫Concert
Zach Top
Wells Fargo Arena - IA, Des Moines
Thu 8 · 8 PM
🎸Rock🎫Concert
Zach Top w/ Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
Casey's Center, Des Moines
Sun 11 · 5 PM$20–25
🎷Jazz🎫Concert
Des Moines Jazz Hall of Fame
Noce Jazz Cabaret, Des Moines
Sun 11 · 5:30 PM$61.57
🎫Concert
Des Moines Pre Show Meet and Greet
Wooly's, Des Moines
Fri 16 · 7 PM$8–10
🪕Folk / Acoustic🎶Singer-songwriter
Emily Myers + Katie & the Honky Tonks | Live Music at Locals Bar & Stage
Locals Bar & Stage, Des Moines
Tomorrow
🌳Outdoors
Des Moines Biergarten
Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
Wed 7 · 6 PM
☀️Open air🎉Club
Getaway Wednesday
Gilroy's, West Des Moines
Mon 5 · 11 AM
🎪Street party
Burger Basket Monday
Burger Shed, Altoona
Thu 8 · 7 AM
🌀Ecstatic dance🧘Wellness
Third Thursday InterPlay
Third Thursday InterPlay — Des Moines
Fri 9 · 5 PM
🎪Street party🌳Outdoors
2026 Bike & Car Nights
Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines
Sat 10 · 10 AMFree
🎪Street party🌳Outdoors
Harvest & Handmade in Water Works Park
Water Works Park, Des Moines
Sun 11 · 1 PM$0
🎪Street party🤝Volunteering
Wag-o-Ween with AHeinz57 Pet Rescue | Big Grove Des Moines
Big Grove Brewery, Des Moines
Fri 23 · 7 PM$10
🎤Stand-up🎲Improv
Comedy for Charity
Ankeny Community Theatre
Tomorrow · 2 PM$73
🎭Theatre
Reefer Madness - Audio Described & ASL Signed Performance
Stoner Studio Theater - Des Moines Performing Arts
Mon 5 · 8 PM
🎲Improv🎤Stand-up
The Big Silly Improv Comedy Jam
xBk Annex, Des Moines
Sun 11 · 7 PM$559–1,081
🎤Stand-up🎭Theatre
Steve Martin
Des Moines Civic Center
Fri 16 · 7 PM$24.80–53.36
📜Poetry📜Poetry slam
Whiskey & Words: An Elevated Night of Whiskey, Music & Poetry
8801 University Ave ste 29, Clive
Tomorrow · 1 PM$23
🎪Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Casey's Center, Des Moines
Tue 6 · 6 PM$18.66–24.33
🍽️Food
Vite Colte Portfolio Tasting
WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny
Tomorrow · 11 AM
🗣️Talk🗺️Guided tour
Art for Brunch!
Des Moines Art Center
Wed 7$5.55
🎬Cinema
$5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!
Flix Brewhouse, Des Moines
Wed 7 · 5:30 PMFree
🌳Outdoors
Bondurant Farmers Market
Bondurant Farmers Market
Tomorrow · 12 PM
🖼️Exhibition🥂Opening
(Not) At Home
Anderson Gallery, Drake University, Des Moines
Thu 17
🖼️Exhibition
Landscapes: Take a Moment
Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design, Des Moines
At 8 PM$11–14
🎬Cinema
Digger - 10/3/26 @ 8:00 pm
Varsity Theatre, Des Moines
Mon 5 · 11 AM$0–10
🗣️Talk
Beyond the Inspection Report (1 CEU 256-8044-E)
Concepts Real Estate School, Windsor Heights
Mon 5 · 5 PMFree
🗣️Talk🧾Drop-in services
First Look Complimentary Member Event
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Tue 6 · 7 PM$15
🎬Cinema
Lemonade Blessing Roadshow (Des Moines)
Flix Brewhouse (Des Moines)
Wed 7 · 11:30 AM$10–28
🗣️Talk💛Inclusivity
IAWIA Fall Panel
Des Moines Public Library
Thu 8 · 9 AM
🗣️Talk
2026 Greater Des Moines Regional Summit
EMC Expo Center, Des Moines
Sat 10Free
🖼️Exhibition🥂Opening
Grand Opening of Military Nurses exhibit at the Gold Star Military Museum
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
Thu 15 · 6:30 PM$81.90–201.78
🍽️Food
Savor Moxie- October- The Global Table
4119 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
Fri 16 · 12 PM
🍽️Food
Harvest IPA Release
Confluence Brewing Company, Des Moines
Sat 17 · 10 AMFree
🧺Market🪡Crafts
Community Farmers Holiday Craft Market of Pleasant Hill
Berean Church, Pleasant Hill
Sat 17 · 10 AM
🧺Market🪡Crafts
2026 Pleasant Hill Holiday Craft Market
Berean Church, Pleasant Hill
Sat 17 · 10 AMFree
🔬Science
Fossil Fun
Easter Lake Event Center, Des Moines
Your passions nearby
Tap what you're into — we'll find the outings around you.
Venues in Ankeny for free
Firetrucker Brewery
1 event
1604 W 1st St
1 event
WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny
9 events
Ankeny Community Theatre
1 event
FFA Enrichment Center
1 event
Prairie Trail Sports Complex
2 events
Agency Iowa
3 events
Atlas Games
2 events
2006 S Ankeny Blvd
1 event
2750 NW 82nd Pl
1 event
Embrace Life Chiropractic
1 event