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EXPERIENCES
National Balloon Classic
The National Balloon Classic spans nine incredible days. More than 150 hot air balloons take to the skies in a burst of brilliant color as pilots from around the world test their skills in pursuit of points, prizes, and the championship titles.
There’s live music and activities every night as well as plenty of food and fun for the whole family! And there are more than just hot air balloons taking to the sky — watch for skydivers, fireworks, and a display featuring giant kites.
VIP Sky Suite Experience Cost: Starting at $2500
Tailored Group Experiences Cost: $25/pp (avg)
Time: 5 Hours
$100Add to Itinerary
Hitting the High Note – Des Moines Metro Opera
Lunch at the world renowned Des Moines Metro Opera’s headquarters will have you soaring. You will enjoy a personal greeting from the head of DMMO, an opera themed menu and a private opera performance.
Cost: $400.00
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Balloons, Bellinis & Breakfast
Your morning will be kicked off getting to explore the inside of a hot air balloon with a cold infate served up with bellini flights. The perfect backdrop and launch to your day!
Balloon Cold Inflate Cost: $300.00
Bellini’s & Breakfast Cost: $10-$25/pp
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Indianola Downtown
Guests will have the opportunity to leisurely enjoy Indianola’s charming historic downtown featuring a variety of historic buildings, quaint shops, and cozy restaurants. In addition, the downtown historical tour will be offered for those who choose.
$100Add to Itinerary
Cemetery Symbolism Tour
In this unique and interesting tour, your guests will get to discover the hidden symbolism found on gravestones and get a cleaning demonstration to equip them to discover their own back home.
Cost: $5.00/pp
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Honey Tasting: A Sensory Soar
Your guest will enjoy a honey tasting experience hosted by Milk and Honey Orchard and Apiary founder Katie Flinn. Flinn trained in Bologna, Italy and will provide take guests through a unique and sweet discovery of honey and beekeeping!
Cost: $400
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Indianola Downtown Historical Walking Tour
This guided walking tour offers a stroll through the downtown area, exploring significant buildings and sites that tell the story of the town’s development over the years.
Cost: $5.00/pp
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Wine Tour and Tasting
Enjoy guided tastings of Summerset’s award-winning wines, ranging from robust reds to crisp whites. Enjoyed from the tasting room or the deck with scenic views, you will receive 4 delicious wines along with 4 cheeses that pair perfectly.
Cost: $15.00/pp
Time: 1.5 Hours
$100Add to Itinerary
Tour and Dinner at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Hop on a tractor ride and enjoy a tour of Wilson’s Orchard and Farm where you will learn about all of their history. Guests will also enjoy a dinner prepared by a culinary team devoted to sourcing ingredients from locals farms and applying their craft & artistry into a unique culinary experience.
Tour Cost: $10.00/pp
Dinner Cost: $10-$20/pp
Time: 2 Hours
$100Add to Itinerary
Bubbles & Blooms U-Pick Experience
We will head to the breathtaking Bochner Farms for a complimentary mimosa and delicious pastry from our friends at local bakery favorite, Savor the Rise. Relax and enjoy a beautiful, peaceful oasis overflowing with color, nestled in the heart of central Iowa. Feel free to take stunning pictures of the flower farm, and cut your own bouquet of our locally grown blooms.
Experience Prices Vary
Time: 2 Hours
$100Add to Itinerary
Indianola Arts Festival
In Indianola’s breathtaking Buxton Park, guests will be able to enjoy the Indianola Arts Festival. In addition to over 30 artists, visitors can enjoy live music entertainment from singers, flutists, and pianists, yard games, food trucks, and other activities.
$100Add to Itinerary
Des Moines Metro Opera
The Des Moines Metro Opera is a renowned opera company based in Indianola, Iowa. Known for its high-quality productions and commitment to nurturing young talent, the company has become a cultural cornerstone of the region. Their annual festival season features a diverse range of operas, from classic masterpieces to contemporary works, attracting audiences from across the Midwest.
Cost: $0.00
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Behind the Berries
Your taste buds will soar at Edge of the Woods Raspberry Farm. You will get a behind the scenes of this agritourism gem, as well as have the opportunity to pick your own berries, sample jams and shop for some of the specialty products.
Cost: $8.00 includes a pint of personally handpicked berries & tour
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
The History of Flight
Discussion from The National Balloon Museum’s Currator, the National Balloon Museum is the only museum of its kind in the nation. You’ll learn about the history of flight while located at the Annett Nature Center and explore the earliest days of ballooning in 1783 to modern-day hot air balloons.
Admission Cost: $5.00
Guided Tour Cost: $2.00
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
AGRITOURISM
Bochner Farms
Bochner Farms is a family-owned flower farm in Central Iowa, selling unique daylilies and locally grown flowers
Cost: $0.00
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Cortum Farm & Co.
Cortum Farm & Co.is a small diversified family farm that was born with the hope of providing our next generation all that the agriculture way of life has to offer.
Cost: $0.00
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Edge of The Woods Raspberry Farm
Edge of the Woods Farm, LLC is a family owned farm offering flavorful in season fresh fruit; red and black raspberries, blackberries, tart cherries, blueberries, rhubarb, gooseberries and currants. YUM!
Cost: $8.00 includes a pint of personally handpicked berries & tour
Time: 1 Hour
$100Add to Itinerary
Dining
The Brickhouse Tavern
Discover delicious tavern food including appetizers, pastas, pizza, & more at Brickhouse Tavern.
Group Seating Capacity:
$100Add to Itinerary
Sports Page Bar & Grill
Enjoy tasty food such as Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads, Wraps and more and then head on over to their pickleball court for a game of pickleball!
Group Seating Capacity:
$100Add to Itinerary
Z’s Eatery & Draught Haus
The motto at Z’s Eatery & Draught Haus is “Where Friends Become Family” because we believe good food and drink have the power to connect people. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick drink after work, a business lunch, or its dad’s turn to cook for the night, the goal is to make you feel right at home.
Group Seating Capacity:
$100Add to Itinerary
Venues
- All
- 100
- 200
- 300+
- 50
The Studio
The Studio has a rich history in Central Iowa. It was built in 1954 by Ellen Belle Foster, a talented tap dance and ballet teacher who inspired Richard Powell of Foster Powell Dance to perpetuate her legacy. Since Julia Foster acquired the Studio in 2008, this space has continued to evolve into an exquisite venue for weddings, parties and other important events.
| Size Of Event Space: 1100 sq. ft. | Price Range: $1500 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 60 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Salem Connection
Salem Connection offers an affordable space for all family celebrations, including birthdays, anniversaries, marriage, a child’s birth, retirements, and holidays. At Salem Connection we want to provide a place where families and friends can gather to create lasting memories for the entire family.
| Size Of Event Space: 1500 sq. ft. | Price Range: $50-$200 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 45 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Des Moines Metro Opera, Lauridsen Opera Center
The Des Moines Metro Opera has open vistas and access to natural light. Historical wood trims and architectural details have been restored and blended with contemporary finishes. Most visible of all is the new Robert L. Larsen Atrium, an 1,800 square foot all-glass contemporary addition which allows the original north façade of the library to be seen in its entirely. The addition creates a dynamic, inviting new space that will be available for community events and is an ADA-compliant environment.
| Size Of Event Space: 1800 sq. ft. | Price Range: Variable |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 50-65 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Red Acre Barn
Red Acre Barn and vineyard is a 5,632 square foot venue space for weddings, receptions and events set on 24 acres of land. We love to host weddings, receptions, bridal showers, corporate events, family reunions, prom, holiday parties, birthday parties and much more! The property is near Hwy 92 and I-35, 15 minutes to the Mills Civic Parkway exit in West Des Moines. 22 minutes to the Fleur Drive exit for the airport.
| Size Of Event Space: 7300 sq. ft. | Price Range: Variable |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 300 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: Yes | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Sunset Ridge Barn
Sunset Ridge Barn is a unique wedding and events venue nestled in the rolling hills of Warren County, only 20 miles from the Des Moines metro. Come share the breath-taking views, sunsets over a country pond, outdoor ceremony pavilion and indoor air conditioning.
| Size Of Event Space: 5600 sq. ft. | Price Range: $6,275-$7,400 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 300 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Happy Apple Celebrations
Happy Apple Celebrations offers a rustic wedding and event venue with beautiful outdoor landscapes and a large heated/air-conditioned indoor facility. Our farm is conveniently close to the Des Moines metro, while still being located among the beautiful rolling fields of central Iowa. We have wooded areas, scenic ponds, and a relaxing atmosphere. Happy Apple Celebrations is dedicated to providing you with a venue that removes the stress and anxiety from your event by giving you time to fully enjoy the weekend that is reserved just for YOU.
| Size Of Event Space: 1500 sq. ft. | Price Range: $2500-$7499 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 500 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
The Prelude
The Prelude Discover a unique venue in Central Iowa, just 30 minutes south of Des Moines. Inspired by far-off lands and storybooks, The Prelude offers a romantic escape for those who crave a touch of whimsy and authenticity.
| Size Of Event Space: 4700 sq. ft. | Price Range: $7,000 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 165 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: Yes | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
Carper Winery
Carper Winery is tucked away in the cozy suburb of Norwalk, Iowa. Enjoy the serenity of the overlooking ponds and lush vineyard that creates the most magical backdrop for your big day. Carper Winery was specially designed or effortless events, from the pergola for ceremonies, romantic bistro lighting, outdoor patio to enjoy the beautiful surroundings – right down to electrical outlet placement for your entertainers.
| Size Of Event Space: 5600 sq. ft. | Price Range: $8,000 |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 300 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
The Vineyard at St. Charles – Reception Hall
The Vineyard is the perfect space for your next event. With our cocktail lounge that accommodates 50 for a more intimate feel or our reception hall that accommodates 200 for your large events, we will help you plan the perfect party.
We can host weddings, retirement parties, holiday parties, team building events or after-hours meet and greets.
| Size Of Event Space: 2400 sq. ft. | Price Range: Variable |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 200 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: Yes | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
The Vineyard at St. Charles – Cocktail Lounge
The Vineyard is the perfect space for your next event. With our cocktail lounge that accommodates 50 for a more intimate feel or our reception hall that accommodates 200 for your large events, we will help you plan the perfect party.
We can host weddings, retirement parties, holiday parties, team-building events, or after-hours meet and greets.
| Size Of Event Space: 1200 sq. ft. | Price Range: |
| Capacity for Banquet Seating: 50 seats | Handicap Accessible: Yes |
| Indoor/Outdoor Space: Indoor/Outdoor | Rehearsal Dinner: |
| Ceremony Site: Variable | Onsite Caterer Only: No |
$100Add to Itinerary
