Things to Do

One of Des Moines most photographed locations, the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park located in the Western Gateway is a great place to take a stroll and get some great team pictures. One of the sculptures was even based on gymnastic’s pike position (although the sculptural interpretation is, shall we say, abstract). Dine at one of the Western Gateway’s nearby restaurants and take a post meal stroll. An audio tour of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park is available online or by dialing 515.657.8264. This is a beautiful experience during the day and is enchanted and illuminated by night!

You are in the heart of Farm County… so visit one of the biggest and the best farmers markets in the country! The Market takes over the Court District on Saturday morning from 7 am to noon with nearly 300 vendors from across the state. While you’ll find fresh, organic produce and meats, you’ll also find arts, crafts, as well as live bands and entertainment. Note: Most all roads through the Court District are closed to vehicle traffic during The Market, so if you are driving or taking a ride-share to the competition venue Saturday morning allow for extra travel time!

Constructed between 1871 and 1886, the Iowa Statehouse is the nation’s only five-domed capitol building, with the main/center dome plated in tissue-paper thin, 23-karat gold. Tour the beauty of the building’s interior and stroll the grounds and take some great team pictures along the Downtown Des Moines skyline. Free tours are available weekdays 8 am – 5 pm (closed on Fourth of July) and 9 am – 4 pm on Saturday. Located across the street from the Capitol’s West Terrace, you’ll also find the free State Historical Museum featuring the mammoth skeleton above and exhibits on famous Iowans and historical events.

1. Get your picture with Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson! 
   Well, a bronzed statue of her anyway…
   See her at the  Iowa Hall of Pride interactive sports museum located right inside the competition venue!
   Visit the museum Mon-Fri between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
   
2. Take unique team pictures in front of the Des Moines skyline!
   Head out the east doors of Hy-Vee Hall or Wells Fargo Arena and step into Rotary Riverwalk Park, where you can swing from a giant finishing pole statue on the banks of the Des Moines River. Then cross the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge and take a stroll around the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens. Weather pending, this might be one of the best 20-30 minute breaks you’ll take from the competition venue all day!

   

3. Cowles Commons & World Food Prize Hall of Laureates Garden
   Two blocks south of the competition venues, you’ll find the recently renovated Cowles Commons, where you can cool off in the splash pad or get some photos with some public art.On your walk, head one block east and get some photos in the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates gardens.
   

Check out a complete list here.

Yankee Doodle Pops – Iowa State Capitol
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – Concert @ 6:30 pm | Fireworks @ 8:30 pm
Join the Des Moines Symphony for a free patriotic concert at 6:30 pm on the west lawn of Iowa State Capitol, followed by Des Moines’ best fireworks show at 8:30 pm over the five state capitol domes. Find complete details on street closures, free transportation shuttles, maps and vendor locations here. The state capitol is located in the East Villiage, across the river from the competition venues.

Iowa Cubs Baseball Post-Game Fireworks – Principal Park
Thursday, July 4, 2019 & Friday, July 5, 2019 – Following Baseball
If you can’t make the big bang at the capitol on Wednesday, there is still time to see some downtown fireworks after Thursday and Friday night’s gymnastics competition has concluded. The Iowa Cubs will shoot off fireworks following the conclusion of their games against the Memphis Redbirds at Principal Park on both Thursday and Friday evenings. First pitch for these games is at 7:05 pm with fireworks at approximately 10 pm. Principal Park is located directly south of the competition venues, south of the Court District.

Suburban Options
If you’re looking to get out of downtown on the 4th, you can head to the suburbs and check out Urbandale’s Fourth of July celebration, which includes a huge parade and fireworks show. There are also many celebrations and fireworks displays in many of the neighboring suburbs and small towns.