People take up running for a variety of reasons.  To burn off extra energy, lose weight, get healthier, to get places, or just to challenge themselves. Then there’s the people that do it for fun.  

Luckily for residents of Des Moines, there are plenty of different races around the area to appease everyone.  Being the largest city in Iowa we tend to get more national traveling races that come through town that are geared more towards having fun.  In the past we’ve had the Tough Mudder, the Warrior Dash, the Color Run, and the GoRUCK challenge just to name a few. We’ve also had local zombie runs, mud runs, and snow runs.  Plenty of opportunity throughout the year for anyone looking for a race.  Here are just a few of the runs coming up soon.

Dam to Dam

June 1st, 2013

One of the biggest races in Des Moines, this run is one of the best long distance races in the USA and features a 20k, 5k, and a youth run. More information and registration can be found on the Dam to Dam website.

Market to Market

May 11th, 2013

This one is more for the long distance runners. Starting in Jefferson, Iowa and ending in Des Moines, IA, it covers 75 miles over 17 different stages.  Fortunately you aren’t expected to run the whole thing yourself.  Teams consist of 7 people, and you can exchange runners at any one of the 17 different stages.  This of course means the rest of the team will be driving along with the runners. The course follows the Raccoon River Valley Trail System, paved streets, and gravel back roads through a diverse and scenic slice of west central Iowa.  More information and registration can be found on the Market to Market website.

Electric Run

June 15th, 2013

Here’s one for the people looking for a fun run.  It’s a 5k run in Newton, IA just outside of Des Moines.  It’s a traveling event that tours the nation, and every show is unique.  Some of the features highlighted in the past have been:

• Glowing neon trees changing colors to match the music
• Tunnels with dancing patterns and figures on the walls, ceilings, and floors
• Lakes and rivers glowing in other-worldly hues
• Tunnels of light created by a rainbow of lasers
• Glowing arches and columns
• Neon saguaro cactus
• Red rock cliffs glowing in psychedelic colors and patterns
• Glowing arches changing color in tempo
• Colored fountains dancing to the beat
• Entire buildings lit so brightly that they can be seen from space

It’s finally starting to feel like Spring in Des Moines. Just in time for Easter which is just around the corner. Everyone has their own traditions for this. Everything from dying Easter eggs, taking the kids to visit the Easter Bunny, have brunch with the family, and for all involved, gobbling down far too much candy. One of the Easter traditions that Des Moines takes pretty seriously is Easter Egg hunting. Looking over the list it seems as though nearly every suburb is participating. We’ve put together a list of some of the ones that we’ve found for you.

Ankeny

Location: Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center, 1220 N.W. Prairie Ridge Drive

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10:30AM

Admission is free and the event is for ages 2 through fourth grade accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children are asked to bring their own Easter baskets. More than 8,000 candy-filled eggs will be scattered on the grounds.

The Easter Bunny will be on hand and parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. There will be an age-appropriate message from one of the church pastors about the significance of Easter before the hunt starts.

Host: First Family Church of Ankeny

Location: Sunrise Park, 506 S.E. Peterson Drive

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 11AM

The Easter egg hunt is free and open to anyone in the community. Hot chocolate, lemonade and light snacks will be provided. Call 965-8300 for details.

Clive

Host: Clive Fire Fighter’s Association

Location: Linnan Park, 8500 Alice Ave.

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 9:00AM

The event, for ages 1 through 10, will have areas for younger and older children.

Des Moines

Host: Carousel of Colors Egg Hunt

Location: Union Park, 725 Thompson Avenue

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10AM

The hunt will be held on the north side of the park near the carousel and wading pool. Kids 10 and younger will love hunting for eggs.  Kids 4 and younger will enjoy a separate search area.

Host: Capitol City Baptist Church

Location: 5990 NE 14th St

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 9AM

Thousands of Easter eggs dropped from a hot air balloon, and lots of candy and prizes. Toddlers through 5th graders will be divided by age groups. Adults can enter to win a ride in the tethered hot air balloon!

Host: Drake Community

Location: 1245 29th Street

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10AM – 12PM

An Easter egg hunt for local children from the Drake Community.

Host: Gateway Church – Eggs, Eggs Everywhere/Easter Egg Hunt!

Location: Between Grand & Locust (12 & 13th Streets)

Time/Date: Saturday 30th - Registration @ 9 a.m.; Ages 0-3: 9:30 a.m.; Ages 4-5: 9:50 a.m.; Ages 6-8: 10:10 a.m.; Ages 9-10: 10:30 a.m.

More than 10,000 candy and prized-filled eggs. The event is free with registration beginning at 9am. The Easter Bunny will also arrive then, along with an assortment of family activities taking place including face painting, art activities

Host: Blank Park Zoo – Eggstravaganza

Location: 7401 SW 9th Street

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10AM – 4PM

Admission: Free for members; General admission for others

Participate in your own Easter fun, along with the animals of the Zoo. Egg hunts, scavenger hunts, craft activities and games, and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Check their Facebook and Twitter pages for clues about the Golden Egg Hunt!

Polk City

Host: Kiwanis Club of Polk City

Location: West Elementary School, 1400 W. Broadway St

Time/Date: Saturday  30th – 10AM

The nearby Polk City Library will host a craft activity at the library following the Easter Egg Hunt.

Urbandale

Host: Living History Farms

Location: 11121 Hickman Road

Time/Date: Saturday 9am – 12pm

Admission: $5 for Members; $6 for Non-Members (Ages 2 and under free)

Fun for the entire family including: toy hunts, preschool Bunnyland, live animals, horse and wagon rides, and traditional games. Townsfolk will open their doors for spring visitors in the 1875 town of Walnut Hill. Free pop and popcorn for all; steak and egg wrap for the first 1000 visitors.

Waukee

Location: Centennial Park, 1255 Warrior Lane

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10:0 AM

West Des Moines

Host: Fire Fighters Association and Des Moines Area Community College

Location: DMACC West Campus, 5859 Grand Ave.

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10:30 AM

Divisions will be for ages 1 and 2, 3 to 5, and 6 and up. The fire fighters will pass out stickers, provide truck tours, and talk about fire safety starting at 9:45 a.m.

Host: Willow Creek Baptist Church

Location: 720 Army Post Road

Time/Date: Saturday 30th – 10AM – 12 PM

Arrive early as we kick off the event at 10 a.m. with an egg hunt. Stick around for carnival games and enjoy the inflatable giant slide and obstacle course. Activities wrap up at Noon. All kids toddler through 5th grade are welcome!

Everyone has a favorite holiday and every holiday has their own unique traditions associated with them.  For some it’s the holidays around December,  decorating trees, looking at holiday lights and spending time with family.  For others it’s Halloween and dressing up, handing out candy to kids, or pulling some devilishly clever pranks on their friends.  Then you have the people who really enjoy St. Patrick’s Day.  There’s something exciting thinking about this holiday that’s steeped in tradition.   Luckily enough, there are plenty of things going on in Des Moines for people who prefer shamrocks and blarney stones to holiday lights and costumes.

St. Patricks Day Parade

St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a parade, and this year’s parade, as always, is hosted by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Central Iowa and begins at noon. Beginning on the corner of Martin Luther King Parkway and 16th Street it runs north when 16th Street turns into 15th Street. The parade route then turns east on Grand Ave running along the north side of Western Gateway Park until it reaches the end of the parade route at 8th Street. If that’s a little confusing just check out the map below.

After checking out the parade there are plenty of other festivities lined up for everyone from the single person looking for a good time, to a family looking to spend a great afternoon out.  The Des Moines Metromix has put together a pretty comprehensive guide of places to check out. So have fun, be safe, and if your lucky, maybe you’ll find yourself a pot of gold hidden by a leprechaun.