Every year it seems as though holiday decorations are up earlier and earlier every year.  This year decorations were up at some stores before Halloween!  Despite that, they always seem to come down at the same time.  With all the big family meals out of the way, all the cookies eaten, and the holiday decorations on their way back to the garage it’s almost time to say goodbye to the holidays.  Well what better way to send them off than with a big bang.

New Years Eve is the perfect holiday for this, sandwiched between Christmas and football, it allows us to send out the last year in style, and welcome in a new year.  While there are plenty of events to choose from for celebrating, it’s much tougher to find something to do when you have small kids.  While the kids may be too young to stay awake until midnight to watch the ball drop at Times Square, that doesn’t mean they should be left out of the celebrations.  There are quite a few ways your family can celebrate the new year and we’ve found a couple of things for you.

1. GuideOne ImaginEve

• When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
• Time: 4-8 p.m.
• Cost: Free

ImaginEve is a free, non-alcoholic family themed event for New Year’s Eve.  Featuring inflatable rides, bounce houses, clowns, balloon artists, carnival games, and live entertainment.  It’s a one stop shop for a good time for you and your family.  The event only runs until 8, so there’s still plenty of time afterwards to find a babysitter if you wanto to go out for a night on the town afterwards.  Or you can stay home and watch the ball drop on Times Square from the comfort of your couch!

2. Noon Years Eve

• When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
• Time: Doors open at 10am
• Cost: Included with admission ($7-$11)

If something earlier in the day is more appealing then look no further than the Science Center.  Featuring visits from the I-Cubs mascot, Cubbie Bear, and Maniac from the Des Moines Menace.  This event also features other family friendly events such as face painting and balloon art, and is capped off by a balloon drop at noon to celebrate the new year.  Geared more for smaller children it’s a great way to get the kids excited for the holiday.

If your looking for a more adult themed way to ring in the new year, the Des Moines Metromix has put together an extensive list of events going on around Des Moines here.  No matter what you, have a good time and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!

After living anywhere for a while, it’s easy to find yourself caught up in a rut. You find your favorite restaurants, activities and places in general to visit, and it gets quite easy to forget about all the other opportunities for entertainment where you live.  Yesterday’s Groupon deal reminded me of yet another event around Des Moines that I know is there in the back of my mind, but when bored and sitting around the house, it just never seems to pop into my head at those opportune moments.  The specific deal for today was for tickets to go see our very own Iowa Energy play at Wells Fargo Arena this Saturday, December 17, at 7 p.m..  It’s a pretty good deal to go see last years champions take on the Reno Bighorns.  I mean, these are last years champions!  Their games have been going on since late November and quite frankly the idea of attending a game hasn’t even registered yet.  It’s one of those events that you don’t realize is there until you randomly happen across it one day.

This then got me thinking on what other venues are in town with shows/performances/games on a consistent basis that I’d been to before, knew I had a good time, and quite simply haven’t made it back yet.  The first one that popped up in my mind was another sports team, our very own Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team.  As with most things, watching sports live is a completely different experience than watching them on the TV.  Going and seeing it live makes you really get more involved with the game.  The ambiance, the excitement, and the enthusiasm of the crowd all really make you feel apart of what’s happening.   There’s just something about going to a hockey game with a group of friends that is inherently fun and social.

The last place I recalled was the Funny Bone comedy club.  A place where you get something different every time you go.  With different comedians coming throughout the year you can plan ahead if you see your favorite comedian coming to town, or you can just go to whoever is playing that particular weekend.  Either way you’re bound to have a gut busting good time. Depending on who’s playing some of the shows can get a bit pricey, but since there’s a new comedian every week you can just wait till you find the show you’re looking for at the Funny Bone.

One thing can definitely be said about the capital city of Iowa, and that is Des Moines does not lack in its rich history nor does it fall short in events to get into the holiday spirit.  One of the cultural icons of Des Moines is the Salisbury House, located just south of I-235 near Des Moines University.  The Salisbury House was built in the 1920′s by cosmetic tycoon Carl Weeks and features 42 rooms in the mansion, all modeled after an old building in Salisbury, England, known simply as the King’s House.  The house can be seen by guided or self-guided tours throughout the year and feature a look at a world-class art collection, tapestries, antique furnishings and rare books.  Special events occur throughout the year, including quite a few this year in December geared towards showcasing  some holiday spirit.

Holly & Ivy Event

If you’ve ever wanted to take a step back in time and see an old historic estate  during the holidays then this event is designed for you.  This year brings upon us the 15th Annual Holly & Ivy tour with each room throughout the estate is decorated by professional florists, interior decorators, and the dedicated volunteers of the Salisbury House.  Along with the tour of the Salisbury House you also gain access to the governor’s home of Terrace Hill, two of Iowa’s most distinguished historic mansions.  All this occurs this weekend, Friday December 2nd – Sunday December 4th.  More information on times, dates, and other events such as a gingerbread house building workshop can be found on their website here.