Best events in
Ankeny

With both a modern entertainment hub and a historic Main Street, Ankeny, IA, offers a surprising variety of events and things to do. The District at Prairie Trail provides a walkable one-stop destination for dining and large-scale festivals. Meanwhile, Uptown Ankeny centers on a more relaxed brewery scene and community gatherings at the Ankeny Market & Pavilion.

A typical evening out often happens in one of two walkable neighborhoods: the modern District at Prairie Trail or the historic, brewery-focused Uptown Ankeny.
The Ankeny Market & Pavilion (AMP) is a key outdoor venue, hosting the weekly Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market and the summer concert series Beats & Eats.
Breweries like Firetrucker Brewery and Uptown Garage Brewing are local hubs for craft beer, food trucks, and regular live music.

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Popular in Ankeny

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THE ANKENY FORKS AND FOLKS FESTIVAL

Saturday • 10:00 AM

716 SW 3rd St

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Music BINGO SUNDAY 7p | Cabaret Sports Bar - Ankeny IA @LeaderBoardGames

Sunday • 7:00 PM + 7 more

Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille

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Haunted Waters Halloween Bash

Fri, Oct 16 • 7:00 PM

2750 NW 82nd Pl

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6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook

Fri, Oct 16 • 10:00 AM

Agency Iowa

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2026 Decoding Dyslexia Iowa Educator Conference

Mon, Oct 26 • 8:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC Ankeny Campus

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Mahjong Monday 101: Beginners Class

Mon, Oct 26 • 5:30 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

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All Sites 2026

Mon, Nov 16 • 9:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center

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Chic’s 3rd Annual Professional Development Conference

Fri, Dec 4 • 10:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center

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THE ANKENY FORKS AND FOLKS FESTIVAL

Saturday • 10:00 AM

716 SW 3rd St

Check ticket price on event

Music BINGO SUNDAY 7p | Cabaret Sports Bar - Ankeny IA @LeaderBoardGames

Sunday • 7:00 PM + 7 more

Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille

Check ticket price on event

Haunted Waters Halloween Bash

Fri, Oct 16 • 7:00 PM

2750 NW 82nd Pl

Check ticket price on event

6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook

Fri, Oct 16 • 10:00 AM

Agency Iowa

Check ticket price on event

2026 Decoding Dyslexia Iowa Educator Conference

Mon, Oct 26 • 8:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC Ankeny Campus

Check ticket price on event

Mahjong Monday 101: Beginners Class

Mon, Oct 26 • 5:30 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

Check ticket price on event

All Sites 2026

Mon, Nov 16 • 9:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center

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Chic’s 3rd Annual Professional Development Conference

Fri, Dec 4 • 10:00 AM

FFA Enrichment Center

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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This Weekend

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BarDog Pop-Up Tasting Event

Saturday • 4:00 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

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1 Day Self Defense/ Empowerment Camp for Adults

Saturday • 9:00 AM

1975 N Ankeny Blvd #110

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Second Saturday Des Moines

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Ankeny Family Counseling

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THE ANKENY FORKS AND FOLKS FESTIVAL

Saturday • 10:00 AM

716 SW 3rd St

Check ticket price on event

BarDog Pop-Up Tasting Event

Saturday • 4:00 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

Check ticket price on event

1 Day Self Defense/ Empowerment Camp for Adults

Saturday • 9:00 AM

1975 N Ankeny Blvd #110

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Second Saturday Des Moines

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Ankeny Family Counseling

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THE ANKENY FORKS AND FOLKS FESTIVAL

Saturday • 10:00 AM

716 SW 3rd St

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Food & Drink events

Trivia Night at Uptown Garage Brewing

Tomorrow • 6:00 PM + 51 more

Uptown Garage Brewing Co.

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Foodies + New Friends: Ankeny | Giving Back Edition

Mon, Oct 12 • 7:00 PM + 5 more

Tribute Eatery & Bar

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Foodies + New Friends: Ankeny

Sun, Oct 25 • 7:00 PM + 2 more

Restaurants of the Week

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Mahjong Monday 101: Beginners Class

Mon, Oct 26 • 5:30 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

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Trivia Night at Uptown Garage Brewing

Tomorrow • 6:00 PM + 51 more

Uptown Garage Brewing Co.

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Foodies + New Friends: Ankeny | Giving Back Edition

Mon, Oct 12 • 7:00 PM + 5 more

Tribute Eatery & Bar

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Foodies + New Friends: Ankeny

Sun, Oct 25 • 7:00 PM + 2 more

Restaurants of the Week

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Mahjong Monday 101: Beginners Class

Mon, Oct 26 • 5:30 PM

WineStyles Tasting Station - Ankeny

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Points of Interest near Ankeny

Carney Marsh Nature Preserve

Ankeny Miracle Park

Frequently asked questions about Ankeny

What are some popular food and drink events in Ankeny?

Ankeny has a lively food and drink scene centered on its local breweries. Firetrucker Brewery and Uptown Garage Brewing host frequent food truck and live music events. The Beats & Eats series also combines food trucks with free concerts during the summer.

Where can I find live music events in Ankeny?

Uptown Ankeny is a great area to find live music. Firetrucker Brewery and Uptown Garage Brewing regularly feature performers. In warmer months, the Ankeny Market & Pavilion hosts the free outdoor concert series Beats & Eats.

Are there free events to attend in Ankeny?

Yes, several free community events take place in Ankeny. The Beats & Eats concert series is free to attend, as is browsing the rotating exhibits at the Ankeny Art Center. Seasonal events like Winter Wonderlights also offer free fun.

How does the nightlife differ between Uptown and The District?

The District at Prairie Trail offers an all-in-one nightlife experience with restaurants, a movie theater, and bowling. Uptown Ankeny provides a more casual, brewery-focused scene where people can visit spots like Firetrucker Brewery and walk around the historic area.

What kind of family-friendly events happen in Ankeny?

Ankeny hosts several major annual events for families. Ankeny SummerFest is a multi-day festival with a carnival and parade. Halloween in Uptown offers trick-or-treating, and the Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market is a popular weekend activity.

Where is the best place to experience art events in town?

The Ankeny Art Center is the primary hub for visual arts, with rotating exhibits from regional artists. For a larger-scale art event, the annual Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival transforms Uptown into an outdoor gallery with music and food.

What's a good plan for a date night in The District at Prairie Trail?

The District is designed for a complete date night in one walkable area. A popular plan is to have dinner at one of the many restaurants, followed by a movie or a few games of bowling, all without needing to drive between spots.

Can I find many outdoor events in Ankeny?

Yes, many community gatherings are held at outdoor venues. The Ankeny Market & Pavilion in Uptown is home to the weekly farmers market and the Beats & Eats concert series. Many breweries also have large patios for enjoying drinks outside.