Looking for the best holiday party venues in Des Moines, IA? We rank 18 of Des Moines's 23 venues for a holiday party, judged on space, guest reviews, and event fit. The Temple for Performing Arts leads the list, alongside Des Moines Marriott Downtown and Horizon Events Center.
Our top pick of 18 A restored 1913 Masonic temple in downtown Des Moines with grand architecture and dramatic event spaces.
Seats 300 · up to 500 standing
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A full-service downtown hotel with large ballroom space, on-site catering, and skyway-connected convenience.
Seats 400 · up to 600 standing
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A large suburban event center west of Des Moines with flexible ballroom space and modern amenities for major events.
Seats 500 · up to 800 standing
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A legendary Des Moines-area ballroom with decades of history, large dance floor, and classic event atmosphere.
Seats 400 · up to 800 standing
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An amusement park resort east of Des Moines with unique event spaces, on-site hotel, and entertainment built in.
Seats 300 · up to 500 standing
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An urban winery in Des Moines with vineyard views, tasting room event space, and a relaxed wine-country atmosphere.
Seats 150 · up to 250 standing
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A modern conference and event center in Ankeny with state-of-the-art facilities and a distinctive agricultural heritage.
Seats 350 · up to 500 standing
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Riverside botanical garden with conservatory ceremonies and indoor-outdoor event rooms north of downtown Des Moines.
Historic Tudor mansion museum in Des Moines renting indoor rooms and grounds for weddings and private gatherings.
Seats 100 · up to 250 standing
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Downtown Des Moines science museum hosting birthdays, receptions, and weddings among its exhibit halls.
Seats 400
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Des Moines zoo with indoor event centers, covered pavilions, and after-hours full-zoo rentals for private groups.
Seats 450 · up to 600 standing
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Restored 1925 Younkers ballroom on the sixth floor of downtown Des Moines' Wilkins Building, hosting up to 300.
Up to 300 standing
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Downtown Des Moines Italian restaurant with private dining for groups from 6 to 120 in banquet or reception setups.
Seats 120
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Sixth-floor restaurant and patios atop the AC Hotel in Des Moines' East Village, with skyline-view event spaces.
Seats 60 · up to 100 standing
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West Des Moines eatertainment venue with pickleball, axe throwing, and event spaces for groups of 10 to 700.
Up to 700 standing
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Two-story all-inclusive reception hall in Ankeny's Prairie Trail district with in-house catering and full bar.
34,000-square-foot events center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, with 20+ rooms, chef catering, and on-site hotel.
Up to 2,000 standing
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Sherman Hill brewery taproom with a private Crescent Room and patios hosting groups up to 250.
Seats 110 · up to 250 standing
Request a QuoteChoose one venue and tell us your plans. Free, no obligation; replies are not guaranteed.
The spaces span a wide range of sizes — from intimate rooms for around 100 guests to venues that hold up to 2,000. That makes it easy to match the room to your headcount, whether you're planning a small get-together or a big holiday party.
Pricing runs from budget-friendly to premium. Your final cost depends on the date, guest count, and catering, so send the same short brief to two or three venues and compare the quotes side by side.
Holiday parties in Des Moines compete for the same mid-November through December Fridays. Once the date is set, send the same short brief (headcount, timing, food and bar, and whether you need a private room) to two or three venues on this list and compare the replies. Weeknights and early December dates are usually easier than the last two Fridays before the holiday.
Our editors rank The Temple for Performing Arts, Des Moines Marriott Downtown, and Horizon Events Center among the best for a holiday party in Des Moines.
Popular dates book up weeks to months in advance, so reach out as early as your date is set. Send the same short brief to two or three venues and compare the replies.
These venues range from budget-friendly to premium in price. Cost depends on date, headcount, and catering, so request a quote for an exact figure.
They range up to 2,000 guests, with smaller rooms for more intimate gatherings.
Once the date is set. Friday evenings in December go first. Weeknights and early-December dates are usually easier. Send headcount, timing, and whether you need a private room when you request a quote.