Thursday, April 20, 2017

Road Trip This Weekend


APRIL 21
Historic Valley Junction Spring Gallery Night
Visit galleries in Historic Valley Junction and see new artwork by regional, national and international artists during Spring Gallery Night, in its 22nd year. Galleries, as well as other local shops, will open from 5-9 p.m. 4th-7th blocks of Railroad Avenue and Locust Street, West Des Moines. The event is free and open to the public.
Tonic Sol-fa & Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience Emmy Award-winning Tonic Sol-fa brings their groundbreaking a cappella music to the stage, along with the big-band-meets-modern-genres sound of the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience, who delivers contemporary music with a big band punch. 7:30 p.m. Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave. Tickets are $38 at hoyt sherman.org.
APRIL 21-22
Stephanie J. Block — Broadway Cabaret Concert
Accomplished Broadway actress and singer Stephanie J. Block, known for her roles in “Wicked,” “Anything Goes,” “9 to 5: The Musical” and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will put her musical talent on display in an intimate concert at the Temple Theater, Tenth and Locust Streets.
7:30 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $39.50 at desmoinesperformingarts.org.
Countdown to 100: Musicals of the ’80s and ’90s Help count down to the 100th anniversary of the Des Moines Playhouse with a special fundraising event that takes you back to ’80s and ’90s, with performances by your favorite Playhouse singers from musicals like “Evita,” “42nd Street,” “Phantom of the Opera” and more. Enjoy an hors d’oeuvres reception or just the performance. See dmplayhouse.com for ticket options. 831 42nd St.
APRIL 22
PBR: Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour
See some of the world’s best bull riders battle the toughest bovine athletes in search of that magical 8-second ride during this stop on the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour. 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St. Tickets are $17-$67 at HyVeeTix.com or the Iowa Events Center Ticket Office.
The Flaming Lips
Experience one of the elaborate live shows of psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips when they make a stop at Hoyt Sherman Place. Past shows have included elements such as balloons, puppets, video projections and even giant hands.
The band first became popular in the early ’90s with their hit “She Don’t Use Jelly” and have since collaborated with artists like Ke$ha, Erykah Badu and Miley Cyrus. 7:30 p.m. 1501 Woodland Ave. Tickets are $40-$55 at hoytsherman.org.
Wonder of Words Festival
The Wonder of Words Festival is an indoor festival featuring presentations and book signings by authors of both national and local acclaim, as well as workshops, children’s entertainment/ activities and a storytelling competition.
Free admission. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Library, downtown Des Moines.
Mozart Requiem
ISU Choirs and ISU Symphony Orchestra will present the Mozart Requiem Masterworks Concert. 7:30 p.m., $7 or $10, Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
Londonfest
Organizers are planning the biggest British Bash Ames has ever seen. This event takes place from 2 p.m. to midnight on the 200 Block of Main Street. Attendees will enjoy craft beer, stilt walkers, costumed characters, a fashion show, food trucks, quidditch, giant chess and giant Jenga, a kids section, music, a marketplace, human foosball tournament, and a 50-foot-tall Ferris
wheel. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through theundergroundames.com. 
Authors Visiting in Des Moines
Join the Des Moines Public Library for Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD).
Maureen Corrigan will speak at 4 p.m., Central Library.
APRIL 24
Def Leppard with Poison and Tesla
Wells Fargo will be rocking when Def Leppard takes the stage, bringing with them Poison and Tesla. Def Leppard got their start in the late ’70s and really hit their stride in the ’80s, when rock anthems like “Photograph,” “Love Bites” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” blasted from the radio and hooked a whole generation. The band continues to produce albums and play to sold-out crowds, with new music and classic hits. Fellow rockers Tesla and Poison, with frontman Bret Michaels, will add their hits to the mix. 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St. Tickets are $29.50 to $129.50 at HyVeeTix.com or the Iowa Events Center Ticket Office.
Taste of Home LIVE
Taste of Home LIVE, a series of interactive food experiences that will inspire, entertain and educate home cooks of all ages around the country, will stop at the Sheraton West Des Moines. Taste of Home LIVE is one part culinary class and two parts delicious entertainment. Tickets are available at tasteofhome.com/live.

What’s Happening in Mason City & North Iowa Sept. 6 – Sept 13

September 7-9, 2018 Mason City Civil War Reenactment – East Park, located at the corner of East State Street and South Virginia Ave. ...