NEW - Des Moines Performing Arts Adventure Pass - FAQ
Des Moines Performing Arts is joining the Adventure Pass program! A limited number of tickets will be available for their Wellmark Family Series performances this year.
This Adventure Pass operates differently than the other Adventure Passes in the program, so be sure you read the FAQ below to learn more.
Yes! Des Moines Performing Arts is now allowing Adventure Passes to be booked for upcoming shows in their Wellmark Family series. Tickets are available on a first come-first served basis.
IMPORTANT - in order to view the tickets available, you must filter the date to the date of the performance (November 8, 2025 for Sugar Skull!). See the screen shot below:
There are a few major differences:
- 80 tickets will be available for each performance. These 80 tickets are for Adventure Pass users across the state, not just within the Des Monies Public Library
- Eligible cardholders can reserve up to eight passes for one of the performances each season
- If you use your card to book an Adventure Pass for the show coming in November, you will not be able to do so for the January or March shows.
- Your pass will not be your ticket. You must take your pass confirmation to the Civic Center box office prior to the event in order to redeem your tickets. You must redeem those tickets no later than 45 minutes before the show.
Yes, exactly. When you book an Adventure Pass for the Civic Center, you will receive an email that looks like this. That email has instructions on how to redeem your tickets to make sure you can enjoy the show.
You may redeem your tickets at the Civic Center box office up to 60 days in advance. They must be redeemed NO LATER than 45 minutes before the performance. You must have a photo ID that matches the name on your pass.
The Civic Center offers lots of entertainment prior to the start of the performance of Family Series shows, with the lobby opening up an hour before the performance. So head on
To redeem your tickets:
- Print your confirmation email, or save the digital pass to Google Wallet or Apple Wallet.
- Bring the printed or digital confirmation to the Des Moines Civic Center before the performance. You can redeem it up to 60 days in advance, but it must be redeemed NO LATER than 45 minutes before the performance.
- Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm and 2 hours before each performance.
- By reserving a pass you agree to create a Des Moines Performing Arts account with your name, address, and email.
- You will be asked to present a photo ID that matches the name on your pass.
Book Your Adventure
Use your library card to check out an Iowa Adventure Pass to the Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Science Center of Iowa, the Des Moines Children's Museum, and Des Moines Performing Art performances.
Adventure Passes are available to any DMPL cardholder 18 years of age or older that lives in Des Moines, Windsor Heights, or Saylor Township. Please remember - the person who books the Adventure Pass must be present when the pass is used and have a photo ID with them.
The site has a new look, but the way Adventure Passes work has not changed. If you have any questions or run into any issues, please email libwebmaster@dmpl.org. We will do our best to resolve them.
Follow these instructions to learn how the Adventure Pass works. Don't forget to check out our FAQ at the bottom of the page for more information:
1. Select Des Moines Public Library from the drop-down menu
2. If you are looking for a specific date, select that date in the date field. Then click Search. If you do not select a date, it will automatically pull up the next three days worth of information.
3. Click on the red pass options button next to the venue you want to visit.
4. Click Get Pass on the day you wish to go to the venue.
5. Click continue on the details screen
6. Enter your card number and PIN
7. Confirm details for contact information, such as name, email address, and phone number. Then click reserve.
Once you do that, you'll get an email confirming your Adventure Pass date (and time, if applicable) and you'll be ready to use your Adventure Pass!
The Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Science Center of Iowa, the Des Moines Children's Museum all accept printed passes, so we recommend you print your pass when you get the opportunity. As of right now, the Children's Museum and Blank Park Zoo will also accept digital passes.
Please remember that Des Moines Performing Arts Adventure Passes operate a little differently. You must bring your email confirmation to the box office to redeem your tickets. You may do so up to 60 days in advance, but you must do so no later than 45 minutes before the start of the performance.
Adventure Pass FAQ
Adventure Passes are currently available for checkout for the Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Brenton Skating Plaza, the Science Center of Iowa, and the Des Moines Children's Museum. When you reserve an Adventure Pass with your library card, you book yourself and your family and friends a full day of fun. Each pass allows entrance for up to two adults and two children. Family members may reserve passes simultaneously if multiple passes are available on the same day, and additional tickets may be purchased at the gate.
If you wish to cancel your reservation, please call 283-4152 ext. 3. You must cancel the day before your reservation. Failure to do so would prevent you from reserving that venue at a later date.
Use su tarjeta de la Des Moines Public Library (la biblioteca pública) para prestar boletos gratuitos a Blank Park Zoo (zoológico), Science Center of Iowa (museo de ciencias), Greater Des Moines Botanical Center (centro botánico), y Des Moines Children's Museum (museo de los niños). Cuando reservas una Adventure Pass con su tarjeta de la biblioteca, un día de diversión para su familia, amigos y usted. Cada reservación de boletos gratuitos es para dos adultos y dos niños. Miembros de la misma familia pueden reservar boletos al mismo tiempo si hay boletos disponibles. Si necesita boletos adicionales, puede comprarlo al destino.
Si quiere cancelar su reservación, llama 515-283-4152 ext. 3. Necesita cancelar antes de 10 en la mañana el día de la reservación. Si no cancelarlo, no puede reservar boletos gratuitos al destino para 365 días.
- You must be:
- A Des Moines Public Library cardholder
- 18 years or older
- A Des Moines, Windsor Heights, or Saylor Township resident.
- Your card must have a balance of less than $25
- Reserve an Adventure Pass in advance by clicking on the "Reserve Your Adventure Pass" button.
- Passes may be booked up to 60 days out
- Each cardholder may reserve a pass to each venue once per calendar year.
- Each cardholder may only book passes to a maximum of two venues per day.
- Each pass is a one-day pass, good for the day for which it is reserved.
- Canceling passes
- Only staff may cancel passes - call (515) 283-4152 ext. 3 or email reference@dmpl.org to cancel.
- Passes must be canceled the day before the date of the reservation.
- To gain admission, cardholder must present:
- A valid photo ID
- A copy of the pass. Digital passes are being accepted at the Blank Park Zoo and Des Moines Children's Museum. Printed passes are accepted at all four locations.
- Each pass allows:
- Admission for up to four (4) people, including up to two (2) adults and two (2) children. For Des Moines Children's Museum, each pass allows admission for up to four (4) children aged 1-10.
- Los requisitos:
- Tiene una tarjeta de DMPL (la biblioteca)
- Adultos mayores de 18 años
- Deben ser residente de Des Moines, Windsor Heights, o Saylor Township
- No tienes impuestos en su tarjeta de la biblioteca más de $25
- Haz el clic en "Reserve su boleto aquí" para reservar una Adventure Pass.
- Usuarios pueden reservar un boleto para la familia para cada lugar, cada año.
- Usuarios solo pueden reservar dos boletos (para diferentes lugares) por día.
- Los boletos son válido solamente para el día de la reservación.
- Usuarios deben presentar para obtener admisión:
- Identificación con foto válida
- Los boletos imprimidos en el lugar de aventura.
- Los boletos virtuales son aceptado al Blank Park Zoo y Des Moines Children's Museum.
- Los boletos imprimidos son aceptado a todos los lugares.
- Cada boleto proveé:
- admisión gratuita para dos adultos y dos niños.
- Los boletos para el museo de los niños proveé entrada para cuarto niños, para este museo los adultos y niños menores de 1 o mayores de 10 son gratis.
- Boletos no pueden ser utilizados para eventos que requieren membresía.
Si usted necesita ayuda reservando y/o imprimiendo su boleto, visite uno de los seis locales de la biblioteca.
*Restricciones de residencia aplican. Usuarios deben ser residentes de Des Moines, Windsor Heights, o Polk County rural.