Latest news with #WildLights
Extra.ie
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Christmas comes early as Dublin Zoo make Wild Lights announcement
It might just be June, but tickets for Dublin Zoo's annual winter event, Wild Lights, are going on sale this week, as they enlist the help of youngsters to organise the exciting event. This year, the adults are stepping aside and allowing the children to take over and plan an unforgettable Christmas experience complete with plenty of surprises and more magic than ever. The little ones have been pictures armed with clipboards, giant pencils and their huge imaginations but aren't giving anything away just yet. Gray Harte (5), one of the tiny experts at Dublin Zoo, who have announced that Wild Lights will go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, 12th June. Pic: Dublin Zoo Tickets for the festive event go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, June 12 via Dublin Zoo. As well as getting ahead of the crowds and securing your tickets now, Dublin Zoo have released brand new 'Winter Bundles,' for the first time ever. Dublin Zoo said: 'Whether visitors want to combine a Wild Lights evening visit with a trip to Santa's Grotto, or pair a day-time weekend Dublin Zoo experience with a visit to the man in red, there is a bundle to delight every visitor.' Pictured are Kate Cosgrove (4) and Gray Harte (5). Pic: Dublin Zoo Winter bundle including a daytime visit to Dublin Zoo and a visit to Santa's Grotto will only be available from November 8 to December 21. Additionally, the beloved zoo has extended the exciting event until January 31, and will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of the month. Daytime events include Zoo-liday Cheer with Santa and Sensory Friendly Zoo-liday cheer while Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo and Glow Ho-Ho! take place after dark! Ticket prices for Wild Lights range from €21.50 per child and €26.50 per adult with winter bundles including a visit to Santa's Grotto starting from €31.50 per child and €25.50 per adult. Discounted tickets are available for infants under 1 year, senior citizens and carers. For full details on pricing go here.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Things to do in Des Moines this weekend include Brooks & Dunn, Shinedown, Drake Relays
Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register, showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa. Through Sept. 7: The newest exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, showcases Haitian art in Iowa. The Waterloo Center for the Arts partnered with the Des Moines Art Center for 'Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa,' with pieces from Waterloo's collection, the largest public collection of Haitian art in the United States. The exhibit in the A.H. Blank Gallery is on display through Sept. 7. April 24-26: High school athletes, college stars and pros all compete in track-and-field events during the Drake Relays. The multi-day event at Drake Stadium at 28th Street and Forest Avenue in Des Moines started in 1910 and evolved into one of the top events in the world. Tickets start at $10, and a full schedule of events can be found online at More: Drake Relays 2025 schedule, race routes, event and ticket information for 115th event April 24: Performer Mercury Stardust is known as the Trans Handy Ma'am, bringing home repair to the masses with more than 2.5 million followers on TikTok and another 750,000 followers on Instagram. Mercury spreads DIY knowledge spanning rental maintenance, landlord negotiations, clogs, drywall, painting, minor electrical repairs, caulking, and more. Stardust takes the stage at the Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines, for a 6 p.m. show. Tickets are free, but a reservation is required. April 24: Wine and wild animals go hand-in-hand when Uncorked at Blank Park Zoo takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The zoo at 7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines, brings in local wineries, live music, and access to Wild Lights, plus, a private wine bar open until 9:30 p.m. during Wild Lights. Tickets are $55 for nonmembers and $50 for members. Ackerman Winery, Fireside Winery, Soldier Creek Winery, Jasper Winery, Madison County Winery, Dosaage Vineyard + Winery, and The Cellar Winery will be on hand. April 24: The artists behind 'Ain't Nothing 'Bout You,' 'My Maria,' and 'Honky Tonk Truth' make a stop at Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines, for their Neon Moon tour. Brooks & Dunn, one of country music's biggest acts, kicked off their tour in Lubbock, Texas, and play the Well at 7 p.m. Boot scoot down with $37 tickets. April 24: Hear Joywave's first single, 'Like A Kennedy' or the haunting 'Blank Slate' at Wooly's, 504 E. Locust St., Des Moines. The band out of Rochester, New York, first made headlines when it collaborated with Big Data on 'Dangerous.' Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $29.50. Little Image opens. April 25: Kick off the weekend with happy hour at Destination Grille, 2491 E. First St., Grimes, from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and all day on Sunday. Snap $3 domestic beers as well as $5 cheese bread, chicken strips, house-made chips, and Tito's cocktails, whether in a mule or as a well drink. April 25: See a free presentation of 'Aesop's Fables' at the Blank Performing Arts Center at Simpson College at 6:30 p.m. and again on April 26 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. This updated version of four of the timeless storyteller's most popular fables gives the audience a chance to see the actors transform into the Hare, the Turtle, the Fox, the Crow, or the Donkey in the Lion's skin. The show twists through 'The Fox and the Crow,' 'The Hare and the Tortoise,' 'The Donkey In the Lion's Skin,' and finally, 'The Fox and the Sour Grapes.' Reserve tickets in advance at April 25: Rising country start Andrew Hoyt out of Des Moines fuses folk, pop, and acoustic elements in his songs. Fans of AJR may recall that Hoyt opened for the band at Wells Fargo Arena when he got a last-minute call to perform. The singer/songwriter plays Wooly's, 504 E. Locust St., Des Moines. Tickets for the 6 p.m. show start at $15. More: Opener to headliner: Andrew Hoyt is at Wooly's a year after performing Wells Fargo Arena April 25: Des Moines-based musician and guitarist Allegra Hernandez plays the Made in the Midwest series at the Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines. Her music features 'elements of rock, melodic hooks, and splashes of technical skill.' Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $20. April 25: From 'Second Chance' to 'Sound of Madness,' rockers Shinedown take fans on a journey through their catalog of hits when they visit Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines, for a 7 p.m. show, part of the 'Dance, Kid, Dance' tour. Fans can expect to hear the band's latest, 'Three Six Five' as well. Tickets start at $36. Special guest Beartooth opens. April 25: Get this. Maria Bamford was the first female comic to have two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and starred alongside Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis and Brian Posehn in the Comedy Central series 'The Comedians of Comedy' and Netflix's 'Comedians of Comedy: The Movie.' She also created and starred in the cult hit web series 'The Maria Bamford Show,' in which she plays all the characters. See her at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines. Tickets start at $27.50 for the 7:30 p.m. show. April 25-27: The Tallgrass Theater presents the world premiere of 'The Emerald Earring,' a dark comedy by local playwright Justin Nostrala. This play, part of the 10th Annual Sarah Frank & Jack Balcombe Dream Project, tells the story of 'a woman's struggle between trying to support the institution of marriage and family, while reckoning with her beliefs about abortion.' See it at the theater at 2019 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, through May 4 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $33. More: How to spend the perfect day in Valley Junction with restaurants, bars and shopping April 26-27: Central Iowa bookstores are making a weekend out of it with the return of the Central Iowa Bookstore Day with a passport that shoppers can get stamped for a chance at winning prizes. Each participating store will have the passports, which, if completely stamped by Sunday, will offer a chance to win a $100 gift certificate. Beaverdale Books will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 26 and until 6 p.m. April 27. Other participating stores include Dog-Eared Books, Dungeon's Gate, Nos Books, Pageturners, Reading in Pubic, Storyhouse Bookpub, The Little Book, and Wandering Raccoon Books. April 26: See the spring flowers in bloom during the Tulip Festival at Wilson's Orchard & Farm, 3201 15th Ave., Cumming. The event on April 26-27 continues on weekends through May 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Participants can walk the tulip fields, take photos, and hand pick a bouquet. Early admission is $3 for ages 3 and older, while walk-ins are $5 for ages 3 and older. Kids ages 2 and younger get in for free. Tulip bouquets re $18 if you pick your own or $22 for a pre-cut batch. April 26: See outsider art, a first-time author, and vintage clothing when the Dust Collective, 509 E. Fifth St., Des Moines, holds a FolkArtwork pop-up exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not only will Sean Moeller, who founded Daytrotter and owns Raccoon Motel in Davenport, read from his debut book, 'Plain Clothes Hamburlar,' but vintage clothing from across the Midwest will be available for purchase. This event is free to attend. April 26: Windsor Heights celebrates Earth Day at Colby Park, 6900 School St., Windsor Heights, from noon to 3 p.m. with local eco-friendly vendors, craft station for all ages, recycling and sustainability tips, and SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) showcasing some feathered friends. April 26: Omaha-based indie band Bright Eyes tears up the stage at the Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, at a 6:30 p.m. show. 'Lover I Don't Have to Love' and 'Land Locked Blues' are among the band's favorite songs. Tickets start at $49.50. April 26: Fans of the game 'Final Fantasy' will want to see the only stop on the American tour of music from 'Final Fantasy VI,' 'Final Fantasy VII' and 'Final Fantasy X.' The Des Moines Symphony performs the original music by Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu, with pianist Stephen Beus joining as a guest soloist. The performance includes 'Terra's Theme,' 'Hum of the Fayth,' and 'Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII and J-E-N-O-V-A.' Tickets start at $40 for the 7:30 p.m. show at the Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. April 27: Bar Nico, 428 E. Locust St., in the East Village serves brunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Try chef Matt Small's dishes such as tacos or mushroom queso fundido, or try carne asada hash or huevos rancheros. Everything at Bar Nico is gluten free. April 27: Interpretations of street culture featuring athletes and artists dazzle the audience when '360 Allstars' perform at the Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. The 4 p.m. show includes dancing, beat boxing, acrobatics, BMX biking and more. Tickets start at $10. April 27: A night of improv comedy takes over the Des Moines Community Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines, when 'Runaway Twain and Friends' performs. Michael LaDell Harris and Chris Huling lead this comedy show that includes a rotating list of monthly guests and a long-form improv set by Runaway Twain. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show are $7 online; $10 at the door. Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@ This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do this weekend in Des Moines: Drake Relays, Shinedown
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Des Moines native premieres new movie in his hometown
DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines native is back in the metro to premiere his new movie titled 'Bob Trevino Likes It.' It's based on a true story of friendship that the writer and director of the film found with a stranger while looking for her father on social media. Roosevelt High School alum Edgar Rosa produced the movie and spoke with students at Central Campus about how he got involved with the project. For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County 'And they were looking for someone who's good at logistics and budgeting and that's my specialty. So it sort of – we became like the perfect match, the perfect three-headed monster. And shot it in 2023 during the SAG strike, which was crazy. And fortunately had a very successful festival run in 2024, and it's in its wide release this weekend,' said Rosa. Rosa will be introducing the film at the Varsity Cinema in Des Moines. Friday night's tickets are sold out, but there are still some available for Saturday. The movie will also be playing at the movie theater at Jordan Creek through next week. Rosa says the movie's themes of connection and chosen family feel full circle as he returns home to Des Moines from LA. 'I found a wonderful chosen family in the broadcasting and film here, and my drama troupe at Roosevelt, and through the artistic community whether it was the Des Moines Playhouse or Heartland Youth Choir. I was really able to have very many chosen families and I think this film really highlights and celebrates those people,' Rosa said. You can check out the movie's trailer and find showtimes here. Des Moines native premieres new movie in his hometown For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs Wild Lights at Blank Park Zoo returns this weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County
ELKHART, Iowa — Now starring in the central Iowa housing market: the biggest house ever to be built in Polk County. 'It's just the two of us now,' says Kim Menadue. 'All of our kids are out of the house, and so we just figured that it might be a good time to downsize a little bit and travel more.' Passersby in the Elkhart area might never notice the Menadue house is there. But through the closed gates and down the quarter-mile driveway, it appears — their stunning, 15,000-square-foot mansion on 23 acres. When Mark Menadue finished it in 2007, it was everything he'd ever wanted. 'It was kind of my dream home,' he says. 'I'd worked hard all my life and we've been very fortunate, lucky and were successful — and this was it. But I never really thought about the other end.' The 'other end' will be finding someone with $4.9 million to spend on a home, and more still to keep up its extensive features. Among them: 9 bathrooms 9 fireplaces 4 laundry rooms 3 full kitchens 2 swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor) 2 hot tubs (one indoor, one outdoor) 1 indoor tennis facility Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 'If you have the budget for a house like this,' says listing agent, Rick Wanamaker, 'of course you want it to look like it's worth $4.9 million. And this one absolutely does.' Wanamaker and his wife, Marcia, have sold many of the biggest and most extravagant houses in central Iowa. But even for them, the Menadue Mansion is something else. 'I've never sold a house with two swimming pools,' Rick says. 'They built the outdoor one so they'd have it during the pandemic, and most of the other features are newly-updated, too.' 'It's like a vacation house,' Marcia says. 'Only you don't have to go anywhere to take the vacation. It's right here.' While the sound of selling an expensive house in the midst of an economy rocked by President Trumps tariffs might sound daunting, the Wanamakers believe there are buyers out there right now. 'People in the market for a house like this sort of have their own economy,' Rick says. 'And if you wanted to build this house today it would cost probably twice as much.' 'There are a lot of buyers around here that can afford a home like this,' Marcia says, confidently. The Wanamakers says the sale—when it comes—might be a bit unconventional. 'Probably we'll sell this to someone who is not actively looking,' Rick says. 'They'll just hear about it and it intrigues them, and they take a look, and it's the right house for them.' Metro News: For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs Wild Lights at Blank Park Zoo returns this weekend Former Ankeny Chamber CEO accepts plea deal on alleged money laundering charges Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs
DES MOINES, Iowa — Tariffs mean more expensive car repairs according to local auto shops. Joe Burch, the owner of Burch Auto Repair in Valley Junction, said auto part suppliers are already starting to see tariff induced price hikes. 'They'll see at first for sure. Eventually, it'll be passed to me and then it'll be passed on to the owners of the vehicles,' Burch said. Iowa drivers share thoughts on hands-free law Burch said that for now only the cost of parts will increase, but labor could follow. 'It's mainly the part prices are going to be going up. Things like labor, things like labor are going to take a lot longer to change just because the only reason the labor would increase is that cost of living goes up,' Burch said. Burch said drivers should take their cars for scheduled maintenance to prevent expensive repair bills down the road. 'The best things that you can do to help offset this and avoid some of the sticker shock of sudden repairs like this would be maintenance, making sure that you're getting maintenance,' Burch said. Metro News: For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs Wild Lights at Blank Park Zoo returns this weekend Former Ankeny Chamber CEO accepts plea deal on alleged money laundering charges Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
