Christmas Lights Des Moines (Winter Wonderland)

Thirty-five minutes north of Des Moines on I-35, Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge lights up the farm for Winter Wonderland from the weekend after Thanksgiving into late December. It's the kind of Christmas lights Des Moines families get out of the car and walk through: thousands of them, with Santa out among them in the evenings.

Check out all Center Grove Orchard holiday events here: centergroveorchard.com/pages/holiday-events

Two ways to visit:

• Evenings: walk the lights, find Santa for a casual photo, and warm up at the Santa Co. Hot Chocolate stand.
• Weekend mornings: ride a horse-drawn carriage to the Log Cabin and decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus.

Kids can build a stuffed animal at You-Build Bear: pick one, stuff it, name it, dress it, and take it home with an adoption certificate. You'll need Winter Wonderland admission for it.

The holiday calendar also has Brunch with Santa, PJ's with Santa and Santa with Pets.

Check the farm's Holiday Events page for 2026 dates, hours and tickets. Tickets are limited for some events, so get yours early. If you have a Farm'all Pass, it covers Winter Wonderland admission.

The farm's about 25 minutes from Ankeny and 20 from Ames. From I-35, take Exit 102 and go five miles east on Highway 210.

Center Grove Orchard
32835 610th Avenue, Cambridge, IA 50046
515-383-4354
Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/kNYs4tCcwuinhCoi8