What to do with the kids in Grimes.

What can kids do in Grimes in the winter?

Head indoors to the library or the Grimes Community Complex. Both run cheap or free programs from fall through March, and that's when most of the kid calendar happens here.

• Kids Zone at the Grimes Community Complex, 410 SE Main St: open play for kids 6 and under with basketballs, scooters, hopper balls, and bowling. It runs weekday mornings, October through March, for $5 per family per day. You have to register for a date on the city's CivicRec site, spots are limited, and a parent stays the whole time. It isn't drop-off.
• Open gym at the same building, for basketball or volleyball, Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. unless the gym is rented. Kids under 12 need an adult.

What does the Grimes library have for kids?

A free weekly lineup for babies through teens. Most of it needs no registration. The Grimes Public Library is at 200 NE Beaverbrooke Blvd (515-986-3551), open Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 to 6, Saturday 9 to 5, and Sunday 1 to 5.

Early Out Kids lines up with DCG's 1 p.m. Wednesday dismissals: Edible Legos on November 18 and cookie decorating on December 16. Coming up: No-School Foodie Friday on November 13 (registration required), reading to a therapy dog at Tail Waggin' Readers on November 14 and December 19 (sign up for a 20-minute slot), and the Gingerbread Jamboree on Saturday, December 5, 9 a.m. to noon. Kids 6 and older can attend on their own. The library skips its kids' activities in May and August. Register at grimeslibrary.org/calendar. More in our library guide.

Where do kids play outside in Grimes?

• Waterworks Park (100 N James St): the splash pad, a playground, and natural play areas. The splash pad ran May 25 to September 8 in 2026, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. See our pools guide.
• Glenstone MultiGolf Park (3100 SE Glenstone Dr): foot golf, park golf, and disc golf on one field. The city calls it the first MultiGolf park in the Des Moines metro.
• Lions Park (725 NE 5th St): playground, open shelter, grills, and the pickleball courts.
• Skate park at the South Sports Complex (750 SE James St): ramps and obstacles. Bikes aren't allowed in the skate area, and helmets and pads are recommended.
• Fishing: the city and Iowa DNR stock public ponds with bass, bluegill, and catfish. Anyone over 16 needs a license. See our fishing guide.

What camps and youth sports does Grimes run?

Grimes Parks and Recreation runs a full slate, all registered through CivicRec at grimesiowa.gov/programs. Ages 3 to 5 get Pee Wee sports: Bam Bam T-Ball, Pee Wee Soccer, beginner flag football, and beginner basketball. Older kids have basketball, flag football, and volleyball leagues. Summer camps include Summer Adventures field trips, Grimes Safety City (a mini town for learning street and bike safety), art camps, Curtain Call Kids (a full musical in one week), and tennis camps with Life Time. Operation: Early Out, run with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, fills school early-out afternoons.

What free family events happen in Grimes?

• Movie at Heritage: free outdoor movies on a jumbo LED screen at Heritage Park (1055 NE Beaverbrooke Blvd). The 2026 shows were Zootopia 2 on July 30 and Hoppers on August 6, with activities at 6 and the movie at 7.
• Library summer movies: a PG movie and popcorn on Wednesdays in June at 1 p.m.
• Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat at the South Sports Complex. The 2026 dates were October 3 and October 25. See our Halloween guide.

Treat stop: The Outside Scoop (1601 NE 12th St), small-batch ice cream. Bigger indoor attractions (trampoline parks, arcades) are in neighboring Urbandale and Des Moines, a short drive away.

Grimes with kids: FAQ

What is there to do with kids in Grimes, Iowa?

Family staples include free storytimes and programs at the Grimes Public Library, Kids Zone open play at the Grimes Community Complex from October to March, the free Waterworks Park splash pad in summer, Glenstone MultiGolf Park, the skate park at the South Sports Complex, Lions Park, and ice cream at The Outside Scoop.

Does the Grimes library have programs for kids?

Yes. The Grimes Public Library runs free weekly programs, including Baby Storytime on Tuesdays at 9 a.m., Baby and Toddler Open Play on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Storytime for ages 2 to 5 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and Family Night on Mondays at 6 p.m. It does not hold kids' activities in May or August.

What is Kids Zone in Grimes?

Kids Zone is open play for children 6 and under at the Grimes Community Complex, 410 SE Main St, on weekday mornings from October through March. It costs $5 per family per day, requires registration on the city's CivicRec site, and a parent must stay with the child.

Does Grimes have free outdoor movies?

Yes. Grimes Parks and Recreation shows free movies at Heritage Park in summer. In 2026 the shows were July 30 and August 6, with activities at 6 p.m. and the movie at 7 p.m.