Urbandale and Metro Weekend Events: Cookie Walks, Iowa Energy Game, 2012 Heartland Shootout, ‘Nutcracker’ Ballet, Plus Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood

There's plenty happening in Urbandale and the metro this weekend.

Take a look at our list and plan accordingly.

"Cookies Yule Love" - Come take a cookie walk at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. The event is $13 to fill a 96 oz. pail with four dozen homemade Christmas Cookies. Proceeds benefit mission projects.

Annual Christmas Cookie Walk - Stop by St. Stephen Lutheran Church from 9 a.m. to noon for home-baked goods, holiday sweets and stocking stuffers. Proceeds from the event go to St. Stephen Lutheran Church High School Youth Group.

Cookie Walk - Covenant Christian Church hosts a cookie walk at 9 a.m. You can get a pound of cookies for $8.

1900 Farm Dinner - At Living History Farms a horse-drawn wagon carries you to the farmhouse, where the smell of freshly baked rolls and hot cider welcomes you. Enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal by the warmth of the stove served family style by our historical interpreters. Make room for dessert with a lantern-lit trip outside to our 119-year-old barn. Or stay inside and peruse the 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog and play a game of checkers. After dessert, bundle up for the wagon ride back to your car. Cost is $50.

“Triple Espresso - A Highly Caffeinated Comedy”: Tells the rags-to-rags story of Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell and Bobby Bean, an aspiring comedy trio whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in four minutes of magnificent failure on national television.
Temple Theater, Des Moines
7:30 pm. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays Nov. 27 through Jan. 6
Tickets

The Wizard of Oz: On a farm in Kansas, Dorothy Gale feels out of place and misunderstood. She wants to escape to somewhere "Over the Rainbow." Ages 5 and up. Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines
Dec. 7 to Dec. 30, Wednesday-Friday 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 1pm and 5pm
Cost: $35 ($20 Hot Tickets available 2 hours prior to curtain, limited to available tickets, at the ticket office only.)

Iowa Energy Basketball vs. Texas: The Energy's 2012-2013 schedule has been released! This 2011 Championship team is back for another season of great competition.Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Dec. 7, 7:00pm
Cost:$8-$20 Buy Tickets


2012 Heartland Shootout: The event is loaded with great teams and many talented players.  Come out and see Top 100 nationally ranked players like Wisconsin recruit Bronson Koenig (#73 in 2013), Reid Travis (#44 in 2014) and Clayton Custer (#100 in 2014) take on top Iowa players like Klint Carlson (Northern Iowa), Matt Lassen (Albany), Ted Friedman (Northern Iowa) and highly-touted prospect Peter Jok (Iowa). This is a must see event... don't miss out!Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Dec. 8, Scheduled Game Times: 1:00 PM - Linn-Mar vs. North Scott
2:45 PM - Ankeny vs. De Le Salle (MN)   4:30 PM - Waverly Shell Rock vs. La Cross Aquinas (WI)  6:15 PM - West Des Moines Valley vs. Blue Valley Northwest (KS)
Cost: $8 Buy Tickets

Iowa Energy Basketball vs. Erie: The Energy's 2012-2013 schedule has been released! This 2011 Championship team is back for another season of great competition.Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Dec. 9, 4:00pm
Cost:$8-$20 Buy Tickets

“The Nutcracker,” presented by Iowa Dance Theatre: Join us for the Iowa Dance Theatre's celebration of its 30th Season as we once again present the story of a girl, her nutcracker, and the special dream they share. The Nutcracker is choreographed and directed by a team of professionals from seven area studios, with dancers from over 25 different studios.

A Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party will be on Saturday, December 8 at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines at 12:30 pm. Tickets are $15 per person with limited capacity. Tickets available only at the Civic Center Ticket Office.
Civic Center, Des Moines
Dec. 8, 2 pm and 8 pm, Dec. 9, 2 pm
Cost: $15-$35

Max Wellman: “Home for the Holidays” concerts with late-night shows featuring Chris Ford and others.
7 and 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Dec. 7-16
The Des Moines Social Club’s Kirkwood Theatre, 400 Walnut St.
Cost: $20-$125 through midwestix.com.

Ninety Miles-The Cuban-American jazz trio, Stefon Harris (vibes), David Sanchez (saxophone) and Nicholas Payton (trumpet) performs at Drake’s Sheslow Auditorium, after a 6:45 p.m. preshow talk with Bob Naujoks of the Cedar Rapids jazz station KCCK-FM 88.3.
Drake’s Sheslow Auditorium
Dec. 8, 7:30pm
Cost:$15-$46, with $7 rush tickets for students.

Carrie Underwood: In concert with a stop in Des Moines.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14
Cost: $43.50-$63.50  Tickets on sale

“War Horse”: As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France, where he's soon caught up in enemy fire. But Albert cannot forget Joey and he embarks on a treacherous mission to bring him home.
Civic Center of Des Moines
Dec. 11-17
Cost: $40-$60  Tickets.

Tonic Sol-Fa: The Minneapolis a cappella group’s annual holiday show.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-15.
Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave.
Cost: $27-$32 through Ticketmaster.

The Blenders: Holiday soul with the vocal group from Minneapolis.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 18.
Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Cost: $39 through Ticketmaster.

The Last Sketch Comedy Show- Too Many Cats is Central Iowa's funniest sketch comedy troupe.  Join us for an evening of laughs featuring short sketches that poke fun at some end-of-the-world possibilities. Recommended Age: 17+
Dec. 15, 8:00pm
Stoner Theater at the Civic Center, Des Moines
Cost: $10 Find Tickets

Cirque du Soleil - Quidam- Young Zoé is bored; her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world—the world of Quidam—where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul.Dec. 22 3:30pm and 7:30pm, Dec. 23 1pm and 5pm
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Cost: $35-$97 Buy Tickets

Jim Brickman: “On a Winter’s Night” Christmas concert by the new age Grammy winner.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 20
Stephens Auditorium, Ames.
Cost: $32-$62 through Ticketmaster.

Euforquestra: Originally from Iowa, now based out of Colorado, this jam band offers its third annual “Home for the Holidays” concert.
7 p.m. Dec. 21.
Wooly’s, 504 E. Locust St.
Cost: $10 in advance through ticketfly.com.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: New takes on Christmas favorites.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Cost: $35-$83 through Ticketmaster.


GuideOne ImaginEve!- GuideOne ImaginEve! is Des Moines' premier free, non-alcoholic family New Year’s Eve celebration. The event features awesome inflatable rides and bounce houses, a caravan of clowns, balloon artist, carnival games and prizes, toddler zone, mini golf, dancers and a fireworks finale. This one-of-a-kind family event encourages family members of all ages to participate in a wide variety of activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dec. 31, 4pm
Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines
Cost: Free

Miranda Lambert: Locked and Re-Loaded tour stops in Ames with Dierks Bentley and Lee Brice.
Hilton Coliseum in Ames
7:30 p.m.  Feb. 21
Tickets on sale

Jon Bon Jovi: The New Jersey rocker and his band will return to Des Moines on April 14 on the "Because We Can" Tour. Ticket prices start at $19.50.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
April 14; tickets on sale through dahlstickets.com.

Taylor Swift: Country star Taylor Swift returns to Wells Fargo Arena on May 6. No word yet on ticket prices or an on-sale date.