GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines

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It’s World Down Syndrome Day! How do you plan to spend it?Well, if you missed the annual GiGi’s Playhouse WDSD Party (o...
03/21/2026

It’s World Down Syndrome Day! How do you plan to spend it?

Well, if you missed the annual GiGi’s Playhouse WDSD Party (or even if you were there), there are a few more ways to join in the celebration…

From 2 to 4 p.m. this afternoon, the Barnes and Noble at the Jordan Creek Town Center is hosting an event that we think will interest you. Friend of GiGi’s Jerod Garland will be there with his daughter, Cayla, to promote his book, Shovels and Spades – a father’s journey parenting a spirited daughter with Down syndrome. We hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and pick up a copy that Jerod will be happy to sign.

Then, we encourage you to go to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers on Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines for a late lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, or whatever you might crave before they close at 9. The place will be decorated for WDSD and, if you tell them that GiGi’s sent you, they will donate 20% of your food purchase is donated to our Des Moines Playhouse.

Or here’s an idea: catch the Iowa Wild vs. Ontario Reign AHL hockey at the Casey’s Center at 5 p.m. The Wild is aligning with the NHL’s observation of World Down Syndrome Day in a unique and personal way. Personal to GiGi’s, anyway. The Wild players will suit up wearing “Rock your Socks” foot coverings decorated by our participants! If you see the Wild playing truly inspiring hockey, you’ll know why!

This will be a day to remember for GiGi’s Playhouse!

What? You wake up and realize you forgot to shop for that special someone on World Down Syndrome Day? No worries. Read ...
03/21/2026

What? You wake up and realize you forgot to shop for that special someone on World Down Syndrome Day? No worries. Read this week's blog for the quick remedy!

https://ow.ly/pTKr50Yx8Iq

World Down Syndrome Day is Saturday and we can't wait!The “Boots and Bling” Gala was just the start of an unforgettable ...
03/19/2026

World Down Syndrome Day is Saturday and we can't wait!

The “Boots and Bling” Gala was just the start of an unforgettable month. Next up is March 21st and the annual World Down Syndrome Day Party we throw every year at GiGi’s Playhouse. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon and we can’t wait to see everyone!

Hy-Vee is donating food and refreshments and Friedrichs is providing coffee. Plus, DJ DAS will fill the Playhouse with great tunes, and we’ll have apparel and merchandise for sale that we know you’ll love. Oh, and the Iowa Wild mascot, Crash, will be on hand to join in on the fun.

But the World Down Syndrome Day goings-on won’t stop there. From 2 to 4, the Barnes and Noble at the Jordan Creek Town Center will be hosting a book promotion that we think will interest you. Friend of GiGi’s Jerod Garland will be there with his daughter, Cayla, to promote Shovels and Spades – a father’s journey parenting a spirited daughter with Down syndrome. We hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

Then to whet your appetite, may we interest you in a bite (maybe dinner?) at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers on Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines? Mention GiGi’s to your server when you dine any time on Saturday and they will see that 20% of your food purchase is donated to our Playhouse!

World Down Syndrome Day is shaping up to be a big day for GiGi’s, and we hope you’ll make the most of it with (and for) us!

If you have any questions, be sure to call the Playhouse at (515) 252-7529.

Join us for another ‘Family Fun’ on Thursday 3/19 from 3-5pm. On deck: Stained glass tissue paper. Walk-ins welcome, bu...
03/18/2026

Join us for another ‘Family Fun’ on Thursday 3/19 from 3-5pm. On deck: Stained glass tissue paper.

Walk-ins welcome, but we’d appreciate if you signed up in advance so we can properly prepare: https://ow.ly/UNC450YvAus

World Down Syndrome Day is Saturday. Time to celebrate our beautiful community and acknowledge a few who have inspired ...
03/17/2026

World Down Syndrome Day is Saturday. Time to celebrate our beautiful community and acknowledge a few who have inspired us all!

The Iowa Wild want YOU to decorate their game day socks! Join us for Family Fun on Tuesday 3/17 from 10a-12p. The Iowa W...
03/16/2026

The Iowa Wild want YOU to decorate their game day socks! Join us for Family Fun on Tuesday 3/17 from 10a-12p. The Iowa Wild will rock their socks made by GiGi’s Playhouse participants on game day Saturday 3/21, highlighting World Down Syndrome Day!

Walk-ins welcome, but we’d appreciate if you signed up in advance so we can properly prepare: https://ow.ly/6SvW50Ytvez

To all of you Spring Break shoppers, we want to remind you that the Kendra Scott store in the Jordan Creek Town Center i...
03/13/2026

To all of you Spring Break shoppers, we want to remind you that the Kendra Scott store in the Jordan Creek Town Center is holding a "Shine Bright. Do Good." Give Back event for GiGi's Playhouse today. Stop by now and you'll see Program Manager Kaitlin Hohnstrater!

Saturday morning at the playhouse starts with New Family Coordination at 9:30am rolling right into LMNOP at 10:00am! Sta...
03/13/2026

Saturday morning at the playhouse starts with New Family Coordination at 9:30am rolling right into LMNOP at 10:00am! Stay, or join us, for Art Explosion at 11:00am where we are bringing in the much-needed Spring vibes with these tissue paper sun catchers!

Walk-ins welcome, but we’d appreciate if you signed up in advance so we can properly prepare: https://ow.ly/MsYa50YtuoO

Perhaps you heard about the GiGi's "Boots and Bling" Gala that was held at the Hilton Hotel this past Saturday night. In...
03/12/2026

Perhaps you heard about the GiGi's "Boots and Bling" Gala that was held at the Hilton Hotel this past Saturday night. In a word, it was EPIC!

If you are interested in a short recap of that event, we invite you to check out this week's blog:
https://ow.ly/xJI450Yt2hq

Kendra Scott: “Shine Bright. Do Good.”For GiGi’s! GiGi's Playhouse is fortunate to have a partner in Kendra Scott Design...
03/11/2026

Kendra Scott: “Shine Bright. Do Good.”

For GiGi’s! GiGi's Playhouse is fortunate to have a partner in Kendra Scott Designer Jewelry and their Jordan Creek Town Center location that have been supporting us for years. In 2025, they hosted two give back day fundraisers where we received 20% of sales, raising over $700 to support our 600 hours of free and purposeful programming that we provide every month. We are pleased to let you know that Kendra Scott is back this month!

This Friday, March 13 (the first day of Spring Break for many!), Kendra Scott will hold a “Shine Bright. Do Good.” GiGi’s Playhouse fundraiser and we encourage you to visit their store, stock up, and be sure to let them know that “GiGi’s sent you”. If you do, 20% of your purchase will be donated to GiGI's!

And here's a bonus: If you stop in between 1 and 4 p.m., you can say “Hello” to Program Manager Kaitlin Hohnstrater or Executive Director John Claes!

P.S. For those of you who would rather stay in your pajamas all day long and lounge: You can shop from home and still help GiGi’s! Just use the code on this graphic when you make your online purchase here: https://ow.ly/uYHt50YsyNb

431 people brought the Boots and the Bling to the Hilton this past Saturday and we had a blast. The emotions (and the bi...
03/10/2026

431 people brought the Boots and the Bling to the Hilton this past Saturday and we had a blast. The emotions (and the bidding) ran high as we celebrated a great night for Down syndrome, GiGi’s Playhouse and our beautiful community.

And we loved the line from keynote speaker Maddz Jorgenson when she declared that God made her “…on purpose for a purpose.” We agree, Maddz!!!!

And, although we will be riding high from the gala for quite a while, we aren’t yet ready to close the books on this year’s fundraising total. We are a ways away from our $250,000 goal and would like your help in getting there. Can you pitch in today?

Any gift you make this week will be put toward this year’s grand total. And, if you join our new $21 per month “321 Believers Club”, $210 will go toward that goal! (That’s the amount that we’ll realize in 2026 if you join today!

Go here and click on “DONATE” in the upper right: https://ow.ly/XYs150Ys7qR

The “Boots and Bling” Gala was a big success on Saturday and although we’re still doing the math on the fundraising tota...
03/09/2026

The “Boots and Bling” Gala was a big success on Saturday and although we’re still doing the math on the fundraising total, rest assured that we raised enough to keep GiGi’s purposeful and progressing programs FREE to all participants for a good long while! Programs like these are found on this week’s calendar:

· Tuesday’s Fantastic Friends and another great service project.

· Thursday evening’s GiGi’s Kitchen, open for participants of all ages at 5 p.m.!

· Our Second Saturday of the Month Line-Up of New Family Coordination at 9:30, Open Play and LMNOP at 10 are back with something new: Art Explosion at 11, led by Maggie O’Daniel.

Drop-ins are always welcome, but we’d appreciate if you’d sign up in advance so we can properly prepare: https://ow.ly/ar2p50YqmEv

Address

6507 University Avenue
Windsor Heights, IA
50324

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+15152527529

Website

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