Babies and Blooms
Kick off goat cuddling season and celebrate spring with adorable baby goats, baby lambs and a vibrant greenhouse full of blooming plants!
May 2nd-3rd, 9th-10th, & 16th-17th 2026
10am-5pm
- Cuddle Up with Cuteness: Our brand new baby goats are ready to meet their new best friends! Come cuddle and play with these adorable little ones.
- Blooming with Beauty: Explore our greenhouse overflowing with a stunning selection of seasonal plants and flowers. Find the perfect additions to brighten your home or garden.
- Shop Local: Take home a piece of the farm with our selection of farm-grown plants, hanging baskets and patio planters.
Don’t miss this heartwarming and delightful event – perfect for families and all ages!
Admission: $9.00 (plus tax) online $12 (plus tax) at the gate. Admission includes baby animal cuddling, playground, corn pool and obstacle course. No admission needed to visit the greenhouses.
Special Mother's Day Offer! Moms get FREE entry to cuddle the baby animals on Mother's Day weekend (May 9th & 10th ONLY).
HOwell's Iris Festival
May: TBD
Howell’s Iris Festival: A Celebration of Color and Beauty in Central Iowa
Get ready for a stunning floral experience at Howell’s Iris Festival this spring! Located near Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Waukee, our Iris Festival is a breathtaking celebration of the beauty, color, and fragrance of over 180 tall bearded iris cultivars. Mark your calendars for this vibrant event, which promises to dazzle your senses and leave you in awe of these majestic flowers.
At Howell’s, the Iris Festival is more than just a visual delight—it’s an immersive experience that delves into the fascinating history and variety of these magnificent flowers. You’ll explore a range of heirloom varieties, modern cultivars, and discover the incredible diversity of irises.
With over 180 varieties of tall bearded irises, our Iris Festival boasts one of the most extensive collections in the region that is open to the public.
This Iris Festival is not just about admiring flowers; it’s about engaging with nature in an unforgettable way. We invite you to:
- Wander through our blooming iris field: Lose yourself in a sea of vibrant color and intoxicating fragrance, perfect for a day of exploration.
- Learn from iris experts: Discover the secrets of iris cultivation, history, and care with insights from our knowledgeable staff.
- Photographer’s paradise: Capture the unique beauty of each iris through close-up shots showcasing their velvety textures and subtle color variations, or step back and admire the entire blooming field.
- Find your favorite iris: From delicate blossoms to bold blooms, discover the variety that speaks to your heart.
- Family-friendly activities: The Iris Festival is a fun-filled event for the whole family! Let the kids explore the flowers, cuddle baby goats and play on the farm. It’s the perfect day for making lasting memories with loved ones.
Our Iris Festival is more than just a flower show—it’s a celebration of nature’s artistry and the timeless beauty of irises. Join us in Central Iowa for an unforgettable day of discovery, exploration, and floral wonder. Whether you’re a flower enthusiast or looking for a fun family activity, Howell’s Iris Festival is an event you won’t want to miss!
Goat Cuddling
Available Mid May 1st - Sept 4th, 2026
What could be more fun than snuggling with all our adorable baby goats!!
Hours:
Daily: 10am to 5pm
(Closed July 4th)
Farmyard Play Yard opens May 1st, 2026.
Goat cuddling to begins mid-May 2026.
Cost
$12.00 + tax at the farm
$10.00 + fees online
Includes:
- 1 ticket to snuggle all the baby goats you wish
- 1 admission into our Farmyard Play yard
- Obstacle Course
- Corn Pool
All adults and children 2 years and older who wish to enter the Farmyard Play Yard and Goat Nursery will need to purchase an admission ticket.
Goat cuddling can be purchased online or onsite.
Flower Festival
September Date TBD
The Howell’s Flower Festival is a site to see! With vibrant flower fields, picturesque views, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. This event is perfect for all ages, offering fun for the entire family. Whether you’re wandering through rows of colorful blossoms or capturing the moment with your camera, there’s something special waiting for everyone at Howell’s Flower Festival.
Blooming dates vary, but we keep you updated with weekly, and often daily, photos of our stunning flower fields on social media throughout the peak season. Be sure to follow us for the latest blooms and event updates!
Flower Festival Activities included:
- Flower fields
- Play yard
- Baby goat cuddles
PICTURE PERFECT PHOTO OPS
Get Instagram ready! We have great photo ops for you and your group like:
- Floral arch
- Butterfly wings
- Mini Vignettes
Admission
$12+ tax at the gate per person 2yrs and older
$9 + fees per person 2yrs and older online
NO PETS, NO SMOKING, NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE FARM
We will have buckets for sale for buckets of blooms if you wish to pick your own.
Special sunset hours are 5pm-8pm Dates: To be determined
For 3 evenings ONLY !
We are opening up in the evening for the wildflower fields. This will be a great time for photography sessions in the flowers and pick your own flowers.
Dates to be determined
Hours is 5:00pm- 8:00 p.m.
Admission is $5 per person
***The playground, corn pool, obstacle course, and goat cuddling will NOT BE OPEN.
We will have buckets for sale for buckets of blooms if you wish to pick your own.
We will have drinks available but will not have any food for sale.
Hometown Heros
September 26th- 27th, 2026
A heartfelt salute to our local heroes who have the hard jobs risking their lives, saving our lives or shaping our lives.
- Active, retired, veteran military
- Law enforcement officers
- Firefighters
- First responders
- Nurses
- Teachers
Receive FREE admission to the farm and half off admission for up to 4 family members.
***MUST provide a valid ID or work badge when checking in***
Howell's Mum Fest: A Fall Fun-Fest!
Sept 21th & Sept 22nd, 2024
What is that??
Here’s what you can expect:*Mum photo ops: Capture unforgettable memories with our special mum-themed photo opportunities.
*U-pick flower field: Enjoy the last few weekends to pick your own fresh flowers.
*Baby goat cuddles: Cuddle with our adorable baby goats before they go into hibernation for the winter. (aka This is the LAST WEEKEND FOR BABY GOAT CUDDLING UNTIL 2025)
**Fall activities: Take a wagon ride, explore our corn maze, or hop on the bathtub train, just to name a few
**Farm market: Discover a treasure trove of fall goodies and festive decorations.
Don’t miss out on this fun-filled event!
Princesses on the Farm
Sept 2025
Princesses available TBD
Fall Goat Cuddling
Sept 5th - Sept 2oth, 2026
If you didn’t get enough snuggling in during the summer, here’s your chance to get some more snuggles in. Fall Goat Cuddling is an added bonus to your paid admission September 6th – September 21st, 2025.
Trick or Treat on the Farm
Saturday, October 31th, 2026
Come have some Halloween fun on the farm! Scavenge for treats around the farm, smash some pumpkins, enjoy all our fall activities and more.
Think you have the funniest or most creative costume? Join our costume contest and put it to the test. Prizes awarded by age group for:
- Funniest costume (please use discretion, this is a family event)
- Scariest costume ( please be mindful of young children)
- Most Creative costume
- Best Duo/ Group costume
- Overall Best costume
*****More details to come****
Pumpkin Smash
November 1st, 2026
With pumpkin season coming to a close, let’s celebrate a successful harvest with a smashing good time! Join us on the farm to make a fantastic fall mess of some of our remaining pumpkins.
Egg Palooza
Join us for 3 fun filled days of Easter activities for the whole family!
March 28th-29th & April 4th 2026 10am-5pm
Take pictures with the Easter Bunny, enjoy our chaos free egg hunt, take a spin in our bath tub train, have unlimited access to our Farmyard Play Yard and many more new activities around the farm- There’s no better way to spend your Easter fun than at Howells.
Activities included with your admission:
- Chaos free egg hunt
– No need to bring your basket, we supply the egg carton
– Eggs will be out all day, rain or snow or shine. - Take photos with the Easter Bunny
– Don’t forget your camera! - Farmyard Play Yard
- Bath Tub Train rides
- Easter themed Photo Ops
- Corn Pool
- Obstacle Course
- Bee Lines
- Jump Pillow
Concessions available all day!
Event Ticketing
Buy online and SAVE $15.00(plus tax) per Child
$12.00 (plus tax) per Adult
Each child ticket includes a prize valued at $4
Tickets available at the gate for $18 (plus tax) per person
Ticket sales are final and are nonrefundable or transferable.
