Road Trip Guide: Check Out the Greenbelt Music Festival 2024 in Clive, Iowa!

Apr 29, 2024

It’s festival season! Weather is warming up all across the country, and everyone’s itching to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. What better way to celebrate your love of life than enjoying a music festival with hundreds of like-minded people who know all the lyrics to your favorite songs? We’re so excited about returning to music venues and have a busy summer planned, filled with lots of live music, band tours, and concerts galore. Today, we’re planning our road trip out to the Greenbelt Music Festival in Iowa happening just a few weeks away in May!

What’s the Greenbelt Music Festival and who’s playing?

This is a fully immersive, multi-day musical experience in May with indoor and outdoor events, held in a huge grass field west of the Horizon Events Center off of Greenbelt Trail in Clive, Iowa! Tickets also support a great local cause; for every festival pass sold, $5 is donated to the Clive Community Foundation. This year’s star studded event is host to amazing bands like Railroad Earth, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sierra Hull, Arkansauce, and others! But that’s not all there is to do at the Greenbelt Music Fest, there’s plenty of local food and merch vendors, a silent disco zone, face painting, a kids area, local entertainment, and lots more. Yes, that’s right! It’s a family-friendly affair, and kids 12 and under enter free. There are three ticket pass tiers: GOAT 2-Day Pass, GA 2-Day Pass, GA 1-Day Pass, to give you flexibility and access options to the features you’d like to explore.

What is there to do in Clive before and after the festival?

We’re glad you asked! Clive has a lot of fun activities, as does nearby Des Moines! There’s plenty for guests and visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Clive is home to Greenbelt Park and trail system, for which the festival is named, which offers a wonderful opportunity to explore local wildlife, get in touch with nature, and do plenty of hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. Local hiking enthusiasts also recommend checking out Volksweg Trail, High Trestle Trail, Raccoon River Valley Trail, and Green Valley Lake Trail.

Love Museums? We’ve got some options for you! Explore local history and culture at the nearby Clive Historical Society and Living History Farms. Living History Farms is a delightful step back in time as this 500-acre open air museum’s focus is educating and demonstrating to visitors more than 300 years of agricultural history! Enjoy seasonal events, live demonstrations, historic tea and dinner parties, and more.

The Des Moines Children’s Museum is a fabulous way to spend the day with your family, enjoying hands-on learning and educational activities through play. The Des Moines Art Center is free to visit and full of an eclectic mix of contemporary and historic works of art across many styles and subjects. The Salisbury House and Gardens combines history, botanical gardens, antiques and artwork in a historic home. There’s plenty of activities like this in the area to explore if you extend your stay!

Where to eat and drink during your Festival stay?

Enjoy a sit down dinner and a sip of a craft beverage at the delicious local breweries, wineries, and restaurants in the area. Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant offers New American cuisine, and offers wine tasting in the front room before you enter the restaurant. Locals are raving about Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar! And Jasper Winery has a wonderful tasting room and hosts special seasonal events. Enjoy a craft brew at Twisted Vine Brewery, 515 Brewing Company, Kinship Brewing, Confluence Brewing Company, Lua Brewing or a specialty beer and New American cuisine at Barn town Brewing! Roots 95 Craft Kitchen and Bar is a hot spot recently opened offering Asian Fusion cuisine. Tito’s Lounge is the place to be with a fun ambiance offering Mediterranean food. Clive and the surrounding region are a true foodie’s paradise!

If you’ve been to the area before, feel free to chime in on our posts on social media. We’d love for our followers to see your suggestions, and we may even add them to a future blog update!