Ames and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Snow Ball Drop, Festival of Trees, Alice in Wonderland, Bon Jovi Tickets on Sale Monday, Plus Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood

There’s plenty to do in Ames in the days ahead, and if you want to travel into to Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

Here are some selected events, with a full list of Des Moines metro events available here.

ISU Theatre Presents Alice In Wonderland: A girl falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of the White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and The Queen of Hearts. Alice finds it all so curious that she finally concludes “It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” This is a new script that takes a fresh look at Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece. 
Stephens Auditorium, Ames
 Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, 7:30 pm.
Cost: $16 Find Tickets

Snow Ball Drop

If you still have some Christmas shopping to do you might luck out and catch a deal from the sky. The Main Street Cultural District will hold its annual Snow Ball Drop event 1 p.m. Saturday at Tom Evans Plaza. Santa will throw out a dozen of ping pong balls out to a waiting crowd. Each one is marked with a shopping deal from participating retailers. Santa will also be available for visiting.

Festival of Trees

Octagon Center for the Arts' Festival of Trees is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Children who stop by can participate in free activities from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Sunday will be the last day of the display.

Iowa State University Forestry Club Tree Sales

ISU's Forestry Club will sell trees from the Reiman Gardens' parking lot from 3 to 8 p.m. (Fridays) Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturdays) on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 and from noon to 6 p.m. (Sundays) on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.

Iowa State University Horticulture Club Poinsettia Sales

The ISU Horticulture Club will offer poinsettias for sale from 9 .m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Reiman Gardens. No admission is necessary to make a purchase and 15 varieties are available.

Altrusa Holiday Home Tour

The 24^th Annual Altrusa Holiday Home Tour is from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tour tickets cost $15 at the door. Proceeds go to: Heartland Senior Services, Ames Free Medical Clinic, ACCESS, Scholarships/Service Awards

Buy tickets at Mary Kay’s, Everts, Coe’s, Ames/ISU Info. booth on University Boulevard.

3rd Annual Prairie Moon Winery Holiday Market

Prairie Moon Winery will hold it's third annual Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Items include ceramics, jewelry and food.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk

Kosama will be the start of this year's Jingle Bell Run/Walk. Wear a holiday themed costume and put some bells on your shoes to raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation. Registration is $35 and the run/walk starts at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Ames Community Theater will present the Best Christmas Pageant Ever 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 9. Tickets are $15 and can be picked up at Gallery 319 or by calling: (515) 232-2354.

Holiday Photos at Reiman Gardens

While some plan on posing with Santa this year anyone can have a holiday photo taken at Reiman Gardens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.

Ngaire West Johnson of IMAGES by Ngaire will be at the Gardens on Saturday, for scheduled sessions. Groups may schedule a session with Ngaire by calling Reiman Gardens at 515-294-2710. Each 10-minute session is $45 for CoHort members and $55 for general public. Admission to Reiman Gardens’ holiday display is included in the fee. This is a sitting fee only and does not include purchasing of prints.

Pre-registration and pre-payment is required by Friday.

In Des Moines

Nada Silent Night: The Nadas’ 10th annual benefit concert for Toys for Tots.
8 p.m. Dec. 1
Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave.
$22.50 through Ticketmaster.

Jim McDonough: McDonough, an Iowa-born pianist, his orchestra and singers perform “Holiday Grande 2012.”
2:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave.
Cost: $31.50-$36.50.

UPCOMING 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

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. Weekend begin 13, 14, 15, 16

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.

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 . Weekend begin 20, 21, 22, 23

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.

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 for the Iowa show go on sale Dec. 3 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.