The Waukee Brief
Vibrant Music Hall brings national touring acts to Waukee, and every show night the same questions come up: where do I park, can I bring my bag, and do I need cash? Here's what the venue itself says, in one place, so you can stop digging and just go.
Parking is $15, card or phone only, in the lots on the south and west sides off SE Ashworth Rd or SE Esker Ridge Dr. Bags max out at 12 x 6 x 12 inches and get searched. The building is fully cashless, shows are all ages unless the ticket says otherwise, and doors usually open an hour before showtime.
The venue sits at 2938 Grand Prairie Parkway in the Kettlestone area, just off I-80. Its main and reserved lots are on the south and west sides of the building, and you get in from SE Ashworth Road or SE Esker Ridge Drive. General parking is $15 and the lots take credit, debit or mobile pay only, so don't count on cash. Premier parking puts you closer with a quicker exit; its price changes by show. Accessible spaces are spread through the lots, so ask at the entrance. Rideshare has its own marked entrance and exit, which is the easiest way out on a sold-out night.
Bags can be no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, and every one is searched on the way in. Bags for family or medical needs are allowed with an extra check. Leave these at home: outside food and drinks, coolers, glass or cans, chairs, blankets, strollers, umbrellas, weapons, laser pointers, fireworks, animals other than service animals, video cameras, GoPros and drones, pro recording gear, unsealed liquids and gels, and spiked jewelry or chains. Small point-and-shoot and disposable cameras are fine; anything with a detachable lens is not.
Most shows are a standing crowd on the main floor, with a balcony level above. When the venue opened, the Des Moines Register described the upstairs as booth-style boxes for four, with black seats sold as premium and red seats as general admission; your ticket will tell you which you have. The Red Room is the VIP club upstairs, with its own stocked bar, food and private restrooms. Around the building there are seven bars serving beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, plus food and snacks. Coat check is available for a fee, and the venue offers sensory bags for guests who need them.
How big is it? Live Nation lists a total capacity of 2,500, noting it changes with the setup; at its November 2023 opening the Register reported room for about 3,300 across 55,000 square feet.
Tickets sell through vibrantmusichall.com and Ticketmaster. The box office is on the east side of the building. September through May it's open Thursdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June through August, Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On show days it opens two hours before doors. Questions: 515-895-4980.
Vibrant opened in November 2023 as Live Nation's first venue in Iowa, part of the KeeTown Loop development in Kettlestone, and there's plenty around it for dinner first. Our Waukee restaurant guide and night-out planner have the picks, and live music in Waukee covers the smaller stages. We flag the week's Vibrant shows every Monday in the Waukee this-week calendar, and if you're staying over, see hotels in Waukee.
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General parking is $15, paid by credit card, debit or mobile pay only. Premier parking, closer to the doors with a faster exit, is priced per show. The lots are on the south and west sides of the venue, reached from SE Ashworth Road or SE Esker Ridge Drive.
Bags can be no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, and every bag is searched at the door. Bags for family or medical needs are allowed with an extra search.
Yes, events are all ages unless the show says otherwise. Children 2 and under don't need a ticket but must sit on a parent's lap.
No. The venue is fully cashless. If you only have cash, you can convert it to a card at coat check.
Generally an hour before the listed show time, though it varies by artist, so check your ticket.
2938 Grand Prairie Parkway in Waukee, in the Kettlestone area just off Interstate 80.
Free, every Monday 7 AM
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