Here’s your go-to guide to trivia nights around the Des Moines metro!
Last updated: March 2024
Question: What’s the most popular night for trivia?
Answer: We don’t know, but any day is good for trivia if you ask us! Find a trivia location in the metro on a night that works best for you below.
You’ll also need a team name so here are some of our favorites for inspiration: Trivia Newton John, E=MC Hammered, Let’s Get Quizzical, and Just Here to Establish an Alibi.
Our Guide to Trivia Nights Around Des Moines
Mondays
Sporcle Live Trivia at Smash Park
- Mondays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- Smash Park, 6625 Coachlight Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Grab your co-workers, friends, or family for a fun trivia night at Smash Park. Sporcle is a live trivia and pub quiz that tests your knowledge in geography, pop culture, sports, and more! With the easy-to-use app, all you need is your phone to play free Sporcle live trivia at Smash Park on Mondays. No registration required!
*NEW* Varsity Cinema Trivia Night
- First Monday of Every month, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Varsity Cinema, 1207 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311
Catch a movie and stick around for trivia! Hosted by comedian Dwayne Clark, test your knowledge on all things film. Enjoy discounted drinks and prizes throughout the night! Admission is free, and teams of five people or less are allowed. No registration required!
*NEW* Bachelor Bingo at Smash Park
- Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
- Smash Park, 6625 Coachlight Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Joey Graziadei and trivia? A match made in heaven. Grab a seat, a bingo card, and one of their specialty Bachelor drinks, and watch the drama of this season unfold! Admission is free and there are new prizes every week! You don’t want to miss this!
*NEW* Bingo + Mules at The Hall
- Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- The Hall, 111 South 11th Street, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Bring your friends and family out for some good ole fashioned fun and enjoy $5 mules, stellar beer, and cocktails! It only costs $1 to get your card and play the whole night and for a chance to win drinks, gift cards, merch, and more!
Tuesdays
Trivia Tuesday at Truman’s Pizza Tavern (with Sporcle Live)
- Tuesdays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- Truman’s Pizza Tavern, 400 SE 6th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Hit up Truman’s on Tuesday for trivia (we love that alliteration). Registration is free and includes teams of 2-6 people, competing in one or both rounds for prizes. Two rounds means you and your team have two chances to win. Besides, what goes better with a hot fresh pizza, than an exciting round of trivia? Nothing.
Friendly Feud at Smash Park
- Tuesdays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- Smash Park, 6625 Coachlight Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266
You’ve heard of Family Feud, now try your hand at Smash Park’s version! This trivia game is set up the same way the beloved TV game show is, working together with your trivia group to answer the five most common responses to survey questions. Points are awarded and prizes given to the top 3 winners! Best part? This is free, no registration required!
Wednesdays
Themed Trivia at Smash Park
- Wednesdays, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Smash Park, 6625 Coachlight Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Smash Park hosts a couple themed trivia nights a month, with the themes ranging from movies and tv shows, to pop culture idols. There’s a $5.00 fee to register and the prizes are a $100 Smash Park gift card for first place and a $50 Smash Park gift card for second. Be sure to register early because they fill up fast. Some of our favorites have been the T-Swift, Pixar, Mean Girls, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader trivia nights!
Sporcle Live Trivia at 300 Craft & Rooftop
- Wednesdays, 7 & 8- 9 p.m.
- 300 Craft & Rooftop, 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50309
Want to try your hand at trivia AND get one of the best views of downtown Des Moines? 300 Craft & Rooftop is the place to go! With their two round format, this means your chances of winning the top prize doubles! The first round starts at 7 p.m. and the second round starts at 8 p.m. Second place winners for each round will be taking a $25 gift card, with first place getting a $50 gift card! We like those odds!
Trivia Night at Court Avenue Brewing
- Wednesdays, 7 – 10 p.m.
- Court Avenue Brewing, 309 Court Ave Des Moines, IA 50309
Trivia Night at Court Avenue Brewing is weekly on Wednesdays, starting at 7 p.m. and going until 10 p.m! This spot is perfect to grab a local brew and test your knowledge mid-week. Using the DJ Trivia platform, you’ll answer a range of questions from music and TV, to science and history. (P.S there’s a daily bonus hint/clue, so be sure to check the DJ Trivia website before you go!)
*NEW* Music Bingo at Truman’s Pizza Tavern
- Tuesdays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- Truman’s Pizza Tavern, 400 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Music lovers, this is the trivia night for you! Gather your friends and play a friendly game of variety bingo with a musical twist. It’s free to play for a chance to win up to $150 in Truman’s gift cards!
*NEW* Trivia at Bevy’s Tavern
- Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
- Bevy’s Tavern, 1300 50th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Get your friends together and enjoy a night of trivia AND food and drink specials! It doesn’t get better than this. There are six rounds of trivia with prizes for the winning team at the end of each AND prizes for the top three teams overall! Sounds like great odds to us.
Thursdays
Sporcle Live Trivia at The Hall
- Thursdays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- The Hall, 111 South 11th St, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Downtown too far to go for trivia? No problem! The Hall in West Des Moines also has Sporcle live trivia at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday nights. Venture over with your family or friends, creating your team of topic geniuses to enjoy some brews or snacks. Come in first or second place in either round for your chance at a Hall gift card!
Trivia Night at Coa Cantina
- Thursdays, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.
- Coa Cantina, 425 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
Trivia with a side of delicious margaritas, chips and salsa? Say no more. Coa Cantina located in the East Village takes part in live trivia every Thursday night. So, give in to your “thirsty Thursdays”, order a classic Coa marg and hang out for a night full of topical Q’s. Prizes are awarded for first, second, and third places each game!
Trivia Night at Paws & Pints
- Thursdays, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Paws and Pints, 6218 Willowmere Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Paws and Pints is the best place around for dogs and their humans! Seriously, it’s like Disneyland for dogs. This trivia night is the perfect excuse to NOT leave your pup at home. Winners will receive Paws and Pints gift cards! New to Paws & Pints? Before you bring your canine, it’s important to make sure they’re fully registered before they enter- and you can do so through the P&P app.
Don’t see your favorite trivia night included? Hit us up and let us know. We’ll be adding to this guide as more are added!
Carl’s Place has trivia on Wednesdays! It just started a couple of weeks ago. They also have bingo on Mondays. You should add those to your list!