PRESENTED BY

Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn.

Happy Thursday, everyone. I hope your week is going well, and if you haven’t already, let’s start planning the weekend. There are so many events and shows lined up for the next couple of days.

If you’re already over the winter like I am, maybe a little State Fair news will warm you up. The first two Grandstand acts have been announced. Lainey Wilson and Rod Stewart. I’m sure my mom is pumped about the latter. Tickets go on sale tomorrow!

In todays issue:

• 🏢 Big Downtown Updates

• 🥫 Food Bank of Iowa receives support

• 🎄 Holiday Events galore

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

$7M Grant Approved for Pro Iowa Stadium

The City Council signed off on a $7 million state grant to help move the long-planned soccer stadium forward. The funding closes a key gap so work can begin with the city to prepare the site over the next year. Once the site is ready, construction would take up to two years with games starting in 2029.

Story →

Market District Redevelopment Continues to Build Momentum

The Market District, one of the largest projects in downtown’s history, is one step closer to a reality. On Monday, City Council voted to help developers secure state funds that that support redevelopment efforts in the area. The project includes $700 million in mixed-use development with new housing, retail, hotels, and public amenities just south of the East Village. The approval moves the project from concept to action, setting up major transformation in the years ahead.

Story →

Armory Redevelopment Talks Moving Forward

The city has greenlit a proposal for redevelopment of the historic Argonne Armory building, which sits just east of the Des Moines River. Early ideas point toward mixed-use for the 91 year old building, with renewed community activity in the space.

Story → 

PRESENTED BY: Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros

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Visit Kitchenrefreshiowa.com today!

Community Spotlight ❤️ 

Food Bank of Iowa Receives Major Support

The Food Bank of Iowa received two big donations this week to help with their mission to provide nutritious meals to people facing food insecurity this holiday season:

• DMAAR ➡️ $50,000

• ITC Midwest ➡️ $20,000

The contributions help sustain critical food access programs across the region while demand has reached record levels.

Des Moines Monopoly Is Officially Here

The Des Moines Edition of Monopoly has launched, featuring local landmarks and businesses — a fun new way to see the city on game night.

👉 Info

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

Want a Featured Event with a poster,
reach out and say hi.

🗣️ Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 7 PM
📍 Casey’s Center
A stop on Bert’s brand-new tour — big energy, wild stories, and one of comedy’s top storytellers.

🎄 Miracle on 3rd Street (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 5–7:30 PM
📍 Uptown Ankeny
Holiday magic all over Uptown with Santa, reindeer, crafts, lights, and a whole lot of festive fun.

🎁 Holiday Market in the Greenhouse (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Bentley Ridge Tree Farm & Nursery
Shop local in a cozy greenhouse packed with vendors, crafts, décor, treats, and live festive vibes.

🏃 Santa Run 5K (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10 AM
📍 Fleet Feet
A jolly 5K where everyone runs in full Santa suits — hot cocoa at the finish and a post-race party at SingleSpeed.

🎄 Christmas Open House (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10 AM–8 PM
📍 Painted Tree
Hundreds of boutiques under one roof — perfect for all-day holiday shopping and snacking.

🖼️ Holiday Art Market (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 11 AM–3 PM
📍 Mainframe Studios
A second shot at Small Business Saturday — meet artists and pick up handmade gifts.

🎅 Light Up Carlisle (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 5–8 PM
📍 Downtown Carlisle
Parade, Santa, crafts, cookies, reindeer, hot cocoa, and a big tree lighting to wrap up the night.

🐶 Brekky with Bluey: Christmas PJ Party (more)
📆 Saturday–Sunday | ⏰ Morning
📍 Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Meet Bluey, rock your PJs, and enjoy a loaded waffle bar, parfait station, cider, and coffee.

🎄 Tour de Lights (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 4–8 PM
📍 Water Works Park
Walk, bike, or stroll through the lights — costumes encouraged. Hot cocoa included with registration.

🛍️ Historic Highland Park Holiday Shop Hop (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 11 AM–3 PM
📍 Highland Park Business District
Grab a passport, explore local shops, collect stamps, and enter to win the Holiday Basket.

🕯️ Candles & Craft Beer (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 2 PM
📍 SingleSpeed Brewing
Build your own holiday candles while enjoying a laid-back afternoon at SingleSpeed.

🎅 Christkindlmarket Des Moines (more)
📆 Through Sunday | ⏰ Times vary
📍 Principal Park
A German-inspired Christmas market with handmade goods, Glühwein, polka music, kids activities, and holiday performances in Yuletide Hall.

NOW SHOWING  🎭

❄️ Disney’s Frozen
📆 Dec 5-27
📍 Des Moines Playhouse
A perfect holiday-season show for families, kicking off this weekend.

🎩 A Christmas Carol
📆 Dec 5-21
📍 Stoner Theater
A classic holiday production with the full Dickens spirit.

🩰 Ballet Des Moines: The Nutcracker
📆 Dec 11-14
📍 Hoyt Sherman Place
A beautiful holiday tradition featuring local dancers and a timeless score — one of the season’s must-see performances.

💚 How The Grinch Stole Christmas
📆 Dec 16-21
📍 Des Moines Civic Center
The beloved Dr. Seuss story brought to life on stage — bright, fun, and full of holiday energy

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 25 🌡️ Low 20 | 🌨️ | ❄️ 67%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

Friday

High 25 🌡️ Low 8 | ☁️ | ❄️ 10%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 11 🌡️ Low -9 | 🌨️ | ❄️ 75%
Weather Beacon: ⚪️ Colder weather in sight
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

Sunday

High 7 🌡️ Low 4 | ☀️ | ❄️ 5%
Weather Beacon: ⚪️ Colder weather in sight

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Farewell to Lefty’s Tour | 5 | Lefty’s
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s
Joshua Sinclair | 6 | Confluence Brewing
The Austin Brown Trio | 7 | xBk Annex
Carson Parker | 7 | Noce
The Soul Searchers | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Triple J’s | 9 | Yacht Club
Anthony Koester | 9 | Shotgun Betty’s

Friday

Mosh For Tots | 5 | Lefty’s
Brian Congdon | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Touch of Grey | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Dessa | 7 | Wooly’s
Neva Alden | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Brother Trucker | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Sierra Griggs | 7 | Shotgun Betty’s
NOLA Jazz Duo | 7:30 | The New Northwestern
Thunderscore & more | 7:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Courtney Krause | 8 | xBk Annex
Chris Falcon | 8 | 6th Ave Listening Room
GRIND | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Sister Sara | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Ty Ellis & the Flatlanders | 8 | Prairie Meadows
The Sons & Sara | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Max Wellman | 9 | Noce
Not Sisters | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Mars Daniels | 9 | Sully’s Irish Pub

Saturday

Joshua Sinclair | 4 | Revelton Distilling
The Ripoffs | 5 | Captain Roy’s
The Crowfoot Rakes | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
BrainPhase | 6 | Lefty’s
Andrew Hoyt | 7 | Temple Theater
Weather Head & more | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Brittany Sword Duo | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Petrock | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Rural Route | 7:30 | Talk Shop Lounge
Alex Schroeder | 7:30 | The Cork
Whiskey Hill | 8 | xBk Annex
Casey Peasley | 8 | Walker’s Place
Adam Whitehead | 8 | Prairie Meadows
Jimmy & The Weasel | 8:30 | Mickey’s Irish Pub
Max Wellman | 9 | Noce
Jeff Banks Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Scott Kirkhart | 9 | Hawk Heaven Tavern

Sunday

A Crowfoot Rakes | 2 | Captain Roy’s
Max Wellman | 3 & 5 | Noce
Steve Grismore-Rod Leaverton Duo | 5 | Louie’s Wine Dive
Stardusters | 5 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
Andrew Duncanson | 5 | Lefty’s

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

• Iowa 🦅 vs Vanderbilt | Record: 8-4 (6-3)
  📆 12/31 | 🕛️ 11
  🏆 ReliaQuest Bowl 📍Tampa, FL

• Drake 🐶 | Record: 8-4 (7-1)

• UNI 🐆 | Record: 3-9 (1-7)

• ISU 🌪️ | Record: 8-4 (5-4)

College Basketball 🏀 

College basketball season is in full swing. March Madness will be here before we know it. Here’s a quick snapshot on each local program along with their next game.

Men

• Drake 🐶 vs ND State | Record: 6-4
  📆 12/13 | 🕛️ 1

• Iowa 🦅 @ ISU | Record: 8-1 (1-1)
  📆 12/11 | 🕛️ 7

• #4 ISU 🌪️ vs Iowa | Record: 9-0
  📆 12/11 | 🕛️ 7

• UNI 🐆 vs Oakland | Record: 7-2
  📆 12/13 | 🕛️ 5

Women

• Drake 🐶 @ St. Thomas | Record: 1-7
  📆 12/13 | 🕛️ 1

• #11 Iowa 🦅 vs Lindenwood | Record: 9-1
  📆 12/13 | 🕛️ 2

• #10 ISU 🌪️ vs UNI | Record: 11-0
  📆 12/14 | 🕛️ 5

• UNI 🐆 @ ISU | Record: 4-5
  📆 12/14 | 🕛️ 5

Hockey 🏒 

Bucs
8-10-2-4 | 4th place | Western Conference

• @ Sioux City Musketeers
  📆 12/12 | 🕛️ 7:05

• vs Waterloo Black Hawks
  📆 12/13 | 🕛️ 7:05

Iowa Wild
6-17-0-1 | 7th place | Central Division

• @ Manitoba Moose
  📆 12/12 | 🕛️ 7

• @ Manitoba Moose
  📆 12/14 | 🕛️ 2

• vs Grand Rapids Griffins
  📆 12/17 | 🕛️ 7

G League 🏀 

Iowa Wolves
7-4 | 2nd place | Central Division

• vs Motor City Cruise
  📆 12/12 | 🕛️ 6:30

• @ Wisconsin Herd
  📆 12/14 | 🕛️ 12

• @ Wisconsin Herd
  📆 12/16 | 🕛️ 6

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

I would love your feedback! Reply here or email me anytime!

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