PRESENTED BY

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

Between Pi Day, the Blood Moon, and St. Paddy’s Day, I’m in for a long weekend. And whether you’re crunching numbers, gazing at the sky, or raising a pint, Des Moines has something for everyone. From pie and pints to parades and planets, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this action-packed stretch. ☘️🌕🥧

In todays issue:

• ☘️ St. Paddy’s Day: Parades and Pints

• 🌕 Eclipse Watch: Blood Moon

• 🎵 80/35 Canceled: What Happened?

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

How to Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day in Des Moines ☘️🎶🍻

🎉 The St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Des Moines’ Biggest Celebration!
Join the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Central Iowa for the largest St. Paddy’s celebration in Des Moines! This family-friendly event is packed with Irish spirit, live performances, and plenty of fun.

📅 Monday, March 17th
⏰ 12:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Parade Route: Grand Ave. (from Robert D. Ray Drive to 8th St.)
📍 After Party & Raffle: Downtown Des Moines Marriott

Wear your best green attire and get ready to paint the town green! Come check out the Spectacular floats, Live Irish dancers and musicians, and finish up with food and drink at the After Party.

📍 Other St Paddy’s Day Stops 

• Sully’s Irish Pub (DSM’s oldest Irish bar!)

• Truman’s KC Pizza (Green beer + pizza)

• The Irish (DJ J Henny)

• Mickey’s Irish Pub (Live Music all day)

• Magee’s Irish Pub (Bagpipes and Live Music)

Feeling Ambitious? Iowa Runs is putting on a St. Paddy’s Day Marathon.

PRESENTED BY: Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros

Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros offers a swift and cost-effective kitchen transformation without the hassle of demolition. Serving the Des Moines area, they specialize in updating existing cabinets, achieving a fresh look in just 3 to 5 days. Their process is designed to be less intrusive and more affordable than traditional remodels, making it an attractive option for homeowners seeking a kitchen update.

Visit Kitchenrefreshiowa.com today!

Lunar Eclipse

Get Ready for a 'Blood Moon' Spectacle in Des Moines! 🌕🔴

Mark your calendars, stargazers! On the night of March 13-14, 2025, Des Moines will be treated to a total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a "Blood Moon." This celestial event happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that turns the Moon a deep reddish hue. The total eclipse begins at 1:26 AM CST, with the totality phase lasting around 65 minutes—the peak time to see the Moon glowing in eerie red. If you miss this one, the next total lunar eclipse visible in North America won’t happen until March 2026—so don’t sleep on this one (or do, and set an alarm)! 🌙🔭

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

80/35 Canceled

The 80/35 Music Festival, a cornerstone of Des Moines' music scene since 2008, has been canceled for the 2025 season. This decision follows the dissolution of the Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) in October 2024, the organization responsible for organizing the festival. Financial challenges, including a reported deficit of nearly $300,000 in 2022, contributed to the DMMC's closure. The festival, known for attracting notable acts like Lizzo and The Flaming Lips, had moved to Water Works Park in 2024 due to downtown construction and rising production costs. While the future of 80/35 remains uncertain, former DMMC board member Justin Schoen expressed hope that another organizer might revive the event in the future.

👉️ Breaking News

HEART OF DSM ❤️ 

Preserving Iowa’s Story: The Iowa Historical Foundation

Iowa’s history is more than just dates and names—it’s the fabric of our communities, the stories of resilience, and the moments that have shaped the state we call home. That’s why the Iowa Historical Foundation plays a crucial role in ensuring our past is not forgotten.

As the nonprofit partner of the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Iowa Historical Foundation supports the preservation of historic sites, artifacts, and archives while funding research, educational programs, and exhibits that bring Iowa’s story to life. Through donations, memberships, and grants, the foundation helps safeguard everything from early pioneer life to significant modern milestones.

If you’ve ever visited the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, explored historic sites across the state, or accessed Iowa’s extensive archives, you’ve likely benefited from the Foundation’s work. Their impact extends far beyond preserving artifacts; they are dedicated to making history accessible and engaging for all Iowans.

Want to support their mission? You can donate, become a member, or volunteer to help keep Iowa’s history alive for generations to come. Visit history.iowa.gov to learn more.

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

🍀 Shamrock Shuffle
Kick off St. Patrick’s festivities with this fun event!
📍 Chocolate Storybook
📆 Thursday | 🕙 10 AM
➡️ Indulge

🦖 Jurassic Quest
Explore life-size dinosaurs and interactive exhibits!
📍 Iowa Events Center
📆 Friday-Sunday | 🕛 12-5 PM
➡️ Tickets

🍸 Mixology Night: Pi Day
Celebrate Pi Day with themed cocktails and hands-on mixology fun.
📍 Science Center of Iowa
📆 Friday | 🕕 6-9 PM
➡️ Sip & Stir

😂 #IMOMSOHARD: Flashback
A hilarious night of comedy with the moms who tell it like it is.
📍 Hoyt Sherman Place
📆 Friday | 🕢 7:30 PM
➡️ Tickets

🚴 2nd Annual Green Flannel Ride
A St. Paddy’s-themed bike ride with great stops along the way.
📍 The Pelican Post
📆 Saturday | 🕘 9 AM
➡️ Ride

🛍️ Ember Market Grand Opening
Celebrate the launch of this new market with vendors, food, and fun!
📍 Ember Market
📆 Saturday | 🕙 10 AM – 5 PM
➡️ Explore

🍀 Pre-Paddy Party
Get into the Irish spirit a day early with live music, drinks, and good company!
📍 The Shop DSM
📆 Saturday | 🕑 2-6 PM
➡️ Celebrate

🐰 A Home for EveryBunny
Bid on fantastic items and experiences from local businesses.
📍 Confluence Brewing Company
📆 Sunday | 🕛 12 PM
➡️ Iowa’s Rabbit Rescue

📚☕ Books & Brew
Enjoy good reads and great coffee with fellow book lovers.
📍 Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen
📆 Sunday | 🕑 2-5 PM
➡️ Read & Sip

🐶 St Patty’s Day Paw-ty
Dress up your pup in their best St. Patty’s Day gear for a festive dog meetup!
📍 Paws and Pints
📆 Sunday | 🕓 4 PM
➡️ Mingle

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

📡 Weather Beacon Report: A rollercoaster week ahead! Warm and sunny Thursday, storms Friday, then a big weekend cooldown. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts!

Thursday

High 73 🌡️ Low 54 | ☀️ | 💧 9%

Friday

High 77 🌡️ Low 43 | ⛈️ | 💧 67%

Saturday

High 47 🌡️ Low 23 | ☁️ | 💧 19%

Sunday

High 45 🌡️ Low 28 | 🌥️ | 💧 1%

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

James Carothers | 6 | Confluence Brewing
The Local Honeys | 7 | xBk Live
Ducharme-Jones | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Buckethead | 7:30 | Hoyt Sherman Place
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge

Friday

Mike Morgan & The Crawl | 6 | Lefty’s Live Music
Robert Deitch | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
The Mule | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Silversonic | 7 | Captain Roy’s
drew Peer | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Jordan Messerole | 7 | Ducktail Lounge
Jacob Stack | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
Pecos & The Rooftops | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Skegss | 8 | Wooly’s
Amanda Fish | 8 | xBk Live
Fast Dolly | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
The Other Brothers | 8:30 | Doc’s Lounge
Dustin Farrow & The Relics | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

Gina Gedler | 4 | Revelton Distilling
The Other Brothers | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Dixon Dallas | 7 | Wooly’s
Fred Love & The Bakersfield Brawl | 7 | Captain Roy’s
The Unfortunate Sons | 7 | Doc’s Lounge
Royce Johns Duo | 7 | Reclaimed Rails Brewing
The Sheet | 8 | Dugan’s Hideaway
Heath Alan | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Jordan Beem | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Haywire w/ Wally & Kim | 9 | Doug’s Pub & Grub

Sunday

Fiddler Dave Swenson | 10 | Magee’s Irish Pub
Ducharme-Jones | 1 & 3 | Botanical Garden
Waxies Dargle | 1 | Exile Brewing
Kevin Burt | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Toon Smokes w/ Duo Beats | 5 | Lefty’s Live Music
Black Dirt Ramblers | 5 | Cumming Tap
Haywire | 7 | Sully’s Irish Pub
Judy Collins | 8 | Hoyt Sherman Place

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Check out Bound for full coverage of the Boys State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

College Basketball 🏀 

March Madness is here! The NCAA Tournament brackets will be revealed on Sunday, and several local teams are waiting to learn their fate. A few conference tournaments are still underway, with teams battling for the final bids.

Men

Big 10 Tournament 📍 Indianapolis, Ind

• Iowa 🦅 VS Illinois
  📆 3/13 | 🕛️ 5:30

Big 12 Tournament 📍 Kansas City, MO

• #12 ISU 🌪️ VS BYU
  📆 3/13 | 🕛️ 11:30

Women

MVC Tournament 📍 Evansville, Ind

• Drake 🐶 VS TBD
  📆 3/14 | 🕛️ 2:30

• UNI 🐆 VS Ind St
  📆 3/13 | 🕛️ 8:30

Hockey 🏒 

Bucs | 21-29-4-0 (7th place - Western Conference)

• @ Dubuque Fighting Saints
  📆 3/14 | 🕛️ 7:05

Iowa Wild | 20-32-3-1 (6th place - Central Division)

• VS Manitoba Moose
  📼 90’s Night
  📆 3/15 | 🕛️ 6

• VS Manitoba Moose
  🐻‍❄️ Crash’s Wild West Birthday Bash
  📆 3/16 | 🕛️ 3

G League 🏀 

Iowa Wolves | 4-23 (15th place - Western Conference)

• @ Sioux Falls Skyforce
  📆 3/16 | 🕛️ 3

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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