PRESENTED BY

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

➡️ RAGBRAI Registration is open for 2026.

➡️ The Iowa Cubs are playing at the Field of Dreams. Save the Date.

Thanksgiving is one week away, and I know some of you will start celebrating early this weekend. Safe travels to anyone heading out - hopefully the airlines cooperate.

And once we get through Thanksgiving… its full speed into the holidays. If you’re grabbing a real tree this year, Catch Des Moines has a great roundup of local tree farms I’ve linked below. I’ve also highlighted a handful of tree lighting events happening this weekend below in the Weekend Plans.

Christmas Tree Farms

In todays issue:

• 🎤 Hinterland Lineup

• 🎸 Local Music Venue to close

• 🎟️ Local Events for the weekend

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🎤 Hinterland Announces 2026 Acts

Mumford & Sons is one of the headliners for Hinterland 2026. The newly expanded music festival announced the lineup this week. Check them out below.

Story →

🗣️ Daniel Tosh coming to Ames

Daniel Tosh is bringing his “My First Farewell Tour” to Ames next spring. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Story →

🤹 Hy-Vee Holiday Parade

The inaugural Hy-Vee Holiday Parade is next weekend, and organizers have released the full list of participants. The parade is Saturday morning, Nov 29.

Story → 

🎵 Lefty’s Live Music Closing

Lefty’s, a longtime Drake music venue and regular in The Setlist, will be closing its doors before 2026 after nearly a decade of hosting shows. They will be missed.

Story →

PRESENTED BY: Top Maid

Top Maid is Des Moines’ trusted name in premium home cleaning. Locally owned and operated, they deliver high-quality, reliable service tailored to the needs of busy households. Whether it’s weekly upkeep or a deep refresh, Top Maid helps you come home to clean — without lifting a finger.

Visit mytopmaid.com to learn more.

Community Spotlight ❤️ 

Icons of Impact

Big Brothers Big Sisters is wrapping up its Icons of Impact campaign, but there’s still time to support the youth mentoring programs. This fundraising initiative is ongoing and is scheduled to run through tomorrow and directly funds mentorship sessions with community leaders.

👉 Donate Here

🥫 Food Drive & Fine Forgiveness

The Urbandale Public Library is teaming up with the Urbandale Food Pantry to help restock shelves ahead of the holidays. Their Food Drive & Fine Forgiveness initiative is letting patrons clear late fees with donations through the weekend.

👉 Learn More

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎄 TREE LIGHTINGS

🎉 24th Annual Holiday Promenade Tree Lighting (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 East Village
Kick off Promenade season with storytime at Daisy Chain Coffee, follow the Grinch to Brenton Plaza for the tree lighting at 6, then head back for Whoville fun and late-night shopping.

🎅 Santa’s Arrival, Holiday Tree Lighting & Fireworks (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Jordan Creek Town Center
Santa arrives in style with live music, a tree lighting, and a full-on fireworks show to start the holiday season with a bang.

🌟 Outlets of Des Moines Annual Tree Lighting (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 3:30 PM
📍 Outlets of Des Moines
Meet the Grinch, see adoptable pups from the ARL, enjoy live holiday music, and watch the big tree light up at 6 PM.

🦌 Tinseltown Tree Lighting Ceremony (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 4:00 PM
📍 Water Works Park
Tinseltown comes alive with a tree lighting, St. Nicholas and his reindeer, and carolers setting the vibe for the season.

🛍️ Pink Friday (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
📍 The District at Prairie Trail
A calm, early holiday shopping day with deals, treats, and boutique vibes before the weekend rush.

🍻 Kathleen Madigan: The Day Drinking Tour (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7:30 PM
📍 Vibrant Music Hall
A legendary stand-up bringing smart, sharp comedy from a Midwest perspective — one of the best touring comics today.

😂 Heather McMahan: The Bamboozled Tour (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Hoyt Sherman Place
High-energy comedy from one of the most loved performers on the road right now. Expect stories, chaos, and big laughs.

🎄 Canoyer Holiday Market & Merriment (more)
📆 Saturday–Sunday
📍 Canoyer Garden Center
Sip hot cider and browse holiday décor, fresh greens, gifts, poinsettias, and the full Glasshouse Market experience.

🩰 School of Classic Ballet and Dance: The Nutcracker 2025 (more)
📆 Saturday–Sunday
📍 Franklin Jr High Event Center
A classic holiday performance the whole family will love — festive, familiar, and full of magic.

🍷 Holiday Sip & Shop (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Cumming
Browse unique finds from local vendors throughout the town of Cumming.

🏃 Turkey Trails 5/10K (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 Gray’s Lake
Kick off Thanksgiving week with a fun, family-friendly run around the lake — costumes encouraged.

🧶 Fall Makers Market (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 11:00 AM
📍 Jester Park Nature Center
Over 60 makers across multiple buildings — handmade gifts, art, décor, and more in a scenic setting.

🛍️ Des Moines Makers Market & Bar Hop (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 1:00 PM
📍 Exile | Lua | Big Grove
Shop 30 makers while hopping between breweries — a perfect mix of holiday shopping and Sunday fun.

☕ Triple Espresso (more)
📆 Through Dec 7
📍 Temple Theater
A crowd-pleasing comedy-musical about three performers chasing fame with big energy and family-friendly laughs.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 57 🌡️ Low 39 | 🌤️ | 💧 6%
Weather Beacon: 🔴 Warmer weather ahead

Friday

High 46 🌡️ Low 35 | ☁️ | 💧 22%
Weather Beacon: ⚪️ Colder weather in sight

Saturday

High 55 🌡️ Low 38 | 🌤️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🔴 Warmer weather ahead

Sunday

High 59 🌡️ Low 39 | 🌤️ | 💧 8%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Mike Aceto | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Jessie & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s Friendly Confines
Katy Guillen & The Drive | 7 | xBk Live
Carson Parker Trio | 7 | Noce
Jake Stack | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
CJ Wilder | 9 | Shotgun Betty’s

Friday

Greet Death | 5 | Lefty’s
Mike Tiedeman | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Serenade | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
Dan Trilk | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Brick Imerman | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Traffic Death & more | 7 | Locals Bar & Stage
Brother Trucker | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Night Like This | 7 | Reclaimed Rails
Drew Peer | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Jack Curtis & The Travelers | 7 | The Cave
Aiden Flathers | 7 | Shotgun Betty’s
Kris Anderson | 7 | Brightside Aleworks
Casey Peasley | 7 | 36th St Tavern
The Pork Tornadoes | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
The Nineteen Eighties | 8 | Wooly’s
Henhouse Prowlers | 8 | xBk Live
Kennedy Station | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Encore Legends | 8 | Prairie Meadows
Cover That | 8:30 | Doc’s Lounge
Recoil | 9 | Back Roads Lounge
Dogtown Rhythm Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

Kris Karr | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Ducharme-Jones Band | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
The South Dallas County Crew Cut Cowboy Band | 6 | xBk Live
Rivieras | 6 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
The LACS | 7 | Wooly’s
Jason Brown | 7 | Reclaimed Rails
The Hors D’oeuvres | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Joe & Vicki Price | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Velvet Trio | 7 | Pal Joey’s
Austin Brown Trio | 7 | The Cave
Des Moines Symphony | 7:30 | Civic Center
Randy Burk | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Wave Cage + Atlantis Quartet | 8 | Locals Bar & Stage
Matt Terronez Band | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Scott Kirkhart | 8 | Prairie Meadows
Damon Dotson | 8 | Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille
Dick Danger Band | 8 | Good Times
The Get Down | 8:30 | Mickey’s Irish Pub
Noche De Zax Y Accordion | 9 | Val Air Ballroom
BitterSweet Nation | 9 | Hawk Heaven Tavern

Sunday

xBk Musical Feast | 2 | xBk Live
Bonne Finken | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Des Moines Symphony | 2:30 | Civic Center
Tanner Taylor Duo | 5 | Louie’s Wine Dive
Master Skinner | 5:30 | Lefty’s

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

All four local teams are in action this week.

• ISU 🌪️ vs Kansas | Record: 6-4 (3-4)
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 11

• Drake 🐶 vs Morehead St | Record: 7-3 (6-1)
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 12

• UNI 🐆 vs Youngstown St | Record: 3-8 (1-6)
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 1

• #21 Iowa 🦅 vs Michigan St | Record: 6-4 (4-3)
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 2:30

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 Buena Vista | Record: 3-2
  📆 11/21 | 🕛️ 6:30

• Iowa 🦅 vs Chicago St | Record: 4-0
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 6

• #16 ISU 🌪️ vs St. Johns | Record: 4-0
  📆 11/24 | 🕛️ 3:30 📍 Las Vegas, NV

• UNI 🐆 @ UC Irvine | Record: 4-0
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 9:30

Women

• Drake 🐶 vs ISU | Record: 1-2
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 6

• #19 Iowa 🦅 vs Baylor | Record: 4-0
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 8

• #12 ISU 🌪️ @ Drake | Record: 5-0
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 6

• UNI 🐆 @ Creighton | Record: 0-3
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 6

Hockey 🏒 

Bucs
8-5-2-3 | 3rd place | Western Conference

• vs Lincoln Stars
  📆 11/21 | 🕛️ 7:05

• vs Sioux City Musketeers
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 6:05

Iowa Wild
5-9-0-1 | 6th place | Central Division

• @ Toronto Marlies
  📆 11/22 | 🕛️ 3

• @ Toronto Marlies
  📆 11/23 | 🕛️ 3

G League 🏀 

Iowa Wolves
4-1 | 3rd place | Central Division

• vs Windy City Bulls
  📆 11/20 | 🕛️ 6:30

• vs Windy City Bulls
  📆 11/21 | 🕛️ 6:30

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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

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