PRESENTED BY

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

September 11 is always a day of reflection and remembrance. Here in DSM, it’s also when the seasons start to shift — cooler mornings (well, maybe not this week), busy weekends, and plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the city. From food festivals to new community spaces, this edition’s packed. And as always, share it with a friend who could use a quick guide to what’s happening.

In todays issue:

• 🍂 Fall in DSM

• 🌮 Latino Restaurant Week

• 🍺 Oktoberfest Fun

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🍂 Fall in DSM

It’s not technically fall yet, but once Labor Day is behind us, we’re all in. Cooler mornings, changing leaves, and plenty of ways to get outside.

This weekend you can kick things off with the Great Iowa Fall Ride or raise a stein at Adventureland’s Oktoberfest. And of course, pumpkin patch season is right around the corner — the perfect excuse to load up on cider and donuts.

Here are a few local favorites to check off your list:

• Center Grove Orchard

• Wilson’s Orchard & Farm

• Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch

• Pumpkinville Farm and Corn Maze

• Rose Farm

• Iowa Orchard Farm Market

• Deal’s Orchard

PRESENTED BY: Dapper DJs

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Whether it’s a wedding, corporate gathering, or a milestone celebration, Dapper DJs deliver more than music—they set the vibe and keep the party going all night long. From dazzling lighting effects to seamless transitions, they ensure every detail is covered so you can relax and enjoy the moment.

📆 Book Dapper DJs today and turn your event into a memory that lasts a lifetime!
🗣️ Exclusive Offer for DSM at Dawn Readers! 🎉
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THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🌮 Latino Restaurant Week Returns

The 2nd annual Iowa Latino Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, giving you a chance to explore flavors from Mexico, Central, and South America at restaurants across the metro.

Restaurants →

🚗 Airport Launches EZ Pickup

DSM Airport just rolled out its new EZ Pickup program to make pickups smoother during terminal construction. Drivers can now wait for free (up to 2 hours) in a designated garage spot until passengers are ready. Curbside is now limited to active pickups only.

More →

🎉 Children’s Museum Moving to Valley Junction

After seven years at Valley West Mall, the Des Moines Children’s Museum is headed to a new home — the former Des Moines Golf and Country Club building in Valley Junction. The space includes 26,000+ sq. ft. indoors and 7 acres outdoors, with a planned opening in spring 2026.

Story →

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🚲 Annual Parking Lot Sale (more)
📆 Thursday–Sunday | ⏰ All day
📍Kyle’s Bikes, Ankeny
Wheel and deal with Krazy Kyle and the crew — this is their best sale of the year.

🛍️ Kid’s Resale Event (more)
📆 Thursday–Sunday | ⏰ All day
📍4-H Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds
40,000 sq ft packed with gently used kids’ and maternity items — score big savings up to 90% off retail.

🏠️ 50th Anniversary HomeShowExpo (more)
📆 Next 3 weekends | ⏰ Various times
📍Ridgeview Development, Johnston
Tour seven stunning homes loaded with high-end amenities at this milestone show.

🎭 GalaxyCon (more)
📆 Friday–Sunday | ⏰ All day
📍Iowa Events Center
A 3-day festival of fandom — meet celebs, shop comics and anime, catch panels, cosplay wrestling, and more.

🚴 The Great Iowa Fall Ride (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 8:00 AM
📍RAGBRAI HQ, 501 Scott Ave, Des Moines
End-of-season ride looping through DSM trails with fun stops along the way.

🍺 Adventureland Oktoberfest (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
📍Adventureland
Raise a stein and enjoy polka, contests, games, and rides at this 21+ Oktoberfest tradition.

🎶 Norwalk Music Fest (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 2:30 PM
📍Norwalk City Park
Free, family-friendly fest with live music, food trucks, local vendors, and a lively beer tent.

🍷 Fall Sip N’ Thrift (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍Captain Roy’s
Sip, shop, and thrift your way into fall at this laid-back riverside event.

🚗 Halfway to St. Patrick’s Car Show (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 11:00 AM
📍Charlie’s Filling Station
Classic cars, food, and music while supporting local charities and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

🎸 PorchFest DSM (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 12:00–6:00 PM
📍Waveland Park, Des Moines
A rolling neighborhood music fest with live bands playing from front porches and lawns.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 87 🌡️ Low 65 | ☀️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 92 🌡️ Low 70 | 🌤️ | 💧 4%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 95 🌡️ Low 70 | 🌤️ | 💧 4%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 91 🌡️ Low 68 | 🌥️ | 💧 17%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

PAINS | 5 | Lefty’s
New Jolly German Band | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Red Dirt Renegade | 6 | Historic Valley Junction
Patresa Hartman | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Damon Dotson | 7:30 | Johnston Town Center
Eric Hutchinson | 8 | xBk Live
Robert Deitch | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Austin Brown Trio | 8:30 | xBk Annex

Friday

Sara Routh | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Brian Congdon | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Off With Their Heads | 5:30 | Lefty’s
Jordan Messerole | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Luke Farland | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Robert Deitch | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Midnight Radio | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Black Dirt Ramblers | 6 | Confluence Brewing
The Expendables | 7 | Wooly’s
Sharane Callister & The Feel Right Band | 7 | Temple Theater
JB Williams | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
David Watson | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Larry Fleet | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Tyler Hubbard | 7:30 | VIbrant Music Hall
American Hold Wizard | 7:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Vandoliers | 8 | xBk Live
Big Joe Kinser | 8 | 6th Ave Listening Room
The Feel Right | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Fast Dolly | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Bad Decisions | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Dustin Farrow & The Relics | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Carrie Nation | 10 | Lefty’s

Saturday

Norwalk Music Fest | 2:30 | Norwalk City Park
Major Blues & The Mugshots | 4 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Demsfightinwords | 5 | Lefty’s
Nick Hermann | 5 | Reclaimed Rails
Sugar Valley | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Flyte Risk | 5 | Doc’s Lounge
Madison Kolbet | 5 | Plain Talk Books & Coffee
The Schmids | 5 | Winterset Cidery
Cover That | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Jonah Brink | 6 | Fenders Brewing
Mudvayne | 7 | Vibrant Music Hall
MFKS | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
The Chuggaluggers Band | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Brian Allen | 7 | Mickey’s Waukee
Pons & More | 7:30 | Locals Bar & Stage
Lateralus | 8 | Wooly’s
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio | 8 | xBk Live
BitterSweet Nation | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Jeff Banks Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Sunday

Porchfest DSM | 12 | Waveland Park Area Porches
Sumpin Doo | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
RetroSpect | 2 | The Cellar Winery
Jake Schrodt | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Dan & Quinn Trilk | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Casey Joe & The Ghosts | 5 | Lefty’s
The Schmids | 5 | Exile Brewing
Weary Ramblers | 6 | Jamie Hurd Amphitheater

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

All four local teams are in action this week.

• Iowa State 🌪️ (3-0) @ AR St.
  📆 9/13 | 🕛️ 3

• Eastern WA @ UNI 🐆 (1-1)
  📆 9/13 | 🕛️ 4

• Drake 🐶 (1-0) @ SD State
  📆 9/13 | 🕛️ 6

• UMass @ Iowa 🦅 (1-1)
  📆 9/13 | 🕛️ 6:30

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
72-67 | 5th Place | IL West Division

• @ Indianapolis Indians
  📆 9/11 | 🕛️ 5:35
  📆 9/12 | 🕛️ 6:05
  📆 9/13 | 🕛️ 5:35
  📆 9/14 | 🕛️ 12:35

• Next Week | VS Toledo Mudhens

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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

Want to sponsor a future edition of The Dawn? Let’s chat! [email protected].