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Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn. Rise and shine, because we’ve got concerts, comedians, and athletes—oh my! Let’s dive in—because today, Des Moines, the stage is all yours.

In todays issue:

• 🧹 Greenfield continues to recover

• Traveling Comedy Tour 🗣️ 🎤 

• 🏅Special Olympics

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

Still Rockin’ After the Storm

The recovery has been ongoing for Greenfield, which was hit with an EF4 tornado back in May. We saw evidence of the healing and resiliency when RAGBRAI made a stop with riders raising over $50,000, while also lending a hand on their way through.

Fast forward to today and The Warren Cultural Center, in partnership with The Iowa Rock N' Roll Music Association, is holding the "Greenfield Strong: Still Rockin' After the Storm" benefit concert this weekend outside 154 Public Square. The concert will feature a dynamic lineup of local and regional artists, each delivering uplifting performances that echo the strength and solidarity of the Greenfield community. Tickets are free will donations and all proceeds from this event will go toward rebuilding the Greenfield Volunteer Fire Department that was destroyed in the tornado.

There will also be a raffle and auction where attendees will have the chance to win cool items like an electric guitar autographed by country music star Vince Gill.

THE ROUNDUP 🧵📱

Special Olympics Fall Classic 🍂 🏅 

Special Olympics Iowa will host its Fall Classic in West Des Moines on September 27-28, featuring over 400 athletes competing in sports such as volleyball, pickleball, flag football, equestrian, and Unified golf. The event kicks off Saturday morning with competitions at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex and Beaver Creek Golf Club, followed by an opening ceremony and festival in the evening. Activities continue the next day with more competitions. The Fall Classic celebrates the hard work of these athletes and aims to promote inclusivity through sports.

Around Town 🏙️📈

Des Moines Symphony 🎵 

The Des Moines Symphony is a cornerstone of Iowa's cultural landscape, providing world-class orchestral performances for over eight decades. Founded in 1937, the Symphony has grown to become one of the leading performing arts organizations in the Midwest. With a mission to inspire, educate, and entertain, the orchestra delivers a diverse array of concerts, from classical masterpieces to innovative pops programs, attracting a wide audience. Under the baton of Maestro Joseph Giunta since 1989, the Symphony continues to elevate the cultural experience of Des Moines residents, showcasing renowned guest artists and premiering new works alongside timeless classics.

Join the fun and celebrate the Des Moines Symphony’s 87^th Season and the third annual Harriet S. and J. Locke Macomber Concert this Saturday at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel.

Teehee’s on Tour 🎤 

You may remember Teehee’s Comedy Club from their location in the heart of downtown on Walnut Street. Well, they are in the process of a move, which should see the new location opening up early in 2025. In the meantime they are hosting a traveling comedy tour that is stopping at some of the city’s favorite spots. Each show features a different location along with a different lineup.

The show is coming to Captain Roy’s this Saturday. If you haven’t had the pleasure of checking out the tour yet, you can expect 5-6 different comedians with a little something for everyone. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. They can be found here.

To bring Teehee's On Tour to your favorite venue email [email protected] now!

@DSMATDAWN 📷

Photo Cred: @teeheescomedy

Tag @dsmatdawn to get your photos published!

WHAT TO DO 🚨🏁

Animate!
GalaxyCon is bringing us Animate! Des Moines this weekend at the Iowa Events Center. Animate! is a place for fans of anime, video games, animation, cosplay, and everything in between. Tickets range from $40 for a day pass to $260 for a 3 day VIP pass.

Pumpkins and Pints
The Ankeny Market & Pavilion is hosting an evening farmer’s market this Saturday evening. Uptown Garage Brewing Co will be providing the drinks while you shop local vendor and pumpkins.

Bark-toberfest
Paws and Pints is the place to be Sunday afternoon. There will be beers to be sampled from some of the best local brewers and you can cast your vote for your favorite. There will also be a raffle for a YEAR OF FREE BEER.

Iowa Outdoor Expo
This family friendly event is being held at the Izaak Walton League. Come enjoy the opportunity to shoot a bow, cast a line, shoot on a BB gun range, and experience animal presentations. All for free!

Sounds of Summer
The last installment of the summer series from the Johnston Town Center. The Pork Tornadoes take the stage Saturday night to close out summer here in Des Moines.

WEATHER   🌞 🌡️

Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Thursday

High 79 | Low 56 | Sunny ☀️

Friday

High 80 | Low 58 | Partly Cloudy 🌤️

Saturday

High 81 | Low 58 | Partly Cloudy 🌤️

Sunday

High 80 | Low 57 | Partly Cloudy 🌤️

MUSIC SCENE 🎶🎤

Thursday

Randall King | 7 | Wooly’s
AL1CE | 7 | Lefty’s Live Music

Friday

Dave Zollo | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Kameron Marlowe | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Not Quite Brothers | 8 | Wooly’s
GB Leighton | 8 | xBk Live

Saturday

The Bunny The Bear | 5 | Lefty’s Live Music
Little Stranger | 7:30 | Wooly’s
Highly Suspect | 8 | Val Air Ballroom
80’s Rock Band Reunion | 8 | xBk Live
Jolie Holland | 9:30 | Lefty’s Live Music

Sunday

Authority Zero | 5:30 | Lefty’s Live Music
La Luz | 7 | xBk Live
Marcus King | 8 | Vibrant Music Hall

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

Drake and Iowa State start conference play while the Hawks and Panthers get a week off.

• San Diego @ Drake 🐶 | 9/28 | 12

• Iowa State 🌪️ @ Houston | 9/28 | 6

• Iowa 🦅 | Idle

• UNI 🐆 | Idle

Drake Hoops Fest

Brenton Skating Plaza is hosting the 4th annual installment of this event. Stop by later today for a free youth clinic, entertainment, food trucks, and a preview of the 2025 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Everything kicks off at 5.

The best broth, now with NEW flavors. Created by James Beard award-winning chef Marco Canora. No preservatives, concentrates, or short cuts. Shop here.

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

I would love your feedback! You can respond directly to this email with any comments, recommendations, or ideas.

P.S. If you, or anyone you know, would like to sponsor a future edition of The Dawn, please contact me at [email protected] or respond directly to this email.