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Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn. Where we have more that One Shining Moment.

In todays issue:

• 🏀 NCAA Hoops

• Autumn Activities 🍃

• 👕 Markets Galore

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

Fall Festival SZN 🍭 🍺 🎸 

It’s fall in Des Moines and that means people want to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. Here at DSM at Dawn, we put out our Fall Primer a couple of weeks ago and will be diving into Halloween in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we don’t want you to miss out on any weekend festivals or different family friendly events going on around town.

Windsor Heights is having their 3rd annual Fall Festival Friday and Saturday. Enjoy a movie in the park or stay for the fireworks show. Waukee is also getting in on the action with Wauktoberfest at the downtown triangle. It’s the 3rd edition of this event and put on by the Waukee Area Historical Society.

Confluence Brewing Company gets in on the Oktoberfest fad along side Peggy O’s food truck this Saturday starting at noon. The stein holding contest starts at 2:15 - don’t be late. Tickets are $15 and come with a commemorative glass. Not to be outdone, Jasper Winery is doing their Halloween Wine and Candy Pairing. $30 gets you four sweets from Chocolate Storybook along with four of your favorite Jasper wines.

In the kid friendly category, Schottenkirk Chevy is holding its 3rd annual Trunk or Treat this weekend in Waukee. Before you go, head out to the Historic Crawford House on Grand Ave in Des Moines and take some fall family photos. This is free of charge and open to the public from 10:30-12:30.

THE ROUNDUP 🧵📱

NCAA Tournament in DSM 🏀 

The NCAA tournament is coming back to our wonderful city in 2028. On Wednesday, the NCAA announced host sites for 2027 and 2028. Drake University will host the event with games taking place at Wells Fargo Arena.

Des Moines has emerged as a great host for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in recent years. The city first hosted the tournament in 2016, marking a significant milestone for the local sports community and solidifying Des Moines as a vibrant sports destination. Held at the Wells Fargo Arena, the event drew thousands of fans and showcased the city’s ability to handle large-scale sporting events. Des Moines hosted the tournament again in 2019 and 2023, further establishing itself as a favorite for NCAA tournament games in the Midwest. Each time, the city benefited from an economic boost, with local businesses and hotels seeing increased activity, while fans enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and central location. Des Moines' continued success in hosting NCAA events has helped raise its profile on the national stage.

Kettlestone Lakes 🏣🌇

The Kettlestone Lakes development is 130 acres near the Interstate 80 and Grand Prairie Parkway intersection in Waukee. It will include restaurants, retail, a hotel, office space, 2-3 ponds, and more.

Landmark Cos. Inc will look to break ground in the spring of 2025 with the goal being to bring several new restaurants to the area. Landmark is no stranger to Waukee, as they have developed 800-900 acres of single family, multifamily, and commercial space in the city alone. They are hoping to have streets put in and parcels for sale by the 2nd half of next year with construction on some of the parcels starting in the fall.

@DSMATDAWN 📷

Photo Cred: @annierivas528

Tag @dsmatdawn to get your photos published!

WHAT TO DO 🚨🏁

Movie in the Park

Waukee Parks and Rec is hosting this free showing of “Hocus Pocus” starting at dusk on Friday. Bring your own chair or blanket and enjoy Snappy’s Stick Fire BBQ and play yard games starting at 5 o’clock.

Fall Open House & Pumpkins 

The Barn at Daydream Abode is having their last fall open house this Friday and Saturday. The Barn is full of curated halloween and fall home decor, seasonal florals and garlands, as well as local goodies and giftables.

October Flea Market

Come out to the Bruce L Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for this free event. Local vendors will be selling antiques, collectibles, home decor, jewelry, purses, bags, and more.

Vintage Market

Ritual Cafe is a local coffee shop in the Western Gateway. They serve up great coffee and vegetarian food. This Saturday, they will have local vendors set up for some vintage shopping while you enjoy your coffee.

Heartland Bazaar

30 Unique vendors will come together for this bi-annual vintage clothing market. Rumors hosts this event in it’s parking lot. Bring your own shopping bag and find clothes from the early 1900’s-early 2000’s.

WEATHER   🌞 🌡️

Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen (Well, except Saturday 🤔)

Thursday

High 81 | Low 52 | Sunny ☀️

Friday

High 77 | Low 57 | Sunny ☀️

Saturday

High 90 | Low 56 | Sunny ☀️

Sunday

High 75 | Low 43 | Sunny ☀️

MUSIC SCENE 🎶🎤

Thursday

Andrew Santino (Comedy Show) | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall
Quinn XCII | 8 | Val Air Ballroom

Friday

Gatecreeper | 7 | Wooly’s
Sammy Rae & The Friends | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Tommy Castro and the Painkillers | 8 | xBk Live

Saturday

Miss May I | 7 | Wooly’s
Odie Leigh | 8 | xBk Live

Sunday

Luke Bryan | 7 | Wells Fargo Arena

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Football 🏈

All four local teams are back in action this week. Plus its Homecoming at Grandview! The Vikings host Clarke University this weekend.

• Drake 🐶 @ Valparaiso | 10/5 | 12

• Iowa 🦅 @ Ohio State | 10/5 | 2:30

• South Dakota St @ UNI 🐆 | 10/5 | 4

• Baylor @ Iowa State 🌪️ | 10/5 | 6:30

Hockey 🏒 

The Des Moines Buccaneers home opener from the MidAmerican RecPlex in West Des Moines is Friday. Puck drop at 7.

The Iowa Wild have a preseason matchup with the Rockford Icehogs tonight in Illinois. They’ll start the regular season next week!

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THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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