PRESENTED BY

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

Mother’s Day is just around the corner—and while we should celebrate the amazing moms in our lives every day, this weekend gives us the perfect excuse to go all out. Whether it’s brunch, flowers, or just some uninterrupted time, make sure you’re showing them the love they deserve.

A special shoutout to the incredible moms in my life: Annie, Ronna, Joni, and Molly—love you all!

You may notice a bit of a theme in the events section below. 😉

In todays issue:

• 🥫 City Wide Food Drive

• 🚀 Check out some new businesses

• 🏇 Pony Up at Prairie Meadows

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🥫 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Help feed your neighbors in need—without even leaving your house.

Stamp Out Hunger is a nationwide food drive that takes place every year on Mother’s Day weekend. On Saturday, May 10, folks across the Des Moines metro will leave bags of nonperishable food by their mailboxes to be picked up by their letter carriers. Everything collected stays right here in our community.

All you have to do is leave a donation at your mailbox this Saturday. It’ll be delivered to DMARC’s warehouse (100 Army Post Road), where it will be weighed, sorted, and distributed to local food pantries.

Want to do more? DMARC is also looking for volunteers to help sort donations May 12–16.

PRESENTED BY: Dapper DJs

Looking to make your next event unforgettable? 🎶 Dapper DJs, led by Riley Schneekloth (a.k.a. DJ Riled Up), brings nearly a decade of experience and a reputation for creating memorable celebrations across Central Iowa. With sharp style and a focus on top-notch entertainment, they bring energy and expertise to every event.

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! 🎉
Mention DSM at Dawn when booking with Dapper DJs to enjoy a 5% discount on their services.

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🏇 Horse Racing at Prairie Meadows

The Kentucky Derby is behind us, but there’s plenty of racing left in Altoona. Prairie Meadows kicks off live racing this weekend on its one-mile dirt track, which has hosted thousands of horses since opening in 1991. Thoroughbred races start now, with Quarter Horse races joining the schedule in June.

📍 Prairie Meadows | Altoona
👉️ Live racing calendar 

🚀 Now Open in DSM

📧 Know of a new business opening? Let me know!

🌷 Tulip Bloom Boutique Grand Opening

Sisters Rochelle Postma and Alyssa Lewman open Tulip Bloom Boutique today in Valley Junction with a weekend-long grand opening celebration. The first 25 guests through the door at 10 AM and 5 PM receive a tulip-themed gift. Expect food, drinks, and live music throughout the day—just in time for Mother’s Day.

📍 Valley Junction

🍎 Winterset Cidery Grand Re-Opening

After a two-year break, Winterset Cidery is back—this time under new ownership. Originally opened in 2016 by Gary and Debbie Heck, the cidery gained a loyal following with its small-batch ciders made from Iowa apples (no added sugars or artificial ingredients).

Now run by the Findlay family, the cidery reopens Saturday, May 10, with a rustic tasting room, a new outdoor deck, and a refreshed cider lineup. Expect live music and a relaxing, scenic spot for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

📍 Just outside Winterset 

📷️ @DSMatDawn

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🛍️ Junk in the Trunk
Shop unique finds at this community garage sale-style event.
📍 Old Fareway Norwalk (Google Maps)
📆 Friday–Saturday
➡️ Register

🍻 Paws, Pints, and Petals
Kick off the weekend with drinks, flowers, and furry friends.
📍 Paws and Pints (Google Maps)
📆 Friday | 🕓 4–7 PM
➡️ Hive and Petal

⚾ Iowa Hawkeyes Baseball
Catch the Hawks in action all weekend long at the home of the ICubs.
📍 Principal Park (Google Maps)
📆 Friday–Sunday
➡️ Get Tickets

🏍️ Moms, Mimosas, & Motorcycles
Celebrate moms with drinks, bikes, and merch.
📍 Big Barn Harley-Davidson (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday | 🕗 8 AM–2 PM
➡️ Event Info

🛍️ Mother’s Day Shopping Event
A curated market full of gifts, treats, and local finds.
📍 Painted Tree Boutique (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday | 🕙 10 AM–8 PM
➡️ More Info

🌸 Time Travelers Vintage Expo
A full day of retro fashion, vinyl, and vintage vibes.
📍 Iowa Events Center (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday | 🕙 10 AM–5 PM
➡️ Tickets

🪴 Plant Giveaway and Garden Sale
Free plants and garden goodies while supplies last!
📍 1020 8th Street WDM (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday | 🕙 10 AM–1 PM
➡️ Event Page

🛍️ Mom’s for a Cause: Sip & Shop
Raise money for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society by shopping local vendors and drinking.
📍 GoodSons (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday | 🕛 12–6 PM
➡️ Details

🌼 Babies and Blooms
A spring celebration with photo ops, flowers, and family fun. Moms are free this weekend!
📍 Howells Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch (Google Maps)
📆 Saturday–Sunday | 🕙 10 AM–5 PM
➡️ Tickets

🍎 Mother’s Day at Winterset Cidery
Celebrate Mom with live music, cider, and other fun activities.
📍 Winterset Cidery (Google Maps)
📆 Sunday | 🕐 1–6 PM
➡️ Event Info

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 74 🌡️ Low 45 | 🌤️ | 💧 3%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 76 🌡️ Low 48 | 🌤️ | 💧 5%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 83 🌡️ Low 53 | 🌤️ | 💧 15%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 84 🌡️ Low 56 | ☀️ | 💧 3%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Birdchild | 6 | Jasper Winery
Gimikk | 6 | Historic Valley Junction
Pop Evil | 6 | Wooly’s
The Bishops w/ Uncollectable, Lamp, & Old Dogs | 7:30 | Lefty’s Live Music
Jordan Beem | 7:30 | Pelican Post
Chip Albright | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Brian Congdon | 8:30 | Bix & Co

Friday

High Bidders | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Silversonic | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Fancy Pants | 6:30 | Pal Joey’s
Royce Johns Duo | 6:30 | Smash Park
Emma Storm | 6:30 | Brightside Aleworks
Abbie Sawyer | 7 | Temple Theater
Canaan James | 7 | Reclaimed Rails
Neil Anders | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
brittany Sword | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Rock A La Carte | 8 | Wooly’s
Jackie Venson | 8 | xBk Live
Monkeyfour | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
The Fell Right Band | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Dirty Champagne | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Heir of Sorrow w/ Dire Wake, Calous, Agony of Defeat | 9 | Lefty’s Live Music

Saturday

Will Barnet | 12:30 | Reclaimed Rails
Neva Alden | 1 | Winterset Cidery
Chaos & Carnage | 4:30 | Val Air Ballroom
J’Main | 5 | Plain Talk Books & Coffee
Igor and Fletch | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Blame not the Bard | 6:30 | Captain Roy’s
Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic Tour | 7 | Lefty’s
Adam Kulmatycki | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Jason Bonham | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall
Squid | 8 | Wooly’s
Greta Akers & Stella Webster | 8 | Juniper Moon
Hold On | 8 | Down Under
SPAM | 8 | Doug’s Pub & Grub
Knuckle | 9 | Yacht Club

Sunday

Get Off My Lawn | 3 | xBk Live
Taylor King | 5 | Exile Brewing
Middle of Mayhem Tour | 5 | Lefty’s Live Music

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
16-15 | 6th Place | IL West Division

• @ Toledo Mudhens
  📆 5/8 | 🕛️ 5:35
  📆 5/9 | 🕛️ 6:05
  📆 5/10 | 🕛️ 4:05
  📆 5/11 | 🕛️ 1:05

• Next week | VS St. Paul Saints

Football 🏈

Iowa Barnstormers
1-4 | 7th place | Eastern Division

• @ Tulsa Oilers
  📆 5/10 | 🕛️ 7:05

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].