PRESENTED BY

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

Before we dive in, a quick heads up: next week I’ll be rolling out a fun giveaway to keep things interesting. Think “free food at one of DSM’s favorites.” Details soon.

In todays issue:

• 📸 Scenes from the Beaverdale Fall Festival

• 🧸 Toys“R”Us announces a West Des Moines comeback

• 🚧 Bondurant breaks ground on The Station

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🎉 🎡 Scenes from Beaverdale

This past weekend I made it out to the Beaverdale Fall Festival and caught the parade. Packed streets, local floats, kids chasing candy — the kind of neighborhood energy you can’t fake. Events like this are why I love DSM: it feels like a big city, but the moments are small-town.

I grabbed some photos, so if you missed it, here’s a little snapshot of what Beaverdale looked like in full celebration mode:

PRESENTED BY: Top Maid

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Visit mytopmaid.com to learn more.

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🚧 Bondurant Breaks Ground on The Station

An old fire station is getting new life in Bondurant. City Council approved plans to turn the west end building into The Station — a community hub connecting Main Street to the upcoming Silo Commons development. Leaders are calling it a “game-changer” for the city.

Story →

🧸 Toys“R”Us Makes a Comeback in WDM

Not a local brand, but definitely a nostalgic one. Toys“R”Us is back, announcing seven new U.S. locations — including one in West Des Moines — to go with the five already open. For anyone who grew up roaming those toy aisles, University Ave hasn’t been the same since 2018.

More →

🎤 Big Laughs Coming to Casey’s Center

Comedy fans are in luck. Jeff Dunham brings his Artificial Intelligence Tour to Des Moines this December, joining Bert Kreischer on the winter calendar. With names like Nate Bargatze and Shane Gillis drawing big crowds in recent years, Des Moines is solidifying itself as a must-stop for major comedy tours.

Update → 

HEART OF DSM ❤️ 

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎉 The Hangar Garage Sale (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 EMC Expo Center Hall A
Snag deals on team-issued gear, game balls, merch, and more. One-day-only, all sales final.

🚗 RC Racing (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7 p.m.
📍 Hobby Haven RC Track
Rev up for a night of racing — multiple buggy and truck classes, with plenty of fast laps.

🩰 Ballet Des Moines presents Forward (more)
📆 Friday-Saturday | ⏰ 7 p.m.
📍 Hoyt Sherman Place
The 25/26 season kicks off with bold new works exploring evolution and energy.

🎨 Fall Arts & Crafts Show (more)
📆 Friday-Sunday | ⏰ All weekend
📍 Iowa State Fairgrounds
Over 250 exhibitors with everything from pottery to wreaths to garden art. Runs all weekend.

🍺 Des Moines’ Original Oktoberfest (more)
📆 Friday-Saturday | ⏰ 3
📍 The District at Prairie Trail
21st annual fest goes bigger: 50+ beers, more tents, more bands, and your first drink free.

🎨 The Market on Hubbell (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
📍 3232 Hubbell Ave
30 vendors bring a local, small-market vibe to your Saturday.

🎃 Kids Pumpkin Fest (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Hy-Vee
Pumpkin decorating, bounce house, caramel apples, and cookie fun for the kids.

🎉 Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival (more)
📆 Saturday-Sunday | ⏰ All day
📍 Western Gateway Park
Music, food, art, and culture from across 20 Latin countries.

👟 The RAD Run (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 9 a.m.
📍 Water Works Park
A neon, 80s-themed 5K supporting survivors — costumes encouraged, kids run free.

🍂 Fall Crawl (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 9 a.m.
📍 Madison County
Tour 15 small businesses, enjoy local drinks, shop 75+ vendors, and take in the fall scenery.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 79 🌡️ Low 56 | 🌤️ | 💧 9%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 85 🌡️ Low 57 | ☀️ | 💧 8%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 85 🌡️ Low 55 | ☀️ | 💧 6%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 86 🌡️ Low 59 | ☀️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Joshua Sinclair | 4:30 | Polk City Town Square
Jordan Messerole | 5:30 | Magee’s
Rob Lumbard | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Sumpin Doo | 6 | Valley Junction
Chris Falcon | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Day’s Live Music | 6 | Iowa Arboretum
Matthew Garcia | 6 | TrailSide Tap
Mia Prosperi & more | 6:30 | Lefty’s
Zane Gedler & Co | 7 | Noce
Diamond Empire Band | 8 | DSM Showcase
Mustang and the Sally’s | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Johnny Novacaine | 9 | Yacht Club

Friday

DSM Oktoberfest | The District at Prairie Trail
Damon Dotson | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Dan’s Birthday Bash | 5 | Lefty’s
Brad Seidenfeld | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Jordan Messerole | 6 | Speckled Hen Farms
Robbie Michael | 6 | Cellar Winery
Casey Joe Collins | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Fred Love & Bakersfield Brawl | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Psycho X | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Alex Schroeder | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Austin Snell | 7 | Wooly’s
Lee Brice | 7 | Vibrant Music Hall
Cavalera Chaos A.D. | 7 | Val Air Ballroom
Napoleon Douglas | 7 | Noce
Whiskey Bizkit | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Dan Medeiros Project | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Robert Deitch | 8 | xBk Annex
Fast Dolly | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Sister Sara | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Recoil | 8 | Back Road Lounge
Dogtown Rhythm Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

DSM Oktoberfest | The District at Prairie Trail
Latino Heritage Festival | Western Gateway Park
Joshua James Johnson | 11 | Exile Brewing
Malek’s Fishermen Band | 2 | Cellar Winery
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 3 | Speckled Hen Farms
Dukes of Haggard | 4 | Revelton Distilling
The Get Down | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Liv McNair | 5 | Winterset Cidery
Alex Schroeder | 6 | Fender’s Brewing
Suede | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Eric Church | 7 | Casey’s Center
Panda Bar | 7 | Wooly’s
Pork Tornadoes | 7 | Johnston Town Center
Des Moines Symphony | 7:30 | Civic Center
Dream Theater | 8 | Vibrant Music Hall
Greg Wheeler & The Poly Mall Cops | 8 | xBk Live
Dick Danger Band | 8 | Down Under
5 Below | 8 | Locals Bar & Stage
High Bidders | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Sara Routh | 8 | xBk Annex
Reload | 8 | Kenny’s Garage

Sunday

Latino Heritage Festival | Western Gateway Park
Fall Crawl | Madison County
Scott Davis & The Drama Kings | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Devon Miller | 2 | Covered Bridges Winery
DSM Symphony | 2:30 | Civic Center
Dan & Quinn Trilk | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Brian Herrin | 5 | Exile Brewing
Turnstile | 5 | Water Works Park
Toad The Wet Sprocket | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall

SPORTS 🏈🏅

College Football 🏈

• Iowa 🦅 VS 11 Indiana | Record: 3-1 (1-0)
  📆 9/27 | 🕛️ 2:30

• 14 ISU 🌪️ VS Arizona | Record: 4-0 (1-0)
  📆 9/27 | 🕛️ 6

• Drake 🐶 Idle | Record: 1-2

• UNI 🐆 Idle | Record: 2-2

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
74-75 | 5th Place | IL West Division

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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