PRESENTED BY

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

We made it — one whole year. Not many of you have been here since the beginning (which is probably for the best… those early editions were a little rough), but I’m incredibly thankful for everyone reading now. Here’s to many more.

In todays issue:

• 🚲️ RAGBRAI Gets Going

• 🛶 Hubbell Trailhead Progress

• 🍺 Oktoberfest Update

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🚲️ RAGBRAI Kickoff

This weekend, thousands of cyclists will embark on a weeklong journey across our beautiful state. The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — or RAGBRAI — is in its 52nd year and remains the oldest, largest, and longest recreational bike ride in the world. This year’s route starts in Orange City and winds over 400 miles east to Guttenberg.

Central Iowa isn’t on the route this time, but plenty of locals will be riding — whether for a day, the full week, or just tagging along for the party. As always, it promises to be one of the best weeks of the year.

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 📱📰 

🛶 Hubbell Trailhead Work Begins

ICON Water Trails officially broke ground Tuesday on the Hubbell Trailhead, located at the Fleur Drive dam. The site is expected to be complete by 2027 and will serve as a major hub for recreation as part of the plan to connect 150 miles of rivers and creeks across central Iowa. It’s the second of three downtown Des Moines access points — following the Scott Avenue dam (finishing late 2026) and ahead of the future Center Street site, which will be the centerpiece of the project.

Article →
Water Trails →

🍺 Oktoberfest Moves to Ankeny

Des Moines’ Original Oktoberfest is relocating to The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny this year. The event runs September 26–27 (yes, still not in October) and had previously been hosted at Water Works Park. Tickets go on sale tomorrow and include event admission and a commemorative Oktoberfest stein.

Article →

🏗 Drake Project Loses Toppling Goliath

Merge Urban Development is moving forward with its mixed-use project near Drake, but without the originally planned anchor tenant. Toppling Goliath, the Decorah-based brewery, has decided not to expand into Des Moines. The project will still include 116 apartments, offices, and street-level retail — and we’ll be keeping an eye on what fills the space.

Article →

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🚓 Touch-A-Truck (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 6:00 PM
📍Urbandale Police Department, 3740 86th Street
Climb inside police vehicles, meet local officers, and grab a free treat if you’re early. Donations benefit the Urbandale Food Pantry.

🎬 Movies Under the Stars: Mufasa: The Lion King (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 8:45 PM
📍Wagner Park, 410 W 1st St
Free movie night under the stars. Bring your snacks, blanket, and best Lion King singalongs.

🎨 Waukee Arts Festival (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 5:00 PM
📍Centennial Park, Waukee
Celebrate 10 years of art, food trucks, and live music — including a Friday night concert with The Nadas.

🎸 Clive Festival (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 5:30 PM
📍Clive Aquatic Center, 1801 NW 114th St
Live music, food trucks, bounce houses, and fireworks at 9:30 PM. Recoil and Gimikk take the stage.

🌻 Sunflower Picking (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10:00 AM
📍Iowa Orchard, 13140 NW 102nd Ave, Grimes
Stroll the 3-acre patch, grab a few stems, and snap some sunny photos. Dog-friendly and kid-approved.

🎻 Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 2:30 PM
📍Tower Park, 4900 Hickman Rd
Bluegrass, food trucks, and beer under the water tower. Free to attend — just bring a blanket and good vibes.

🧺 Southside Sunday Market Opening Day (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 8:00 AM
📍1111 Army Post Road (lot west of Target)
Fresh produce, hot food, and handmade goods. Support 30+ local vendors at this vibrant community market.

🍦 Ice Cream Social (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 12:00 PM
📍Paws & Pints, 6218 Willowmere Dr
Cool treats for dogs and humans. Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a scoop (or two) and some tail wags.

🍺 5K Beer Run x Confluence Brewing (more)
📆 Sunday | ⏰ 11:00 AM
📍Confluence Brewing Co, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd
Run, walk, or jog your way to a cold beer. Stick around for music, food trucks, and more fun on the patio.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 75 🌡️ Low 61 | 🌤️ | 💧 6%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 79 🌡️ Low 70 | ☁️ | 💧 18%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 84 🌡️ Low 69 | ⛈️ | 💧 47%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseend
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

Sunday

High 85 🌡️ Low 71 | ⛈️ | 💧 66%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Pianopalozza Band | 6 | Jasper Winery
Jordan Messerole | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Bad Friends | 6 | Valley Junction
Flash in a Pan | 6:30 | Botanical Gardens
Clarence Tilton w/ Abbie & The Sawyers and 10 Watt Robot | 6:30 | Lefty’s
Kyle Bachara & Co | 7 | Noce
Wade Bowen | 7 | Wooly’s
Royale Lynn | 7 | xBk Live
Mac Stanfield Trio | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Hudson Westbrook | 8 | Val Air Ballroom
Mike Aceto | 8:30 | Bix & Co

Friday

Ducharme-Jones | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Yubu | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
Mike Tiedeman | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Plastic Apartment w/ Mike Moody & the Outlaws | 5:30 | Riverview Park
Dead Things | 5:30 | Lefty’s
Vida Sisters | 6 | DSM Biergarten
Luke Fox | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Emma Butterworth | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Corbett Reeves | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Day’s Live Music | 6 | The District at Prairie Trail
Brittany Sword | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Casey Peasley | 7 | Pally’s Bar & Grille
Velvet Trio | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Chad Elliott | 7 | xBk Annex
Orphan Annie and the Hot Mess | 7 | Firetrucker Brewing
Cody Hicks | 8 | The District at Prairie Trail
Yubu Band | 8 | Annie’s Irish Pub
The Get Down | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
The Feel Right | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Whiskey Bizkit | 9 | Back Roads Lounge
Boozewa | 9 | Lefty’s

Saturday

Lani | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Looking4Luke | 5 | Winterset Cidery
The Host Country | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Mark Rushton | 7 | xBk Annex
Emery | 7 | Wooly’s
Scott Eggleston | 7 | Brenton Skating Plaza
The Mesmerists | 8 | xBk Live
The BASSberry Jam | 8 | Lefty’s
Bob Pace & The Power | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
CeCe Stewart | 8 | Down Under

Sunday

Abbie Sawyer | 1 | DSM Biergarten
Steve E George w/ Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Zachary Freedom | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Jordan Messerole | 5 | Exile Brewing
Suede | 5 | Jordan Creek Amphitheater
Carnifex | 6 | Wooly’s
40 Watt Sun | 7 | xBk Live
Air Supply | 7:30 | Civic Center
Burton Cummings | 8 | Hoyt Sherman Place

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
47-45 | 5th Place | IL West Division

• VS Columbus Clippers
  📆 7/18 | 🕛️ 7:08 ⚔️ Star Wars Night
  📆 7/19 | 🕛️ 6:08 🧍‍♂️Moises Ballesteros Bobblehead
  📆 7/20 | 🕛️ 1:08 👸 Princess Day

• Next Week | @ Louisville Bats

Soccer ⚽️ 

Des Moines Menace
10-1-1 | 1st place | Great Plains Division

• VS Sueño FC (Central Conference Playoffs)
  📆 7/18 | 🕛️ 7

Football 🏈

Iowa Barnstormers
1-13 | 7th place | Eastern Division

• VS Quad City Steamwheelers
  📆 7/19 | 🕛️ 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].