PRESENTED BY

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

I can’t help your lawn, but mother nature is trying. Turn down the sprinklers and turn up in Des Moines. Vibes up. Nitrates down.

In todays issue:

• 🎨 The Arts Take Over Downtown

• ⚽ Soccer Stadium Moves Ahead

• 🎁 A Gift for Justice

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🎨 The Des Moines Arts Festival

This weekend, downtown turns into one of the top arts destinations in the country as the Des Moines Arts Festival takes over Western Gateway Park. With 190+ juried visual artists, live music across two stages, interactive art activities, and an impressive lineup of food and drink vendors, it’s one of those “must-do” Des Moines events.

Whether you go every year or haven’t been in a while, here’s your sign to make it happen. Admission is free.

📍 Western Gateway Park
📆 Friday–Sunday
🖼️ Explore the arts
🎶 Music lineup
🍴 Food + drink
➡️ Plan your visit

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THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

⚽️ Soccer Stadium Update

The downtown soccer stadium project is still in play. Jeff Lorenzen, president of the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation, says the goal remains to host the first match in 2028.

While the project didn’t secure the full $95 million in public funding, organizers are moving forward with a re-engineered vision. Infrastructure work is next, with construction set to begin in spring 2026.

➡️ More on the stadium progress

🏙️ Downtown Urbandale Master Plan

If you’re not familiar with downtown Urbandale, you're not alone — but the city hopes that won’t be true for long.

Urbandale’s City Council has officially approved a master plan that will revitalize the stretch of Douglas Avenue from 75th Street to Merle Hay Road. The project includes reducing the road to three lanes to make it more pedestrian-friendly, along with new buildings, green space, and improved walkability — all aimed at turning the area into a true destination.

➡️ More on the plan

⚖️ Drake Receives $300,000 for Children’s Rights Clinic

Drake University’s Children’s Rights Clinic has received a $300,000 donation, part of a broader $4+ million settlement between the State of Iowa and a sibling of Sabrina Ray, the Perry teen who died tragically in 2017.

The Clinic allows law students to gain real-world experience advocating for children in court. The gift will fund two new initiatives: a student award and the Sabrina Ray Justice for Children Summer Fellowship, which supports students attending child welfare conferences and interning with children's rights organizations.

➡️ More on the donation

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎭 AACTFest 2025 (more)
📅 Wednesday–Saturday
📍 Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave
Join theatre lovers from across the country for AACTFest 2025 — a premier national community theatre festival with performances, workshops, and celebrations, right here in Des Moines.

🪓 Ironside Open (more)
📅 Thursday–Sunday
📍 Ironside Axe Club, 2700 University Ave
The Ironside Open — also known as The Copper Chronicles — is a World Axe Throwing League event drawing elite competitors for a weekend of sharp skills and friendly rivalry.

🎉 Foam Frenzy (more)
📅 Friday
📍 The Bridge, 10025 NW 62nd Ave
A bubbly evening of foamy fun for all ages! Bring the kids to this high-energy, family-friendly event full of music and sudsy joy.

🎬 Interrobang Film Festival (more)
📅 Friday–Sunday
📍 Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave
Presented by the Des Moines Arts Festival, this three-day, IMDb-verified event features juried film screenings, public showings, and director talkbacks celebrating independent cinema.

☕ Grand Opening – Art Center Café (more)
📅 Friday
📍 Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave
Celebrate the debut of the Des Moines Art Center’s new café, presented by la mie, with live music, art exhibits, exclusive merch, and tasty summer specials like spritzes and affogatos.

🥏 Discmania Challenge (more)
📅 Friday–Sunday
📍 Pickard Park, 2205 E 2nd Ave
Watch top disc golfers compete at Pickard Park during the 2025 Discmania Challenge, a Disc Golf Pro Tour stop with spectator access all weekend.

🤼 3XWrestling (more)
📅 Friday
📍 Wooly’s, 504 E Locust St
Cheer on Iowa’s premier professional wrestling organization at Wooly’s as 3XWrestling delivers a high-energy, family-friendly night of athletic entertainment.

🏃 Storm the Park 5K (more)
📅 Saturday
📍 Adventureland, 305 34th Ave NW
Adventureland’s fun run returns! Dash through the park on this scenic 5K course and enjoy thrills, laughter, and a little summer sweat.

🎶 Music & Makers (more)
📅 Saturday
📍 Sleepy Hollow, 4051 Dean Ave
Head to Sleepy Hollow for a laid-back afternoon filled with live music, local vendors, and the perfect mix of food, drinks, and community creativity.

⚾ Sensory-Friendly Day at the Ballpark (more)
📅 Sunday
📍 Principal Park, 1 Line Dr
Principal Park hosts a game-day experience designed for individuals with sensory sensitivities, with quieter environments and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.

🚴 Pride Ride (more)
📅 Sunday
📍 SingleSpeed Brewing, 303 Scott Ave
Wrap up Pride Month with Capital City Pride’s first-ever Pride Ride — a casual, joyful ride starting at SingleSpeed Brewing and bringing the community together for miles and smiles.

🏳️‍🌈 Valley Junction Pride (more)
📅 Sunday
📍 Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines
Celebrate love and inclusion in Historic Valley Junction with live performances, colorful vendors, and a street full of art, pride, and good vibes.

🐴 National Junior High Finals Rodeo (more)
📅 All Weekend
📍 Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E Grand Ave
Saddle up for one of the largest youth rodeos in the world as competitors from across the country converge on the Iowa State Fairgrounds for a full week of events.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 86 🌡️ Low 68 | ⛈️ | 💧 79%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

Friday

High 86 🌡️ Low 69 | 🌤️ | 💧 17%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 91 🌡️ Low 73 | 🌤️ | 💧 15%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 88 🌡️ Low 69 | ⛈️ | 💧 59%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Damon Dotson | 6 | Jasper Winery
MFKS | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge

Friday

The Blue 2+1 | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
God Cult | 5 | Lefty’s
Stadium Drive | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Tree Oak Revival | 6:30 | Water Works Park
Dan Trilk | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Grand Marquis | 7 | Noce
Fast Dolly | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Hot Bunch | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Call Me Hot Not Pretty! | 8 | xBk Live
Final Mix | 9 | Back Roads Lounge

Saturday

Flash in a Pan | 11 | Exile Brewing
Emma Butterworth | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Rural Route Trio | 5 | Winterset Cidery
Theo Linebaugh | 6 | Lefty’s
Mike Moody & the Outlaws | 6 | Sleepy Hollow
Traffic Death | 7 | xBk Live
The Sheet | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
June Bugs DSM | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Steve Berry | 7 & 9 | Noce
The People’s Band | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
40 Oz To Freedom | 8:30 | Wooly’s
Off The Clock | 9 | Lefty’s

Sunday

Girls Rock | 1 | xBk Live
Jake Schrodt | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Sumpin Doo | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
David Watson | 5 | Exile Brewing
TRHA | 6 | Lefty’s
Tripping Daisy | 7 | Wooly’s
TV Buddha | 7:30 | xBK Live
System Exclusive | 9 | Lefty’s

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
0-2 | 10th Place | IL West Division (2nd Half)

• VS Columbus Clippers
  📆 6/26 | 🕛️ 6:38 👌 American Sign Language Night
  📆 6/27 | 🕛️ 7:08 🌈 Pride Night
  📆 6/28 | 🕛️ 6:08 🥒 Pickle Night
  📆 6/29 | 🕛️ 1:08 👿 Demonios de Des Moines

• Next Week | VS Omaha Storm Chasers

Soccer ⚽️ 

Des Moines Menace
8-1 | 24 PTS | 1st place | Great Plains Division

• VS ICL All-Stars
  📆 6/28 | 🕛️ 7

Football 🏈

Iowa Barnstormers
1-10 | 7th place | Eastern Division

• VS Jacksonville Sharks
  📆 6/28 | 🕛️ 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].