PRESENTED BY

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

Our beautiful city is turning 174 years old this week. What were you doing back in 1851?!

If you know someone who loves DSM as much as you do, send this their way — the more neighbors who join us, the better this community gets.

In todays issue:

• 🎡 Beaverdale Fall Fest + more

• 🌊 Windsor Heights joins ICON Water Trails

• 🏎️ IndyCar exits, NASCAR stays at Iowa Speedway

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🎡 Festival Weekend in DSM

Few weekends feel more “Des Moines” than this one. At the center is the Beaverdale Fall Festival — a tradition that’s been bringing neighbors (and plenty of visitors) together for decades. From the beloved parade and car night to carnival rides, live music, and food tents, it’s the kind of event that feels like a small-town block party tucked inside the city.

And it’s not the only party happening: the Slater Station Music Festival and the Booneville Music Festival both bring full lineups of live music just a short drive away, while Oktoberfest at Water Works Park fills the weekend with steins, games, and Bavarian spirit.

Wherever you end up, consider this your official invite to grab a beer, a brat, or a funnel cake and soak in festival season in DSM.

PRESENTED BY: Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros

Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros offers a swift and cost-effective kitchen transformation without the hassle of demolition. Serving the Des Moines area, they specialize in updating existing cabinets, achieving a fresh look in just 3 to 5 days. Their process is designed to be less intrusive and more affordable than traditional remodels, making it an attractive option for homeowners seeking a kitchen update.

Visit Kitchenrefreshiowa.com today!

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🌊 Windsor Heights Adds Walnut Creek Connection

Windsor Heights is the last suburb to sign on to the ICON Water Trails program, approving a new access point at Colby Park. The design includes a limestone platform and steps leading down to Walnut Creek, giving families a place to dip their feet, launch paddleboards, or float downstream. Construction starts this fall and is expected to wrap up by fall 2026, making it one of 50 connection points across the metro

Story →

📜 $265M Bond Referendum Heads to November Ballot

Des Moines voters will decide this November whether to approve $265 million for the district’s “Reimagining Education” plan. The proposal would modernize school buildings, expand preschool, and upgrade career and technical education. It’s half the size of the original $500M pitch, but still means a property tax increase. The referendum needs 60% approval to pass .

Read More →

🏁 IndyCar Exits, NASCAR Stays at Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway announced IndyCar will not return in 2026, following Hy-Vee’s exit as title sponsor. The series had been a big draw, but track leaders say the move opens the door for other types of racing. NASCAR, on the other hand, has confirmed its Cup Series will return for a third straight year — a major win for the Newton track and local fans.

Update → 
NASCAR →

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎶 Uncorked at the Zoo (more)
📆 Thursday | ⏰ 5 p.m.
📍 Blank Park Zoo
Sip wine, snack on cheese, enjoy live music, and even build your own bouquet — all while exploring the zoo after hours.

🎬 Uptown Ankeny Outdoor Cinema (more)
📆 Friday | ⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Uptown Garage Brewing
Grab your blanket and settle in for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire under the stars — the first in this fall movie series.

🃏 Capital City Card Convention (more)
📆 Friday–Sunday | ⏰ Various times
📍 Iowa Events Center
The state’s biggest card show takes over DSM with 200+ tables, memorabilia, and autograph sessions all weekend long.

🍺 Oktoberfest at Des Moines Biergarten (more)
📆 Friday–Sunday | ⏰ 11 a.m.
📍 Water Works Park
Raise a stein at this three-day celebration packed with live music, games, food, and all the Oktoberfest vibes.

🎃 Pumpkinville’s 30th Anniversary (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
📍 Pumpkinville & Corn Maze
Celebrate 30 years with shows from Laura Ernst, food trucks, free face painting, and plenty of pumpkins.

🛍️ Vintage & Made Fair (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 a.m.
📍 Dallas County Fairgrounds
Over 150 vendors bring vintage finds, handmade goods, food trucks, and live music for this one-day-only fair.

🍂 Fall at The Barn (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 a.m.
📍 Daydream Abode
Step into a cozy 1886 barn filled with fall décor, florals, antiques, Iowa-made goodies, and heirloom pumpkins.

🚗 Hot Rods for Heroes Car Show (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 9 a.m.
📍 DMACC - Ankeny Campus
Check out classic cars while supporting Blue Star Mothers and care packages for Iowa troops overseas.

🚜 Dozer Days (more)
📆 Saturday–Sunday | ⏰ All Day
📍 Iowa State Fairgrounds
Kids can get behind the wheel of real construction equipment for a hands-on dirt-moving adventure.

🎶 End of Summer Block Party (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 2 p.m.
📍 The Hub Spot Downtown
Food trucks, drinks, games, and live music take over downtown for one last summer celebration.

🍻 Oktoberfest at The Rails (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 11 a.m.
📍 Reclaimed Rails Brewing
Celebrate with Marzen beers, polka music in the afternoon, and live tunes from Luke Fox in the evening.

🎈 Illumifest (more)
📆 Saturday | ⏰ 4–9 p.m.
📍 WDM City Campus
Hot air balloons, live music, games, food trucks, and glowing fun for the whole family — and it’s all free.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 81 🌡️ Low 63 | 🌥️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: ⚪️ Colder weather in sight

Friday

High 78 🌡️ Low 61 | 🌤️ | 💧 20%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 79 🌡️ Low 60 | 🌤️ | 💧 21%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 82 🌡️ Low 64 | 🌤️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

Joshua Sinclair | 5 | Cheba Hut
Cody Jinks | 6 | Water Works Park
Molly Nova & The Hawks | 6 | Historic Valley Junction
Kris Karr | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Early James | 7 | Wooly’s
The Soul Searchers | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge

Friday

Josh Hoyer | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Jake Beaty | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
Luke Farland | 5 | Caffrey’s Irish Pub
Apathy Syndrome & Hemlock | 6 | Wooly’s
The Other Brothers | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Velvet Trio | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Plastic Apartment | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Abigail Phelps | 6 | Firetrucker Brewing
Gina Gedler | 7 | Noce
Vision Video | 7 | Lefty’s
Joshua Sinclair | 7 | Uptown Garage Brewing
Heath Alan | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Brittany Sword | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Jason Aldean | 7:30 | Casey’s Center
Randy Burk & The Prisoners | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Evander Ellsbury | 8 | xBk Annex
Rattlebox | 8:30 | Doc’s Lounge
Midnight Radio | 8:30 | Back Roads Lounge
Dan Jones & Friends | 9 | Greenwood Lounge

Saturday

Matthew Garcia | 1 | Firetrucker Brewing
Silver & Spice | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Sara Routh | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones | 5 | Cellar Winery
Electro-Beast | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Tophouse | 7 | Wooly’s
Brian Herrin | 7 | Brightside Aleworks
The Hors D’oeuvres | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Haley Whitters | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
La Leyenda | 8 | xBk Live
Aaron Winters and Rob Short | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
The People’s Band | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Igor & Fletch | 8 | Down Under Bar & Grill
The Weasels | 8:30 | Mickey’s Waukee

Sunday

Randy Burk & The Prisoners | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Get Off My Lawn | 2 | Truman’s Pizza Tavern
Paul Little | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Deja Blue Band | 2 | Cellar Winery
Stringfield Band | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Ryne Doughty | 4 | Covered Bridges Winery
Rural Route | 5 | Exile Brewing
Iris And The Shade | 6:30 | Lefty’s
Poppy w/ MSPAINT | 7 | Val Air Ballroom

SPORTS 🏈🏅

College Football 🏈

• Iowa 🦅 @ Rutgers | Record: 2-1
  📆 9/19 | 🕛️ 7

• Drake 🐶 @ South Dakota | Record: 1-1
  📆 9/20 | 🕛️ 1

• UNI 🐆 @ Utah Tech | Record: 2-1
  📆 9/20 | 🕛️ 7

• Iowa State 🌪️ Idle | Record: 4-0 (1-0)

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
73-72 | 5th Place | IL West Division

• VS Toledo Mudhens
  📆 9/18 | 🕛️ 6:38 🍃 Iowa Oaks
  📆 9/19 | 🕛️ 7:08 👏 Fan Appreciation Weekend
  📆 9/20 | 🕛️ 6:08 👿 Demonios de Des Moines
  📆 9/21 | 🕛️ 1:08 👏 Fan Appreciation Weekend

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].