PRESENTED BY
Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn.
Hope you had a great Fourth of July weekend. Let’s dig right in.
Quick Hits
Weekend Forecast: Sunny skies and warm temperatures ahead.
State Fair: 80+ new foods revealed for this year’s fair.
Sports: Field of Dreams’ new Northwoods League team will be called the Dyersville Dreamers.
Coming soon: Iowa to Celebrate America's 250th with Des Moines Harvest Festival in October.
Closing: Ironside Axe Club to close its storefront and operate exclusively as a mobile business.
In today’s issue:
🍽 Dinner Club is back
🏟 Grand Experience Update
🎸 Lefty’s Has Life
And we’re off.
— Nick Rivas
DSM at Dawn Dinner Club Returns
Our next Dinner Club is Wednesday, July 15, and we’re heading to Beaverdale! Join a small group of fellow readers for dinner, conversation, and the chance to meet some new faces. Come solo or bring a friend. We’ll take care of the rest.
THE 515 REPORT 📰
Grand Experience Gets a New Amphitheater
The West Des Moines City Council is set to consider an updated development agreement for the Grand Experience, a $400-450 million mixed-use development along Grand Avenue near the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex — now with a 6,000-seat covered amphitheater added to the plan. The venue, estimated to cost between $35-40 million, would feature premium luxury seating and a bar and restaurant concept, putting it in a different class than a typical municipal amphitheater. The broader development also includes a hotel, conference center, indoor waterpark, workforce housing, and retail, with construction on initial components expected to begin in late 2027.
West Mixmaster Construction: What to Expect
The major reconstruction of the I-35/80/235 interchange — known as the West Mixmaster — is underway, with the full project expected to be completed in stages through 2029. A new detour went into effect this week following the closure of the westbound I-80 on-ramp at 60th Street, with drivers rerouted north to University Avenue and south to Grand Prairie Parkway. Drivers should also expect overnight closures July 14-16 where the interchange connects to westbound I-80, plus additional ramp work and bridge replacements in the months ahead.
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Community Notes ❤
Iowa African Film Festival Coming to Drake
The inaugural Iowa African Film Festival will be held August 6-7 at Drake University, showcasing African cinema and culture through feature films, documentaries, and short films. The festival has already received more than 500 submissions from filmmakers worldwide and will feature panel discussions, cultural exhibitions, networking opportunities, and awards recognizing excellence in filmmaking. Festival director Jack Chimbetete is a Drake alumnus and former Mandela Washington Fellow, with organizing partners including Kuona Foundation, ALN Studios, and One Voice DSM.
👉 Details
Lefty’s Returns as Strychnine
For a decade, Lefty's wasn't just a music venue — it was a community. Now Des Moines musician Jerry Spargur has taken over the space on University Avenue, renaming it Strychnine, with plans to honor the building's history while building something new. Spargur, who performed at Lefty's many times himself, hopes to have all renovations completed by August so music can ring from the storied stage once again.
👉 More
WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁
Want a Featured Event with a poster,
reach out and say hi.
⭐️ Featured Event
🎉 Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival
📆 Saturday
📍 Tower Park
One of Beaverdale’s favorite summer traditions returns Saturday with an afternoon of live bluegrass music, local food trucks, cold drinks, and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere under the iconic water tower. The free festival kicks off at 2:30 and welcomes everyone to bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for an evening of great music and community.
Thursday
Dallas County Fair (Runs Tue–Sat) — Carnival rides, rodeo action, live entertainment, and classic fair fun. Dallas County Fairgrounds. [details]
Garden Bros Nuclear Circus (Runs Thu–Sun) — High-flying acts, daredevil performances, and family-friendly circus thrills. Merle Hay Mall. [details]
Botanical Clay Earrings: Summer Blooms — Craft your own botanical-inspired polymer clay earrings with a local artist. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. [details]
Movies on the Yard – The Wild Robot — Family movie night with pre-show activities and concessions. The Yard at Johnston Town Center. [details]
Friday
Herptile Hunt — Search for hidden reptile and amphibian cutouts along the nature trails. Ashby Park Nature Trails. [details]
Ankeny SummerFest (Runs Fri–Sun) — Three days of live music, carnival rides, food, and family fun. The District at Prairie Trail. [details]
Free Flicks: Movies in the Park — Catch a free outdoor showing of Zootopia 2 under the summer sky. Weeks Middle School. [details]
Magic of the Night — An illuminated parade, giant puppets, art market, and live entertainment. Kingman Boulevard. [details]
Saturday
Hillbilly Bike Ride — Scenic cycling through small towns with food, music, and fun stops. BonduBikes. [details]
12th Annual Saydel Car Show — Classic cars, trucks, customs, and community favorites on display. Saydel High School. [details]
Social Saturday: Free To Be — Free crafts, scavenger hunt, tours, and family activities throughout the museum. Des Moines Art Center. [details]
Summer Festival 2026 — Celebrate community with cultural performances, food, vendors, and family activities. Woodlawn Park. [details]
Gilded Page Bookshop Pop-Up Event — Browse curated books, gifts, and enjoy a cozy afternoon with fellow readers. The Rabbit Room. [details]
Christmas in July — Santa, live polka music, games, and holiday fun in the middle of summer. Des Moines Biergarten. [details]
Bop to the Top — Dance the night away at a High School Musical-themed party. Vibrant Music Hall. [details]
Sunday
Jumbo Botanical Glass Art Workshop — Create a pressed floral glass art piece to take home. Ted Lare Garden Center. [details]
NOW SHOWING 🎭
🎼 Of Mice and Men
📆 July 10
📍 Blank Performing Arts Center
Steinbeck’s timeless story comes to life in a powerful operatic adaptation presented by the Des Moines Metro Opera.
🐶 Legally Blonde The Musical
📆 July 10-26
📍 The Playhouse
The hit Broadway musical follows Elle Woods on a hilarious, heartwarming journey from fashion to Harvard Law.
LAUGHS 🤣
🎤 Steve Hofstetter
📆 Thursday
📍 Funny Bone
The viral comedian known for his sharp crowd work and unfiltered observations takes the stage.
🎤 Jen Kober
📆 Friday
📍 The Ingersoll
The nationally touring comedian and TV favorite brings her Whole Lotta Heart Tour to Des Moines.
🎤 Greg Warren
📆 Friday-Saturday
📍 Funny Bone
The veteran stand-up and Bob & Tom favorite delivers relatable stories with a Midwestern twist.
🎤 NO SLEEP
📆 Saturday
📍 Wooly’s
Ten comics battle it out on stage as the audience crown the night’s winner live.
Support DSM at Dawn
This newsletter exists because of this community.
DSM at Dawn is free and always will be. If you find it helpful, fun, or worth sharing, you can chip in to help keep it running and growing.
Everything goes back into making this better for Des Moines,
Grateful you’re here.
— Nick
THE SETLIST 🎶🎤
Thursday
Brad & Kate | 5 | Ankeny Market & Pavilion
Hudson Road | 6 | Water Works Park
Mike Aceto | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Sons of Gladys Kravitz | 6 | Valley Junction Farmers’ Market
Eric Kennedy | 6 | Greenwood Lounge
JKB | 6 | Destination Grille
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 6 | Poncho’s
June Bugs DSM | 6:30 | Botanical Garden
Hot Off the Grill | 6:30 | Easter Lake North Shore
Andrew Walesch & Max Wellman | 7 | Noce
Brian Herrin | 7 | Board & Batten
Ziggy Marley | 7:30 | Vibrant Music Hall
Keller Williams | 8 | xBk Live
Austin Brown Trio | 8 | xBk Annex
MFKS | 8 | Confidence Speakeasy
Scott Eggleston | 8 | Greenwood Lounge
Triple J’s | 9 | Yacht Club
Tanner Jay | 9 | Shotgun Betty’s
Friday
Ducharme-Jones Band | 4:30 | Middlebrook Farm
Matt Woods Band | 5 | Water Works Park
James Biehn | 5 | Truman’s Pizza
Sierra Griggs | 5 | Caffrey’s
Taylor King | 5 | Bevy’s Tavern
Dick Danger Band | 5:30 | Riverview Park
The Ripoffs | 6 | Captain Roy’s
The Fabulous Trutones | 6 | Confluence Brewing
Plastic Apartment | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Johnny Laws | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Kinda Petty | 6 | Soggy Frog
Linc Henriksen | 6 | Shotgun Betty’s
Matthew Garcia | 6 | Paws & Pints
The Juan & Only | 6 | El Toreado
Joe Demerath | 7 | Walker’s Place
Natalie Simon & LIGHTcube | 7 | The Cave
JB Williams | 7 | Kelly’s Little Nipper
Illusion of Safety | 8 | xBk Live
Not The Law | 8 | Locals Bar & Stage
Flyte Risk | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Peyton Burns | 8 | Marv’s Mainstreet Dive
The Feel Right | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Yubu Band | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Rainbow Penley Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Back To Vinyl | 10 | Prairie Meadows
Saturday
Black Dirt Ramblers | 11 | Exile Brewing
BitterSweet Band | 12 | Annie’s Irish Pub
The Chuggaluggers | 2 | 1833 Saloon
Decoy Duo | 2 | Soggy Frog
Corbett Reeves | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Eliana Grace | 5 | Plain Talk Books & Coffee
Dustin Baird | 5 | 1908 Draught House Norwalk
Bondu Blues, Brews, & BBQ | 5 | Bondurant
Brian Congdon & Guilty Pleasures | 6 | Captain Roy’s
The Adaptors | 6 | The Pelican Post
The Get Down | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Lauren Vilmain | 7 | Noce
Brittany Sword Duo | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Sean Michael Sullivan | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
Jesse & The Medicine Men | 7 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
Yubu Band | 7 | Soggy Frog
A Tribute Night to The Eagles | 7:30 | Hoyt Sherman
Serenade | 7:30 | The Cork
The Band Feel | 8 | xBk Live
Samuel Locke Ward | 8 | xBk Annex
Reload | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Joe Demerath | 8 | Walker’s Place
Jef Banks Band | 9 | Greenwood Lounge
Route 66 | 10 | Prairie Meadows
Sunday
Night Like This | 1 | Water Works Park
Summer Celebration | 1 | Down Under
The Schoon Brothers | 1 | Soggy Frog
Saxman Jones & Owens Trio | 2 | Truman’s Pizza
Corbett Reeves | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Danny Grause | 2 | Covered Bridges Winery
Sumpin Doo’s | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Casey Joe & The Foxes | 3 | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Yubu Band | 4 | Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop
Tony McGhee | 4 | Greenwood Lounge
Rutabaga | 5 | Exile Brewing
Al Welsh | 5 | Lake Robbins Ballroom
Benjamin Tod | 7 | Wooly’s
NOLA Jazz Band | 7 | Water Works Park
DSM SPORTS
If you’re looking for a game to catch this weekend:
⚾ Cubs
All weekend vs St. Paul
🏈 Barnstormers
Saturday vs Green Bay Blizzard
⚽ Menace
Saturday vs FC Ambush
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