PRESENTED BY

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

Hope you're soaking up the long weekend—responsibly, of course. Here’s to sunshine, BBQs, camaraderie, and maybe a few fireworks lighting up the sky.

In todays issue:

• 🍕 A downtown venue gets the Casey’s treatment

• 🎆 Your guide to parades, pops, and fireworks

• 🌍️ A festival lineup that spans the globe

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🎆 Fourth of July 🎪 

From parades to pops concerts, here’s what’s happening around the metro this week:

🎈Parades

• West Des Moines – Thursday, 6:30 PM

• Urbandale – Friday, 10:00 AM

• Altoona – Friday, 10:00 AM

• Norwalk – Friday, 10:00 AM

• Waukee – Friday, 10:30 AM

🎶 City Celebrations & Concerts

• Urbandale 4th of July Celebration – Lions Park – Wednesday–Friday

• Waukee Celebration – Centennial Park – Thursday–Friday

• Norwalk Hometown Pride – City Park – Thursday, 10 AM

• All-American Extravaganza – Prairie Meadows – Thursday, 3 PM

• Valley Junction Street Party – Thursday, 5 PM

• Yankee Doodle Pops – State Capitol – Thursday, 8:30 PM

• Historic Baseball – Living History Farms – Friday, 9 AM

• Rock-It in the Park – Union Park – Friday, 12–6 PM

🎆 Fireworks

See Fireworks Schedule

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Visit mytopmaid.com to learn more.

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🏟️ Welcome to Casey’s Center

It’s official: Wells Fargo Arena has been renamed Casey’s Center. The iconic Des Moines venue will now carry the Casey’s name as part of a new 10-year partnership. The deal includes signage updates, a new Casey’s Corner Market inside the arena, and a fresh round of renovations aimed at improving the fan experience. It’s the latest move in Casey’s continued investment in Iowa—and a big branding win heading into the state fair and concert season.

Read More →

🌍 World Food & Music Festival Vendors Announced

This year’s World Food & Music Festival (Aug. 22–24) will feature more than 56 vendors from around the globe. In addition to the diverse food lineup, the festival includes cultural dance performances, cooking demonstrations, live music, and interactive activities for all ages—celebrating the tastes, sights, and sounds of cultures around the world, right in the heart of Downtown Des Moines.

See the Full Vendor List →

🍦 Black Cat Ice Cream Leaves Drake Neighborhood

After four years in the Drake area, Black Cat Ice Cream has closed its Cottage Grove shop, citing issues with the building. But don’t panic—the beloved small-batch ice cream maker is already on the hunt for a new location in or near downtown, and recently opened up in Valley Junction. You’ll still be able to get your fix!

Catch the Scoop →

HEART OF DSM ❤️ 

⭐ Gold Star Military Museum

Looking for a quiet, meaningful way to honor the spirit of the holiday? The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum in Johnston is open year-round and free to visit. It’s the state’s premier museum dedicated to honoring Iowa veterans—from the Civil War to today. The exhibits are hands-on, thoughtfully curated, and surprisingly family-friendly.

If you’re looking to reflect on the meaning behind the fireworks, this is a great place to start. The museum also offers Drop-In Tours on Saturdays at 11:30.

Learn More →

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎤 Summer Nights at The District (more)
📅 Thursday ⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 The District at Prairie Trail, SW District Drive
Live music, food vendors, and family fun in the heart of Ankeny as Goodguys weekend kicks off with a festive evening outdoors.

🚗 Goodguys Heartland Nationals (more)
📅 Friday–Sunday
📍 Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E Grand Ave
Celebrate Independence Day weekend with over 5,000 classic cars, hot rods, and muscle machines. Expect live music, autocross racing, a massive vendor midway, and Saturday night fireworks.

🐾 4th of July Foam Party (more)
📅 Friday ⏰ 12–3 PM
📍 Paws & Pints, 6218 Willowmere Dr
Let your dog burn off some steam before the fireworks at this festive foam party, complete with drink specials and pet products to help ease firework anxiety.

🎬 Movies in the Park: Uncharted (more)
📅 Friday ⏰ 4 PM
📍 Captain Roy’s, 1900 Saylor Rd
Catch a free outdoor showing of Uncharted by the river—an early, easygoing way to settle into your 4th of July night.

🍹 Seasonal Cider Release (more)
📅 Saturday ⏰ 1 PM
📍 Winterset Cidery, 1638 Hwy 169
Raspberry Cider is back for one day only—on tap, blended into slushies, or poured into a cider-rita. A berry big deal.

🍷 Paint & Sip (more)
📅 Sunday ⏰ 2 PM
📍 Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Pkwy
Paint a mountain scene, sip a glass (or two) of wine, and unwind with friends in the cozy tasting room at Jasper Winery.

🎨 Crafternoon Delight: Craft + Sip (more)
📅 Sunday ⏰ 2 PM
📍 The Glitter Factory DSM, 501 SW 7th St
Spend the afternoon crafting with friends in Glitter Factory’s custom picnic party room—complete with drinks, supplies, and all the creative vibes.

🌿 Shrubsational Shrub Sale (more)
📅 All Weekend
📍 Iowa Outdoor Products, 3200 86th St
Buy one, get one free on shrubs all weekend long. The perfect excuse to add some green to your yard before the heat of July sets in.

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 93 🌡️ Low 71 | 🌤️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 91 🌡️ Low 74 | 🌤️ | 💧 6%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 85 🌡️ Low 69 | 🌦️ | 💧 57%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

Sunday

High 86 🌡️ Low 66 | 🌤️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

The Punching Pandas | 4:30 | Prairie Meadows
Unique Vibrationz | 5 | Valley Junction
Hello Fellow Humans | 5:30 | Lefty’s
David Watson | 6 | Confluence Brewing
The Nadas | 6 | Jasper Winery
Weary Ramblers | 6:30 | Botanical Garden
Emma Butterworth | 6:30 | Valley Junction
Jesson-Fleming-Cullen Trio | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Simply Seger | 8:30 | Valley Junction

Friday

Ryan Doughty | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Gimikk w/ Rebel Queens | 5:30 | Riverview Park
Matt Woods Band | 6 | Winterset Cidery
Problems | 8 | xBk Annex
The Lowdown Drifters | 8 | xBk Live

Saturday

Joe Demerath | 2 | Tipsy Crow
Leradee and the Positives | 4 | Lefty’s
Ron Burchett | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Bradford Johnson | 7 | xBk Annex
Red Dirt Renegade | 7 | Captain Roy’s
Yubu | 8 | Kenny’s Garage

Sunday

Liv McNair | 1 | Paws & Pints
Matt Woods Band | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Velvet Trio | 4 | Wellman’s Pub and Rooftop
82Major | 7 | xBk Live
78 RMP | 7 | Water Works Park

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
3-5 | 6th Place | IL West Division (2nd Half)

• VS Omaha Storm Chasers
  📆 7/3 | 🕛️ 7:08

• @ Omaha Storm Chasers
  📆 7/4 | 🕛️ 7:05
  📆 7/5 | 🕛️ 6:05
  📆 7/6 | 🕛️ 5:05

• Next Week | @ St. Paul Saints

Soccer ⚽️ 

Des Moines Menace
8-1-2 | 26 PTS | 1st place | Great Plains Division

• VS Sunflower State FC
  📆 7/5 | 🕛️ 7

Football 🏈

Iowa Barnstormers
1-11 | 7th place | Eastern Division

• @ Massachusetts Pirates
  📆 7/3 | 🕛️ 6:05

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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