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- 🌅 What’s up this weekend in DSM? Start here
🌅 What’s up this weekend in DSM? Start here
6/5
Nick Rivas
June 05, 2025
PRESENTED BY
Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 This is DSM at Dawn.
I don’t know about you, but June always catches me off guard. One minute it’s chilly and springy, and the next it’s full-blown summer. Somehow, we skipped the gradual part.
In todays issue:
🌈 Pridefest takes over downtown
🚴♂️ Ironman 70.3 hits the streets Sunday
🎡 Your guide to 10+ can't-miss events
And we’re off.
— Nick Rivas
🌈 It’s Pride Month in Des Moines
June is here, and that means it's Pride Month — a time to celebrate love, identity, and inclusion across the country and right here in Des Moines. Capital City Pride is putting on events all month long, with the big celebration — Pridefest — taking over downtown this weekend.
Whether you're showing up in support, attending your first parade, or just looking to take part in the fun, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s happening this weekend:
Pridefest Meet & Greets – Snap a pic or say hi to local and national LGBTQ+ icons
📍 Friday @ 5
📍 Saturday @ 7Pride Stride 5K – A fun run through downtown for a good cause
📍 Saturday @ 8AMPridefest Pet Pageant – Because who doesn’t love a proud pup in costume?
📍 Saturday @ 9:30AMPride Parade – Marching through Historic East Village
📍 Sunday @ Noon
📅 Events run all month long — see the full calendar here: Capital City Pride »
🏊♂️🚴♀️🏃 Ironman Takes Over Des Moines
Some of the toughest endurance athletes in the world will descend on Des Moines this Sunday for the Ironman 70.3, a grueling triathlon that includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run.
The race kicks off at Gray’s Lake, winds through Water Works Park, and wraps up downtown — meaning road closures and thousands of spectators will fill the city center. Over 2,000 athletes from around the globe are expected to compete.
If you’re not racing, it’s still worth checking out the Ironman Village (open Friday–Sunday) or cheering from the sidelines.
📍 Race Day: Sunday, June 8
➡️ Course details and schedule »
PRESENTED BY: Kitchen Refresh by KnoPros
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Visit Kitchenrefreshiowa.com today!
THE 515 REPORT 📱📰
🏢 New Digs for the Police Academy
The City of Des Moines has purchased the former YMCA building on E Army Post Road for $2.5 million. Closed since 2020, the 26-year-old facility will become an expansion of the Police Academy campus located next door.
Des Moines has approved a dedicated rideshare zone aimed at improving safety and traffic flow in the Court Avenue entertainment district. Located on 3rd Street just south of Court, the hub will operate from 10 PM to 3 AM — peak nightlife hours.
🍔 Floating Restaurant at Saylorville
A new two-story floating restaurant called Floaters is coming to the Saylorville Marina in 2026. With a rooftop patio and seasonal hours (April through October), it’s set to make a splash for lakeside dining in central Iowa.
WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁
Want a Featured Event with a poster,
reach out and say hi.
🍦 Summer Bash (more)
📅 Thursday | 🕓 9:00 AM
📍 Learning Post & Toys, 2761 100th St
Celebrate summer with ice cream, giveaways, and flower planting fun.
🎨 Greek Food Fair (more)
📅 Friday–Sunday | 🕓 All Weekend
📍 St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1110 35th St
Enjoy authentic Greek food, dancing, and cultural celebrations.
🚚 Touch a Truck (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 Nebraska Furniture Mart, 15500 Hickman Rd
Explore big trucks, enjoy crafts, and meet the pros behind the wheels.
🧪 Summer Science Day (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 11:00 AM
📍 Big Grove Brewery, 555 17th St
Hands-on science fun with AI labs, gravity games, and zoo animals.
🍺 Iowa Craft Brew Festival (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 12–4 PM
📍 Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Pkwy
Sample 300+ craft beers from over 60 breweries across the region.
🎡 Raccoon River Palooza (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 All Day
📍 Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave
Live music, food trucks, and water fun all day at the lake.
🎉 Family Fest (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 11 AM – 2 PM
📍 The Yard @ Johnston Town Center, 6221 Merle Hay Rd
Free family event with shows, food trucks, and kids’ activities.
🎶 Waukee Palooza (more)
📅 Saturday | 🕓 4–10 PM
📍 Hy-Vee Waukee, 1005 E Hickman Rd
Live music, raffles, and summer fun for all ages.
🛍️ Spring Sip & Shop (more)
📅 Sunday | 🕓 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 Middlebrook Mercantile, 4125 Cumming Ave
Sip drinks, shop local vendors, and tour homes in the Agrihood.
🎤 Matt Rife (more)
📅 Sunday | 🕓 7:00 PM
📍 Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St
Catch the viral comedian live for a night of laughs and sharp wit.
WEATHER 🌞🌡️
Thursday
High 77 🌡️ Low 61 | 🌤️ | 💧 7%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Friday
High 77 🌡️ Low 62 | 🌤️ | 💧 9%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Saturday
High 77 🌡️ Low 61 | 🌧️ | 💧 40%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way
Sunday
High 78 🌡️ Low 57 | 🌤️ | 💧 15%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
THE SETLIST 🎶🎤
Thursday
Lonewolf & more | 5 | Lefty’s Live Music
Red Hott | 5 | Valley Junction Farmers Market
The Stolen Winnebagos | 6 | Jasper Winery
RetroSpect | 6 | Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Maytags | 7 | xBk Live
Erf | 7 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Friday
Jeshua Marshal and the Flood | 5:30 | Lefty’s Live Music
Whiskey Myers | 6:30 | Water Works Park
Stark Raving Madge | 7 | Wooly’s
NOLA Jazz Band | 7 | Noce
Jenny Kohls Band | 7 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Alex Shroeder | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
Acid Bath | 8 | Val Air Ballroom
The Sons of Gladys Kravitz | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Mary Runyon Band | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
Saturday
Meadowbrook Circle | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Malcom Wells & The Two Timers | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Blackberry Smoke | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Sarah Tonin & more | 8 | xBk Live
Bob Pace & The Power | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Drive Thirty5 | 8 | Down Under
Cozy Worldwide | 9 | Vibrant Music Hall
Nathan Thiessen | 9:30 | xBk Annex
Sunday
Corey Jamison | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Joel Sires/Yetter/Druids | 3 | xBk Live
Eliana Franzenburg | 5 | Exile Brewing
Coheed and Cambria | 6:30 | Vibrant Music Hall
SPORTS 🏈🏅
⚽️ State Soccer Championships This Weekend
📍 Girls in Ames | 📍 Boys in Des Moines
Whether you're cheering from the sidelines or keeping tabs from home, here are a couple of great ways to follow the action:
Bound – Live scores, brackets, and matchups
Kick It Forward – Coverage, interviews, and community highlights
Best of luck to all the teams competing!
Baseball ⚾️
Iowa Cubs
30-26 | 5th Place | IL West Division
@ Omaha Storm Chasers
📆 6/5 | 🕛️ 7:05
📆 6/6 | 🕛️ 5:05
📆 6/6 | 🕛️ Game 2
📆 6/7 | 🕛️ 6:05
📆 6/8 | 🕛️ 5:05Next Week | VS Louisville Bats
Soccer ⚽️
Des Moines Menace
4-1 | 12 PTS | 2nd place | Great Plains Division
VS Springfield FC
📆 6/7 | 🕛️ 7
Football 🏈
Iowa Barnstormers
1-7 | 7th place | Eastern Division
@ Green Bay Blizzard
📆 6/6 | 🕛️ 7:05
THANK YOU! 🙌
Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.
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