PRESENTED BY

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

As Memorial Day approaches, I want to pause to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s a weekend often filled with sunshine, bbqs, and the first hints of summer — but I hope you’ll also find a quiet moment to reflect and give thanks.

Whether you're staying close to home or exploring something new around the metro, we've rounded up a few ways to make the most of the long weekend.

In todays issue:

• 🎊 CelebrAsian Takes Over Downtown

• 🎲 Board Games & Lattes at Rook Room

• 🌊 Big Boost for ICON Water Trails

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

🎊 CelebrAsian Returns

Organized by the Iowa Asian Alliance, CelebrAsian is the largest Asian heritage festival in the state — and one of the most vibrant weekends of the year in downtown Des Moines. The event brings together 15 cultural villages, each sharing authentic food, performances, and traditions from across Asia.

The Iowa Asian Alliance has been uplifting Iowa’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities for over two decades, promoting economic growth, cultural awareness, and community engagement. CelebrAsian is their signature event — a joyful, immersive celebration of culture, community, and connection.

PRESENTED BY: Springer Brothers Real Estate Team

Looking to make a move? The Springer Brothers Real Estate Team is comprised of third generation real estate professionals, born and raised right here in Central Iowa. We’re deeply rooted in this community. When it comes to finding that place to grow your roots here, the Springer Brothers are experienced at guiding you home.

If you’re in the market to buy, the Springer Brothers work hard to find that house that just feels like home. Whether it’s the first home we see or the 30^th , we encourage our homebuyers to always trust their gut. There’s no greater feeling in what we do than that feeling of finding “the one”.

If you’re the market to sell, our team will work with you to put together a plan that maximizes your homes value. We tailor every situation, using our suite of services, so that homeowners can feel confident when they list their home that they’ll get maximum exposure for their greatest, most-tangible asset.

No matter your situation, we’re ready to get to work FOR YOU so that you can achieve your real estate goals.

Call us at (515) 371-9396, email us at [email protected], or visit our website to learn more about us.

THE 515 REPORT 📱📰 

🚜 Crops Are Ahead of Schedule

Iowa farmers are off to a strong start this season, with 91% of corn and 84% of soybeans already planted as of May 19 — well ahead of the five-year average. Timely rains and dry breaks in between have helped create ideal planting conditions across much of the state, while many watched to see how tariffs and USAID would affect crop progress.

🌊 ICON Water Trails Lands Major Grant

The ICON Water Trails initiative just received a $250,000 grant from Bank of America. The funding will help advance the Hubbell Trailhead at Fleur Drive Dam — improving river access, safety features, and amenities as part of the larger plan to connect more people to the water with more than 150 miles of water trails across central Iowa.

🎲 Odds and Ends

🍺 Big Grove Brewery is expanding
One of Iowa’s most beloved breweries is heading west. Big Grove just announced a new taproom coming to Omaha in 2025, and they’ll be expanding to Kansas City in 2026.

🧱 Brick Fest Live canceled
Brick Fest Live, originally scheduled for this weekend at the Iowa Events Center, has officially been canceled. For questions, reach out to [email protected].

🎯 Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe now open
After years of pop-up events, The Rook Room has a permanent home downtown at 300 SW Fifth. The new space offers coffee, cocktails, and hundreds of board games — plus elevated game-night snacks like homemade Hot Pockets.

WEEKEND PLANS 🚨🏁

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

🎶 Summer Concert Series
Unwind with live music and wine this Thursday at Jasper Winery’s Summer Concert Series — a laid-back local favorite as the weather warms up.
📍 Jasper Winery (Map)
📆 Thursday | 🕕 6 PM
➡️ Details

🌿 Sip & Stroll
Enjoy a glass of wine and a guided walk through the Botanical Garden, led by Director of Horticulture Aaron Harpold. Ages 21+ only, registration required.
📍 Botanical Garden (Map)
📆 Thursday | 🕠 5:30 & 7 PM
➡️ Tickets

🧺 Summer Kick Off Party
Celebrate summer with games, a petting zoo, giveaways, and the Farm Boys BBQ Food Truck at The Wild Things Pet Shop.
📍 The Wild Things Pet Shop (Map)
📆 Friday | 🕒 3–7 PM

🎨 Free Family Fun on the Yard
Crafts, yard games, food trucks, and more — come early for all the fun before Moana 2 plays at dusk.
📍 Johnston Town Center (Map)
📆 Friday | 🕔 5–8 PM
➡️ Check it out

🎸 Spring Into Summer Concert Series
Head to Principal Park for two nights of live music — Friday features The Pork Tornadoes, Saturday brings country artist Canaan Smith.
📍 Principal Park (Map)
📆 Friday–Saturday | 🕕 6 PM
➡️ Event Info

🪴 Memorial Day Sale
Save 25% on all hanging baskets and annuals during Iowa Outdoor Products’ Memorial Day Sale.
📍 Iowa Outdoor Products (Map)
📆 Friday–Monday
➡️ Company Site

🎠 Opening Weekend at The Heritage Carousel
Kick off carousel season at Union Park with games, prizes, popcorn, and plenty of rides all weekend long.
📍 Union Park (Map)
📆 Saturday–Sunday | 🕚 11 AM–7 PM
➡️ Carousel Info

🐾 Memorial Day Foam Paw-ty
Foam party, live music, mini golf, and brunch — all at Paws & Pints for you and your pup to kick off summer.
📍 Paws & Pints (Map)
📆 Sunday | 🕚 11 AM
➡️ Event Info

🏈 Des Moines Regional Sports Card Show
Browse 70+ tables of sports cards, memorabilia, Pokémon, and more — free admission and parking.
📍 Hilton Garden Inn WDM (Map)
📆 Sunday | 🕙 10 AM–3 PM
➡️ Details

WEATHER 🌞🌡️

Thursday

High 63 🌡️ Low 44 | ☁️ | 💧 24%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Friday

High 68 🌡️ Low 52 | 🌥️ | 💧 19%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Saturday

High 70 🌡️ Low 54 | ☁️ | 💧 23%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen

Sunday

High 65 🌡️ Low 51 | 🌧️ | 💧 33%
Weather Beacon: 🟢 No change foreseen
Weather Beacon: 🚨🗼🚨 Precipitation is on its way

THE SETLIST 🎶🎤

Thursday

The Schmidt Brothers | 6 | Jasper Winery
The Drama Kings | 6 | DSM Biergarten
The Cardinal Sound | 6 | Valley Junction
Shannon Curtis | 7 | xBk Live
Wiz Khalifa | 8 | Val Air Ballroom
Velvet Trio | 8 | HiFi Brew Lounge
Caster Volor | 9 | Lefty’s Live Music

Friday

Heath Alan | 4:30 | Middlebrook Agrihood
Dave Helmer Band | 5 | Lefty’s Live Music
Pork Tornadoes | 6 | Principal Park
LANI | 6 | Captain Roy’s
Joshua Sinclair | 6 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Ryne Doughty | 6 | Iowa Distilling Co
Napalm Death and Melvins | 7 | Wooly’s
Allie Crummy | 7 | Firetrucker Brewery
Brian Congdon | 7 | Pally’s
Willie Shay | 7 | Simon’s
JPEGMAFIA | 7:30 | Val Air Ballroom
Drive Thirty5 | 8 | Doc’s Lounge
DiZclaimer | 8 | Back Roads Lounge
Decoy Trio | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Liv McNair | 8 | Brick & Ivy Rooftop
Lyxe and more | 10 | Lefty’s Live Music

Saturday

Saints & Sinners | 4 | Revelton Distilling
Micawber | 4:30 | Lefty’s Live Music
Patresa Hartman & Steph Graham | 5 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Zachary Freedom | 5 | Winterset Cidery
Canaan Smith | 6 | Principal Park
Oceano | 6 | Wooly’s
Davvn & Jack the Underdog | 7 | xBk Live
The Nate Sparks Big Band | 7 | Noce
Velvet Trio | 7 | Shirley’s Bar & Grill
Sean Sullivan | 7 | Mickey’s Waukee
Decoy | 8 | The Regal Beagle
The Get Down | 8 | Kenny’s Garage
Open Swim | 8 | Back Roads Lounge

Sunday

Dan Jones and Friends | 2 | Middlebrook Mercantile
Tony Bohnenkamp | 2 | Winterset Cidery
Corbett Reeves | 5 | Exile
The Unlikely Candidates | 7 | xBk Live
Young Widows | 7 | Lefty’s Live Music

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Baseball ⚾️ 

Iowa Cubs
24-20 | 3rd Place | IL West Division

• @ Columbus Clippers
  📆 5/22 | 🕛️ 11:05
  📆 5/23 | 🕛️ 6:05
  📆 5/24 | 🕛️ 6:05
  📆 5/25 | 🕛️ 12:05

• Next Week | VS Syracuse Mets

Soccer ⚽️ 

Des Moines Menace
1-0-0 | 3 PTS | 2nd place | Great Plains Division

• @ FC Ambush
  📆 5/24 | 🕛️ 7:00

Football 🏈

Iowa Barnstormers
1-6 | 7th place | Eastern Division

• VS Tulsa Oilers
  📆 5/23 | 🕛️ 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].