dsm Season Preview

Wait a sec — it’s already July? Really?

If your summer is racing by faster than bare feet on a hot sidewalk, don't worry: There's still time to enjoy it. We've pulled together a few suggestions to make the most of the season in Central Iowa — outdoor concerts, art shows, food festivals and a little get-together called the Iowa State Fair.

Just tuck this list in your "fun stuff" folder. Or better yet: Forward it to your friends who are already buying school supplies. They know how to make things happen.

Thanks for reading,

Michael Morain
dsm editor

Alicia Koda Scott, Hannah Zepeda and Emily Derick work at Joe’s Diner in "Waitress" at the Des Moines Playhouse. (Photo: Brent Isenberger)

THEATER

Help yourself to pie — on plate, stage or screen

In 1902, after a group of doctors had the gall to suggest that Americans should reduce their pie intake to just twice a week, the New York Times editorial board sharpened their knives in its defense. “Pie is the food of the heroic,” they wrote. “No pie-eating people can be permanently vanquished.”

So go ahead: Have another slice. And while you’re at it, enjoy a double serving of pie-inspired entertainment in the next few weeks.

For starters, “Waitress” opens Friday and runs through July 27 at the Des Moines Playhouse. The musical about a diner waitress who pins her hopes and dreams on a pie-baking contest features music and lyrics by Sarah Bareilles. It premiered on Broadway in 2016, visited the Des Moines Civic Center in 2017 and became a movie in 2023.

In other pastry news, the new documentary “Pieowa: A Piece of America” is making the rounds at special screenings across Iowa, including this Thursday at the Varsity and Aug. 10 at the Iowa State Fair. Producer, director and mighty-fine baker Beth Howard spent the last few years chronicling Iowa’s proud obsession with pie — at church potlucks, county fairs, RAGBRAI and even the American Gothic House, where Howard used to live. A note on the film’s website ascribes to the dessert less heroic patriotism than the Times did in 1902, but just as much significance: “Pie is nonpartisan, symbolizing kindness, comfort, generosity and unity — all the things we need more of right now.”

More Theater

“A Comedy of Errors,” July 16-20, Salisbury House and Gardens. This year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn show is the Bard’s shortest play and possibly the funniest, with a pair of long-lost identical twins whose reunion causes all sorts of silly chaos.

“Hello, Dolly!” July 25-Aug. 3, Urbandale High School. Well, hello, Dolly! It’s so nice to have you back where you belong: onstage in this summer’s production from Urbandale Community Theatre.

“Parade,” July 29-Aug. 3, Des Moines Civic Center. The national tour of the 2023 Tony-winning revival retells the early 20th century tale of a Jewish man and his wife whose lives in Georgia are upended when their neighbors accuse him of an appalling crime.

The 10th Annual Cloris Awards, Aug. 24, Hoyt Sherman Place. The local theater awards named for the late Cloris Leachman, who made her debut at the Des Moines Playhouse, honor talent both onstage and behind the scenes.

“Blithe Spirit,” Sept. 12-28, Tallgrass Theatre Co. Noel Coward’s comedy about a writer who hosts an ill-fated seance comes back to life in a new local staging in West Des Moines.

“Bright Star,” Sept. 19-25, Des Moines Playhouse. The musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell tells the tale of a World War II soldier who returns home with big dreams of becoming a writer.

Countless stitches went into Ben Millett's forthcoming quilt show at the Des Moines Art Center. (Photo: Duane Tinkey)

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Threads of Pride at the Des Moines Art Center

For the first time, the Des Moines Art Center’s annual Iowa Artists show will spotlight a distinctly Iowan art form: quilts. Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett highlights the multilayered work of a local artist who uses time-honored techniques to explore 21st-century themes of identity, community and social activism.

Millett’s bright palette and original patterns nod to LGBTQ iconography and activism through traditional quilting methods. While quilts are central, the exhibition also includes garments, multi-paneled fabric collages and an artist’s book made from fabric.

Drawing from Queer history, pride, color theory, and pop culture, Millett uses personal palettes to express the complexities of Queer identity, visibility and justice, as well as life paths not taken.

His work complements LGBTQ themes found throughout the museum’s galleries and serves as a timely centerpiece. The exhibition runs from July 26 through November 2.

Read more in the current issue of dsm Inclusion.

Various exhibitions, through July 27, Iowa State University Museums. Catch a handful of eye-opening shows before the museums close for the summer, including: “Journeys: Landscape as Self-Expression,” “In the Woods: Jeanine Coupe Ryding” and Jennifer Steinkamp’s time-lapse nature animations in “Judy Crook 13” (pictured).

The Art of Dr. Seuss, through Aug. 23, Moberg Gallery. A series of works from the pop-culture icon encourages viewers to take a look “through the wrong end of the telescope.”

Firelei Baez, through Sept. 21, Des Moines Art Center. The Dominican artist whose installation made from emergency tarps was part of last year’s “Hurricane Season” exhibition gets a whole show to herself this time, showcasing work that explores anthropology, geography, folklore and other Afro-Caribbean crosscurrents. Read a recent dsm interview with curator Elizabeth Gollnick.

Art of Wine, July 17, Des Moines Art Center. Winefest is organizing a night to sip a flight and see the sights at the art museum. Starting with a guided tour showcasing four works of art, followed by a four-course meal paired with wines to reflect the artwork.

“Unfurling Garden,” opening Sept. 4, Drake University’s Anderson Gallery. The fall semester exhibition features work (pictured) by Drake alumna Nikki Renee Anderson.

Robert Rauschenberg: Currents, 1970, Sept. 6-Dec. 14, Des Moines Art Center. A new exhibition features 17 prints from the permanent collection, plus an audio piece on loan from the artist’s namesake foundation.

50th Anniversary Celebration, Sept. 19, Iowa State University Museums. The cluster of on-campus museums marks its first half century. Several new shows will open for the fall semester.

Quilt Show, Sept. 25-27, Iowa State Fairgrounds. The Des Moines Area Quilters Guild’s annual show features vendors, demonstrations and more than 700 quilts that represent a gazillion hours of creative labor.

Musicians make house calls during the annual festival in the Union Park neighborhood. (Photos: Mark Lage)

MUSIC

PorchFest DSM brings the music home

Des Moines may not draw the crowds of Bonnaroo or Coachella, but our own music festivals have plenty of talent and tenacity. In fact, the city boasts quite a few celebrations of sound, supported by hundreds of local musicians, activists, performing artists and fans. One such event is PorchFest DSM, a free festival set for Sept. 7 in the neighborhood around Union Park. Catch 20 performances while getting in some steps; musicians perform on volunteer hosts’ front porches.

The festival has a grassroots, small-town feel to it. “Come with your wagons, coolers, lawn chairs and cash to tip the performers,” festival co-founder and music director Annie Ducharme-Jones said. She encourages folks to wear comfortable shoes, since the festival spreads out through the neighborhood. Maps are available online and at the merch tent.

Ducharme-Jones and her husband, Dave, lead an Americana-rock band called Ducharme-Jones and started the music festival in 2022 after returning, invigorated, from a gig at a similar festival in Kansas City. “Porchfest is a movement. Others are popping up in places all over the country,” she said. The couple teamed up with Captain Roy’s co-owner Jack Daugherty and the Union Park Neighborhood Association to create the Des Moines version of PorchFest. This will be the festival’s fourth year.

Ducharme-Jones hopes the festival can grow into other neighborhoods and feature even more local musicians as the festival gains popularity.

More Music

Jazz in July, July 8, 15, 22 and 29, Hoyt Sherman Place. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy free outdoor concerts with musicians from around town and the Midwest. The final program will start outdoors before moving inside to the historic auditorium.

Celebration in Brass, July 9, Ankeny Northview Middle School. The annual drum and bugle corps showdown features nine teams from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. They’ll compete for glory as the sun sets over the stadium.

Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival, July 19, Tower Park. The free festival showcases local bluegrass bands under the Allen Hazen Water Tower. You can buy food and drinks on-site, but it’s BYOLC: Bring your own lawn chair.

Stars of Tomorrow, July 19, Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium. See (and hear!) opera’s next generation when the 40 apprentice artists of the Des Moines Metro Opera step into the spotlight. The concert is free, but registration is required.

Beck and the Des Moines Symphony, July 24, Water Works Park. The genre-bending, Grammy-winning rocker (pictured) teams up with the orchestra for a big night at the Lauridsen Amphitheater.

Hinterland, Aug. 1-3, St. Charles. This summer’s lineup in the southern Iowa hills includes Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey and Tyler the Creator.

Three Dog Night, Aug. 7, Hoyt Sherman Place. “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” but I ignored her and listened to the band that racked up 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, including “Joy to the World,” “Black and White” and “Shambala,” during their heyday in the late 1960s and ’70s.

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge, Aug. 20, Des Moines Civic Center. The legendary lesbian trailblazers team up for a concert tour simply titled “Yes We Are.”

Jason Aldean, Sept. 19, Casey’s Center (formerly Wells Fargo Arena). The country star brings his “Full Throttle” tour for one big night with special guests Nate Smith, RaeLynn and Dee Jay Silver.

Eric Church, Sept. 27, Casey’s Center. The country star’s “Free the Machine Tour” features the Marcus King Band.

Des Moines Symphony season opener, Sept. 27-28, Des Moines Civic Center. The orchestra opens its 88th season (one for each key on a piano) with Tchaikovksy’s Fifth Symphony and Viet Cuong’s “Vital Sines,” featuring the Eighth Blackbird sextet.

Other Events

Architecture on the Move, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 3, downtown. The Iowa Architectural Foundation leads expert-guided walking tours on the second Friday of each month. The tours start at Capital Square and follow four different routes.

Des Moines Water Lantern Festival, July 19, Riverview Park. Festival-goers can design lanterns and set them afloat on the lake as the evening fades into night.

National Senior Games, July 24-Aug. 4, multiple venues. The biennial games take over the city with more than 10,000 athletes (ages 50 and up) in 20 sports, plus their raucous fans (of all ages).

National Balloon Classic, July 25-Aug. 2, Indianola. The festival in and above Indianola draws balloon pilots and enthusiasts from around the world for morning competitions, late afternoon exhibitions and evenings full of live music, fireworks and illuminated balloons.

Des Moines Tea Festival, July 27, Des Moines Heritage Center. With more than 10 vendors, the daylong festival is steeped in culture, history and how-to tips for casual sippers and connoisseurs alike.

Iowa State Fair, Aug. 7-17. This year’s Grandstand lineup includes everybody from Hank Williams Jr. to Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pitbull, T-Pain and Kidz Bop.

Sweet Corn Festival, Aug. 9, Adel. Hungry? Mark your calendar for the 46th annual husky, silky, juicy, salty, buttery extravaganza around the Dallas County Courthouse.

dsm Restaurant Week, Aug. 15-24, across the metro. Celebrate Central Iowa’s favorite dining destinations with 10 days of chef-curated menus and deals for lunch and dinner.

World Food & Music Festival, Aug. 22-24, Western Gateway Park. The multisensory feast that regularly ranks among USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards returns for another weekend of food and fun.

Fall Renaissance Faire, Aug. 30-Sept. 14, Sleepy Hollow. The freewheeling festival returns for three weekends of music, feasting and general merriment — joust in time for fall.

100th Annual Des Moines Kennel Club Dog Show, Sept. 5-7, Iowa State Fairgrounds. Dogs and their fans from across the United States and Canada will gather for the tradition that started 700 years ago in dog years.

Concours d’Elegance, Sept. 7, Western Gateway Park. Classic cars — sculptures on wheels — roll into town for the annual spectacle of style and engineering around the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

Cast Iron Cook-Off, Sept. 13, Living History Farms. Who will whip up the tastiest meal with surprise ingredients over an open fire or wood-burning stove? You’ll have to travel back to 1700, 1850, 1876 and 1900 to find out.

Beaverdale Fall Festival, Sept. 19-20, Beaverdale. The neighborhood goes all out for its annual autumnal shindig with a carnival, parade, food stands and live music.

I-Cubs Season Closer, Sept. 21, Principal Park. Kids can run the bases after the season’s last home game against those bird-brained Toledo Mud Hens.

Oktoberfest, Sept. 26-27, Water Works Park. Dust off your lederhosen: The celebration of all things German returns.

Applefest & Medicine Shows, Sept. 27, Living History Farms. If an apple a day can’t keep the doctor away, try an old-fashioned elixir (of which the FDA does not approve). You’ll find everything to stem your seedy, hardcore cravings.

Head of the Des Moines, Sept. 27, the riverfront north of downtown. The annual 3-mile regatta draws rowing teams from across the Midwest.

Latino Heritage Festival, Sept. 27-28, Western Gateway Park. Savor sights, sounds and flavors from Central and South America during the two-day fiesta.