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PrideFest

Save the Date – 2025 Pridefest: June 6-8

Welcome to Capital City Pride’s 46th PrideFest! This year we come together to do all the things that Pride is intended to be: celebration, protest, cultural festival, and more. Capital City Pride was born when a group of courageous people marched from the Iowa State Capitol to the Blazing Saddle in the East Village. This protest march evokes images of the origins of Pride Festivals that were rooted in the demand for the recognition of rights for queer and trans folks. Our 2025 PrideFest will be filled with a spirit of queer joy, liberation, and protest as we continue to ignite change in our community and celebrate our rainbow of diversity. We will be adding new content here as PrideFest gets closer. For now, check out this great video of PrideFest 2024!

2024 Pride Guide

Pridefest Schedule

Friday, June 7

5:00pm – 11:00pm Festival Open
5:00pm – 9:00pm Booths and Vendors Open
5:00pm – 9:00pm ADA Station Open
5:00pm – 11:00pm Krause Group Main Stage Acts Performing
5:00pm – 7:30pm GreenState Credit Union Community Stage Acts Performing
7:30pm – 11:00pm Silent Disco | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage

5:00pm Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band | Krause Group Main Stage
5:00pm Covered in Melanin | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
6:15pm
Go Off, King! | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
6:30pm
The Finesse | Krause Group Main Stage
6:45pm
Transcend | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
7:30pm Silent Disco | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
7:45pm Domita Sanchez Presents… | Krause Group Main Stage
8:45pm Monét X Change | Krause Group Main Stage
9:45pm Rebecca Black | Krause Group Main Stage

Saturday, June 8

6:30am PrideStride 5k Registration Opens | Brenton Skating Plaza
8:00am – 9:30am PrideStride 5K | Brenton Skating Plaza [REGISTER]
9:30am – 11:00am Pet Parade | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage [REGISTER]
10:00am – 7:00pm Festival Booths and Zones Open
10:00am – 6:00pm ADA Station Open
10:30am – Noon Drag Queen Storytime (every 30 minutes) | At Storyhouse Books & Raygun
11:00am – Noon Zoo to You Animals from Blank Park Zoo | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
Noon – 11:00pm Krause Group Main Stage Acts Performing
1:00pm – 8:30pm GreenState Credit Union Community Stage Acts Performing

9:30am – 11:00am Pet Parade | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
11:00am – Noon
Zoo to You – Blank Park Zoo | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
Noon Girls Rock! Des Moines | Krause Group Main Stage
1:00pm Munk Rivers | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
1:30pm Mia Prosperi | Krause Group Main Stage
2:15pm Next Generation of Drag | Krause Group Main Stage
2:15pm
Sarah Tonin | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
2:45pm Decadence | Krause Group Main Stage
3:15pm Noche Latina | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
3:45pm Alyx Rush | Krause Group Main Stage
4:30pm
Lani | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
4:45pm
Miyani | Krause Group Main Stage
5:15pm Colo Chanel | Krause Group Main Stage
5:45pm
Lady Revel | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
6:00pm
Saddle Gurls | Krause Group Main Stage
6:30pm
Garden Showcast | Krause Group Main Stage
7:00pm
Imperial Court of Iowa | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
7:15pm
Ballet Des Moines – Love Letters | Krause Group Main Stage
7:30pm Major! | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
7:45pm
CCP Pageant Winners | Krause Group Main Stage
8:45pm
DJ Disc Nixon | Krause Group Main Stage
9:45pm Shea Couleé | Krause Group Main Stage
11:00pm Gottmik | Krause Group Main Stage

Special Family Events Outside Zone
9:30am – 11:00am
Pet Parade | Held at the GreenState Credit Union Community Stage 
10:30am – Noon Drag Queen Storytime (every 30-minutes) | Held at Storyhouse Book Pub & Raygun

Family & Youth Zone Schedule
11:00am – 4:00pm
Family & Youth Zone Active
11:00am – Noon Zoo to You Show at the GreenState Credit Union Community Stage | Blank Park Zoo
11:00am – 4:00pm Little Rainbow Maze Challenge
11:00am – 4:00pm Fire Truck Tours | Des Moines Fire Department
11:00am – 4:00pm Sand Art Workshop | ARAG Legal
11:00am – 4:00pm Bubble Bash & Creation Station | KinderCare Kids
11:30am – 1:00pm Meet the Thera-pets | Animal Rescue League
1:00am – 4:00pm Balloon Animals | Professor Von Air
1:00am – 4:00pm Face Painting | Queen Bee Face Painting
1:00am – 2:00pm Cupcake Decorating Class | Molly’s Cupcakes
1:00am – 2:00pm Meet Crash the Mascot | Iowa Wild
1:00am – 2:00pm Meet Cubbie the Mascot | Iowa Cubs
1:00am – 2:00pm Meet Alpha the Mascot | Iowa Wolves
3:00am – 4:00pm Star Party Solar Telescope | Science Center of Iowa

11:00am – 5:00pm Teen Zone Active
10:00am – 5:00pm Des Moines Public Library
11:00am – 5:00pm
What Does Pride Mean to Me Community Art
11:00am – 5:00pm
Teen Activities
11:00am – 5:00pm
Teen Lounge and Hangout | UNI & DMACC
11:00am – 5:00pm
Selfie Station | DMACC
11:00am – 5:00pm Corn Hole and Other Games
11:00am – 4:00pm Learn to Rock, Run, and Record | Girls Rock!
1:00pm – 5:00pm Hockey Rink | Iowa Wild Hockey
1:00pm – 2:00pm Crash the Mascot | Iowa Wild
1:00pm – 2:00pm Alpha the Mascot | Iowa Wolves
1:00pm – 2:00pm Cubbie the Mascot | Iowa Cubs
2:00pm – 3:00pm Drag Queen Makeover Tutorial

10:00am – 5:00pm Health & Wellness Zone Active
8:00am – 9:30am
CCP Pride Stride 5K at the Brenton Skating Plaza | Presented by DLL
9:00am – 1:00pm
Pride Blood Drive | LifeServe Blood Center
9:00am – 9:00pm Hydrating IV Infusions and Injections | Iowa IV
10:00am – 5:00pm
Health Screenings | UCS Healthcare
Noon – 5:00pm Dunk Tank | Pride Sports League
Noon – 6:00pm Polk County Health Department
Noon – 6:00pm Broadlawns Medical Center
2:00pm – 4:00pm Lifting Competition | Pride Fitness Company

9:30am – 11:00am Pet Parade | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
11:00am – Noon Zoo to You Animal Show | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
11:30am – 1:00pm Meet the Thera-pets from Animal Rescue League | Family and Youth Zone
9:30am – Noon Animal Rescue League Adoptable Pets | Pet Zone

Sunday, June 9

10:00am – 5:00pm Festival Open
10:00am – 5:00pm Booths and Vendors Open
10:00am – 3:00pm ADA Station Open
9:00am – 10:00am Pride Yoga | Family and Youth Zone
10:00am – 11:00am Pride Ecumenical Worship Service, Service Order | Krause Group MainStage
10:00am – 11:00am Cardio Dance | GreenState Credit Union Community Stage
Noon – 1:30pm Capital City Pride Parade Presented by Veridian Credit Union | E. Grand Avenue
3:00pm CCP Parade Winners Announced | Krause Group Pride MainStage
3:15pm Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus | Krause Group Pride MainStage
3:45pm Bonne | Krause Group Pride MainStage

Pridefest Registration

Registration

Complete a registration form for 2024 Pridefest Ms. Mr. Mx. Pageant, PrideFest Parade, Booths, Pet Parade and 5K PrideStride.