Each month, we highlight the most buzzworthy places and events in Greater Des Moines in a feature we call Des Buzz. It's your “in the know” list of places to go!
4th of July
There’s no better way to kick off July than celebrating Independence Day in Greater Des Moines! Whether you’re looking for fireworks displays, live music, or other ways to spend the holiday weekend enjoying the sunshine, we’ve got you covered. Cheer on the Iowa Cubs, splash away the day at Adventureland, or catch a local parade. Plus, there are fireworks shows happening in every corner of the metro, so plan accordingly. Start your weekend with a bang by checking out the full list of all the events here!
RAGBRAI
Iowa’s biggest bash is rolling through Des Moines on Wednesday, July 26! Experience Des Moines-apalooza at Waterworks Park when RAGBRAI riders arrive to town. It will be a day full of music, food and fun. Des Moines is anticipating an epic number of riders, which means an epic party is in sight. There will be free live music all day long, with headliner act Lynyrd Skynyrd ending the evening. Check out the Des Moines-apalooza website here for all the information you need for a successful RAGBRAI celebration.
Glenstone MultiGolf Course
The country’s first 18-hole MultiGolf Course will be open in July in Grimes! MultiGolf is a 3-in-1 course combining park golf, foot golf, and disc golf. This park is the perfect way to try a new sport, while your friends can do one of the other options at the exact same time. While the entire course isn’t open yet due to complications with other projects, Holes 1-7 and 13-18 are available for use. Go and give it a try so that you’re prepped for the full 18 once it’s ready! See the updates to the project here.
80/35
Des Moines’ most iconic music festival is back this month! Follow the chorus down to Western Gateway Park on July 7 and 8, where this year’s headliners include The War on Drugs and Big Boi, as well as a large, diverse mix of regional, national, and international acts. See the full lineup here. Tickets start at $55, but there are multiple free stages to explore as well. You don’t want to miss the return of the music fest that put Des Moines on the map!
AAU Junior Olympic Games
Greater Des Moines will be welcoming more than 14,000 athletes to town when the AAU Junior Olympic Games begin on July 26. These games will continue through August 5 with more than 10 sporting events happening throughout those 11 days. Cheer on athletes in anything from baton twirling to fencing, or even sport stacking. AAUJO will happen throughout the entire metro at three different locations: Drake University, Wellmark YMCA, and the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex. With such a large event, we are looking for volunteers to help out as well. If you are interested in volunteering to support athletes, check out the opportunities here.
Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend
Indycar officially returns to the Iowa Speedway, "The Fastest Short Track on the Planet," Friday July 21 through Sunday, July 23. With the purchase of your ticket, you also gain admission to the concerts each day as well. Saturday headliners include Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney, and the weekend wraps up on Sunday with Zac Brown Band and Ed Sheeran. You won't want to miss the action on the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway!
Molly’s Frozen Ice Cream
We all know and love our friends over at Molly’s Cupcakes, and now it’s time for their sister store to shine. Right around the corner from their shop, they have now opened Molly’s Frozen, an ice cream shop! Specializing in homemade premium hard-pack ice cream, they are showing they are experts in more than just cupcakes. Enjoy ice cream in between two cookies, or even mix in cupcake pieces into your ice cream. They will be open daily Tuesday – Sunday, so stop by and sample your new favorite treat.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Where’s the beef? Well, starting on July 31, it will be in West Des Moines, where the famous Ruth’s Chris Steak House opens its first Iowa location. Featuring three patios, three bars, five private dining rooms, wine lockers, valet parking, and a multi-level parking garage, the space looks to be as opulent as the prime beef it serves up in massive portions. Like the 40-ounce bone-in tomahawk Ribeye that comes on a sizzling 500-degree plate. They sell the sizzle and the steak!
