Welcome to Capital City Pride’s 46th PrideFest! This year we come together to create 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.

Schedule:

General

6:30am PrideStride 5k Registration Opens - Iowa IV Main Stage
8:00am - 9:30am PrideStride 5K - Brenton Skating Plaza (Register)
9:30am - 11:00am Pet Pageant - Bud & Mary’s 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 - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
Noon - 11:00pm Iowa IV Main Stage Acts Performing
1:00pm - 8:30pm Bud & Mary’s Community Stage Acts Performing

Entertainment:

9:30am - 11:00am Pet Pageant - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
11:00am - Noon Zoo to You - Blank Park Zoo - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
12:00pm Bluff Street - Iowa IV Main Stage
12:30pm Girls Rock! Des Moines - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
12:45pm Sarah Tonin- Iowa IV Main Stage
1:30pm Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra - Iowa IV Main Stage
1:30pm Munk Rivers - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
2:15pm Next Generation of Drag - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
2:45pm Transcend - Iowa IV Main Stage
3:15pm Lani - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
4:00pm Pure XTC - Iowa IV Main Stage
4:15pm Kensett - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
5:15pm Lady Revel - Iowa IV Main Stage
5:15pm Go Off, King - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
5:45pm Midwest Drag Showcase - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
6:30pm Pageant Winners - Iowa IV Main Stage
6:45pm Bonne Finken - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
7:00pm Garden Showcast - Iowa IV Main Stage
7:30pm Saddle Gurls - Iowa IV Main Stage
8:00pm Silent Disco featuring DJ Hollywood, Mollie Git Down, and Dylan Phanthavong - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
8:15pm Bob the Drag Queen - Iowa IV Main Stage
9:30pm Aly & AJ - Iowa IV Main Stage
11:00pm DJ Jaide Knight - Iowa IV Main Stage

Family & Youth Zone:

Special Family Events Outside Zone
9:30am - 11:00am Pet Pageant - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
11:00am - Noon Zoo to You - Blank Park Zoo Show - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage
10:30am - Noon Drag Queen Storytime (every 30-minutes) - Storyhouse Book Pub & Raygun

Family & Youth Zone Schedule
11:00am - 4:00pm Family & Youth Zone Active
11:00am - 4:00pm Little Rainbow Maze Challenge

Teen Zone:

11:00am - 5:00pm Teen Zone Active
10:00am - 5:00pm Des Moines Public Library
11:00am - 5:00pm Teen Activities
11:00am - 5:00pm Teen Lounge and Hangout - Ellipsis & 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!
2:00pm - 3:00pm Drag Queen Makeover Tutorial

Health & Wellness Zone

10:00am - 5:00pm Health & Wellness Zone Active
8:00am - 9:30am CCP Pride Stride 5K starting at the Iowa IV Main Stage - Presented by DLL (Register)
9:00am - 9:00pm Hydrating IV Infusions and Injections - Iowa IV
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

Pet Zone

9:30am - 11:00am Pet Pageant - Bud & Mary’s Community Stage (Register)
11:00am - Noon Zoo to You - Blank Park Zoo Show - Bud & Mary’s 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