Iowa
Pride events span across Iowa for 2025. Find ways to celebrate LGBTQ+ Iowans near you.

Pride flag colors, explained: Meanings behind the rainbow colors
The rainbow Pride flag has become a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s how the flag came to be and what its colors represent.
Who’s ready to celebrate? June marks Pride Month and LGBTQ+ Iowans across the state will be celebrating their community’s history and culture with plenty of parades and events throughout the month.
Here’s where to find LGBTQ+ community events across Iowa in June.
(Events are organized in chronological order)
SUX Pride
Sioux City is celebrating Pride the first weekend of June, with a diversity march, main stage acts, vendor booths, food trucks, story times and more. Saturday night, all events are 21+.
When: 7 p.m. on June 5, 5 p.m. on June 6 and 11 a.m. on June 7
Where: Virginia and Fourth Street, Sioux City on June 5 and 6, Sioux City Convention Center on June 7
Quad Cities Pride Festival
The Quad Cities are bringing a weekend packed with entertainment. From a Pride Choir and dance party, to DJs and drag queens, or vendors and activities, they’ll have it all. Passes start at $10 for daily admission.
When: 4 p.m. on June 6, 12 p.m. on June 7
Where: Schwiebert Riverfront Park, Rock Island, Illinois
Capital City PrideFest
Capital City Pride is celebrating it 46th PrideFest in Des Moines. The three-day event is hosted in the heart of the Historic East Village and will feature local drag queens, DJ performances, full festival activities like games and vendors and much more.
When: 5 p.m. on June 6, 9 a.m. on June 7, 10 a.m. on June 8
Where: East Village of Des Moines
Dubuque Pride Festival
Dubuque is celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with performances, local vendors, food trucks and plenty of family-friendly fun at their festival. The event is free, and welcomes all ages.
When: 12-5 p.m. on June 7
Where: Town Clock Plaza, downtown Dubuque
Annual Ottumwa Pride Block Party
Celebrating its fifth year, the Ottomwa Pride Block Party is switching things up for an afternoon of fun in the sun. Soak in the pool and positive energy and celebrate love and inclusivity.
- When: 4-10 p.m. on June 7
- Where: The Beach Ottumwa
Bi-State Unity Pride Parade
The annual Quad City Unity Pride Parade is back. The parade links Iowa and Illinois by crossing the Mississippi River using the Centennial Bridge.
- When: 11 a.m., June 14
- Where: Starts at Chill Ice Cream & Eats (421 River Drive, Davenport)
Let Love Fly
Kites will soar over North Liberty in honor of Pride. There will also be activities and giveaways from community groups. All ages are welcome.
- When: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on June 14
- Where: Centennial Park, North Liberty
Des Moines People’s Pride
A community-based and centered event, Des Moines People’s Pride is back for its third year and will consist of local vendors, artists and performers. “The purpose of DSM People’s Pride is to be a safe, inclusive event for all people in our community, which means maintaining a cop-free space and requiring masking,” according to its website.
- When: Noon – 4 p.m., June 14
- Where: Water Works Park (2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines)
Burlington Pride in the Park
With more than 60 vendors, Burlington Pride in the Park is back and bigger than ever. There’s entertainment scheduled, a parade and pet parade and of course plenty of drag shows.
- When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on June 21
- Where: Crapo Park
Iowa City Pride and Parade
Iowa City’s Annual Pride Festival is back to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Join for vendors, activities, drag shows, a parade and more.
- When: Noon-10 p.m. on June 21
- Where: Downtown Iowa City
Oskaloosa Pride in the Alley
Oskaloosa is hosting Pride in the Alley. Join for a photo booth, puppets, vendors and more.
- When: 1-6 p.m. on June 21
- Where: 109 South Market Street, Oskaloosa
Ankeny Pride
Ankeny is celebrating its fourth annual pride at the end of the month with a talent show, rainbow run, pet parade and plenty of vendors. Find out more at ankenypride.org.
- When: 4-9 p.m., June 21
- Where: Southview Middle School (1020 Southwest Cherry Street, Ankeny)
Burlington Pride on the Riverfront
Burlington is also hosting a day full of community and support at the end of June. There will be mindfulness yoga, a parade, main stage entertainment and more.
- When: 8 a.m. on June 28, 9 a.m. on June 29
- Where: Burlington’s Great River Bridge riverfront
Valley Junction Pride
Valley Junction is hosting its second-ever Pride celebration this year, which will include a pet parade by Bone-A-Patreat, drag story time, a maker’s market, entertainment and plenty more.
- When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., June 29
- Where: 137 Fifth Street, West Des Moines
Know of an event we missed? Email iowaconnect@gannett.com for consideration.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

Iowa
Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren joins growing 2nd District GOP field
Iowa
Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson launches campaign for U.S. Senate

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate at the Radisson Hotel in Cedar Rapids on Sunday.
“In the Senate, I will fight to make America look more like Iowa,” Hinson said. “Here, we know the difference between boys and girls. We know that families deserve to keep more of what they earn, and we know the people, not the government, always come first,” she said.
Right now, Ashley Hinson represents northeast Iowa’s 2nd District in Congress.
She’s running to replace Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who announced earlier this month she would not run for re-election.
“Ashley Hinson gives me hope. Someone that I know fights for me. Someone that has my back. And somebody that will have your back,” the Jones County Sheriff, Greg Graveler said about Hinson.
Hinson told Sunday’s crowd she wants to keep deporting illegal immigrants, cut taxes, and defend farmers in agriculture.
She also addressed Democrats who she said may consider her an extremist.
“If it’s extreme to want parents in charge of our kids’ education, if it’s extreme to want safe borders and safe streets, if it’s extreme to believe that there are only two genders, then they can go ahead and call me whatever they want,” Hinson said.
While Hinson will face plenty of competition for the Senate spot from other Republicans and Democrats, she said she’s confident in her campaign.
“We can only deliver on these critical wins, and make America safer and stronger for a generation to come if we win this seat. Or correction – when we win this seat,” Hinson said.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa Looks to Extend Streak vs. MAC Opponents

A pair of lengthy streaks will go up against each other at Kinnick Stadium. Saturday, September 13 marks Week 3 of the college football season. Iowa and UMass are set to do battle at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Hawkeyes return home with a 1-1 record. Their Week 1 victory over Albany wasn’t close, 34-7 in favor of the Hawkeyes. As for last week, Iowa wasn’t able to get past No. 16 Iowa State. Their three-point loss marked the second season in a row they lost to the Cyclones. Last year, they fell, 20-19. While they’ve only lost by four-combined points in the last two seasons, these are still key losses that don’t sit well with HC Kirk Ferentz.
Ferentz has been with Iowa since 1999. The 70-year-old head coach most recently won the Big Ten West in 2023 with his Hawkeyes finishing the 2024 season 8-4 (6-3). While Big 10 play has yet to begin, the legendary HC has a different streak that he’d love to keep alive.
Omar-Rashon Borja of the Mid-American Conference wrote, “The Hawkeyes have not lost to a MAC school since 2013, when a Jordan Lynch-led NIU Huskies squad scored 10-unanswered points with five minutes remaining to take a 30-27 win at Kinnick Stadium.”
He added that Iowa had also lost to Central Michigan the year prior, 32-31, marking back-to-back MAC losses for the Hawkeyes. Since falling to the Huskies by three-points in 2013, Iowa hasn’t looked back. They remain perfect against a conference that no Big 10 team has any right losing to in the first place.
As for the Minutemen, UMass has a streak of their own that they’ll bring to Kinnick Stadium, “The Minutemen have not defeated an Autonomous/Power conference team or an automatic qualifying team since beating Boston College in 1981,” Borja said.
Borja spoke highly about Iowa, but he knows that anything can happen in college football, “Sure, the conventional wisdom says the Minutemen stand no chance over the reliably consistent Iowa Hawkeyes, but Iowa has been the type of team to let an underdog hang around and stay in the game in the past due in the part to their style of play under long-time head coach Kirk Ferentz.”
Both streaks will go head-to-head in a Saturday night showdown that could see UMass shock the world. Iowa is far from a perfect team, but on paper, they should have no issue getting past 0-2 UMass. Borja predicted a 27-11 Iowa victory, you can find On SI’s score predictions here.
If UMass is able to get their biggest road victory in recent memory, it would snap their 44-year drought. Not only that, but it would snap a 10-year streak for Iowa that the Hawkeyes have no plans on dropping anytime soon.
Don’t forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!
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