Iowa

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

Published

5 months ago

June 5, 2025

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

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.

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Iowa

Crooks sets program record with 43 points to power No. 16 Iowa State women past Valparaiso 97-50

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Crooks sets program record with 43 points to power No. 16 Iowa State women past Valparaiso 97-50

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Audi Crooks set a program record with 43 points in just 20 minutes for No. 16 Iowa State in a 97-50 rout over Valparaiso on Wednesday in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Crooks set the program’s single-game record on a free throw with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, passing Tonya Burns’ mark of 42 against Nebraska on Jan. 18, 1984. Crooks scored the first six points of the fourth for a 73-42 lead before being subbed out.

Crooks, who also added seven rebounds and a block, extended her streak of scoring in double figures to 71 straight games on 18-of-23 shooting. It’s the longest active streak in NCAA women’s basketball and the longest in Cyclones history.

Crooks poured in 22 points in the first half, leading a 33-10 run and giving the Cyclones (3-0) a 43-22 lead at the break.

Addy Brown was the second-leading scorer for the Cyclones with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists. Brown also went over 1,000 career points. Jada Williams notched her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 assists, along with three steals.

Milana Nenadic was the lone double-digit scorer for the Beacons (0-3), tallying 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting with six rebounds and a couple of steals.

The Cyclones offense was 53.4% from the field (39 for 73), while holding the Beacons to 29% (18 for 62). It marks four consecutive games with 85 points or more to begin the season, and an average of 44.5 points per game allowed.

Up next

Valparaiso: The Crusaders will host Milwaukee on Sunday.

Iowa State: The Cyclones face Norfolk State at home on Sunday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Iowa nonprofit worries about meeting Thanksgiving meal demand amid SNAP funding concerns

Published

22 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Iowa nonprofit worries about meeting Thanksgiving meal demand amid SNAP funding concerns

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A local nonprofit that provides Thanksgiving meals to families in need says it might not be able to fill all requests this year due to concerns about SNAP benefit funding during the government shutdown.

The Iowa Giving Crew has distributed Thanksgiving dinners since 2017. This year, the organization plans to distribute 2,500 meals, surpassing its previous record of 2,000, and is expanding its coverage area to include the Quad Cities.

“People don’t always humanize that, and you know, it’s really hard to share that story,” said Danielle Monthei, fundraising director for Iowa Giving Crew.

Monthei said she understands food insecurity firsthand, having been raised by a single mother who relied on SNAP benefits.

“She worked really, really hard. The benefits that we were given were really necessary for us,” Monthei said.

The nonprofit loads boxes with everything families need for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. With SNAP benefits not being funded during the government shutdown, organizers worry more people will need assistance this year.

“What I think some of us feel the void we are trying to fill is food insecurity in general, whereas ‘Operation Give Birds’ is to create the Thanksgiving experience,” Monthei said.

The organization’s Operation Give Birds program typically focuses on providing Thanksgiving extras while families use their regular benefits for everyday groceries. But the current funding situation could change that dynamic.

People can start signing up on Thursday to receive Thanksgiving meals through the Operation Give Birds website or Facebook page. The program serves the areas of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, Dubuque, and Davenport.

“When people have access to their benefits, they can only worry about Thanksgiving,” Monthei said.

With Congress moving forward to reopen the government, Monthei said she hopes public support will help meet grocery needs so Operation Give Birds can focus on holiday extras.

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