Gay Guide
Listing and event details can change quickly. Please verify with the venue directly before visiting. Lavender Atlas is not responsible for third-party accuracy.
About LGBTQ+ Des Moines
Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, has a gay scene centered on the East Village, the trendy district east of the river nicknamed the Gayborhood around East Fifth and Grand. The Blazing Saddle is Iowa's oldest operating gay bar, recently past its 40th anniversary, joined by the Garden show lounge and the easygoing Buddy's Corral next door. Capital City Pride takes over the second weekend of June and draws more than 40,000 over the weekend with a parade and performances. For a Midwestern capital, the scene is compact, walkable, and friendly, with most venues a few blocks apart.