Capital City Pride 2025

Capital City Pride is back, happening from June 6-8, 2025!

The iconic celebration will culminate in a massive Pride parade with thousands of attendees! The route starts at the Iowa State Capital and travels down Grand Avenue into the Historic East Village. The parade usually kicks off at 12:00pm on Sunday.

Capital Pride in Des Moines, like many others, likely started as a small community gathering and has grown over the years into a large-scale celebration. These events typically encompass parades, music festivals, and various community activities aimed at celebrating diversity and supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Typical activities at such events include live performances from local and sometimes national artists, booths from local businesses and community organizations. Overall, Capital Pride in Des Moines is the largest LGBTQ+ event in Iowa.