Five Things Happening in Downtown Des Moines Through Jan. 12

Coming up this week in Downtown Des Moines (DSM), there’s plenty of things to do and events to check out before they’ve come and gone. Grab a friend or two and head downtown for one of these upcoming events taking place over the next several days:   

First Friday: Keep It Mellow  

Friday, Jan. 6 | Mainframe Studios 
Stop into Mainframe Studios to meet and greet with resident artists, shop local art, enjoy food and drinks, plus special events and entertainment, too! This month, attendees will get a sneak peek at what’s new and coming soon on the second floor of the Studios. 
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Sing Along Piano Party 

Friday, Jan. 6 | Pura Social Club 
You won’t want to miss this one-man show! Musician PJ Gartrell will take requests from the audience. Sing along, dance along, clap along — however you choose to participate, you’re in for a fun time! 
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Charity Chili Cook Off 

Saturday, Jan. 7 | Confluence Brewing Co. 
Come sample 20 different chili entries, each featuring a Confluence beer as one of the soup ingredients. One dollar per each pint of beer sold will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa, along with free will donations. Come hungry and leave happy by making a difference in supporting a local charity! 
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Smells Like Nirvana: A Tribute 

Saturday, Jan. 7 | Wooly’s 
Kurt Cobain fans, rejoice! This Chicago-based group is made up of die-hard Narvana fan musicians emanating the sounds of the legendary grunge band of the ‘90s, including songs from albums including Bleach, Nevermind, In Utero and MTV Unplugged. 
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Capital City Pride Speaker Series: Brandon Wolf 

Thursday, Jan. 12 | Temple for Performing Arts 
The Capital City Pride Speaker Series encourages participants to achieve their potential, find confidence in their abilities and be inspired by LGBTQ+ community leaders. This month’s speaker, Brandon Wolf, is a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ civil rights advocate and survivor of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub tragedy. He has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, Black News Channel, Newsweek, USA Today and several more national outlets and has been recognized among the Huffington Post’s 30 LGBTQ Influencers Under 30 and Business Equality Magazine’s 40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40. This event is free to attend; registration is required. 
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For these upcoming events and more, find tips on Downtown Des Moines (DSM) parking and navigation. For additional upcoming events, visit the Downtown DSM events calendar. Plus, follow @downtownDSMUSA on Instagram for more epic, things-you-just-can’t-miss happening around Downtown.