Hip-hop/ R&B singer, CeCe Peniston will perform at The Garden in Des Moines Saturday to headline Gay Pride Week festivities there.

“We were looking for someone active and popular in the gay community,” Scott Neasham, owner of The Garden said in a press release, “and CeCe ranked top of the list.”

Garden manager, Jay Walker said he visited a show of Peniston’s in Phoenix and was able to convince her to perform in Des Moines. Walker said The Garden has gotten a lot of positive response when it was announced that Peniston would sing there.

“She does the Gay Pride Parade in Phoenix and through her people I was able to get her to come here,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot of interest since then.” He added that Peniston was looking forward to helping out the Des Moines festivities.

Peniston just released the first single “Movin’ On” from her fourth album of the same name. Her first studio album in almost three years will follow with a release date in August.

Saturday’s performance will highlight her more popular songs, though: “Hit by Love,” “I’m in the Mood,” “Keep Giving Me Your Love” and her biggest hit, “Finally.”

But the fun doesn’t stop there. On Sunday at 1 p.m. is the Gay Pride Parade which will be followed by Bar-B-Q fun, complete with volleyball and Karaoke, at The Garden, Walker said.

Concert tickets are still available at The Garden for $20. A limited number of preconcert cocktail party tickets are available for $35. All ages age are welcome to the Bar-B-Q, but those wishing to attend the concert must be 21 or older. The Garden is located at 112 S.E. Fourth Street. For more information call 243-3965.