Des Moines Pride Parade concludes a weekend of LGBTQIA+ celebration
The Des Moines Pride Parade downtown.
Des Moines’ Historic East Village transformed into a runway for drag queens, a display for pride flags and a home for members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Capital City Pride started off the weekend of celebration Friday evening with the PrideFest kickoff, leading into performances from DTF Productions and Fiona Kills. DTF Productions also closed out the weekend as the last performance before the ending ceremony.
The Friday night headliner was drag icon Trixie Mattel. Her massive blonde wig, radiant pink mini-dress and defined dark eyeliner completed the Barbie-like look she is known for and named after. Her DJ set, as she stated, was filled with music that wasn’t “a little bit gay,” or “moderately gay,” but “very gay.”
Mattel rose to fame when she competed on the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where she was eliminated twice. Mattel’s fame continued to grow during season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, where she earned the third All-Stars crown.
Shangela, who was the first drag queen to compete on three different seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race—including competing against Mattel on All-Stars season three—performed as the headliner Saturday night.
The main event of the weekend was the annual Pride Parade, which started at noon Sunday at the Iowa State Capitol and ended at 2 p.m. on Grand Avenue.
The parade included support from local businesses, performers, churches and individuals supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
After the parade, the three floats were selected based on creativity and energy and were awarded prizes.
PLATFORM, a nightclub downtown, came in first place. The business received a trophy, two V.I.P. tickets to 80/35, four tickets to the Blank Park Zoo Rainbow Safari and free entry into the 2024 Capital City Pride Parade.
Tonic, a bar downtown, came in second place. They received a trophy, four tickets to the Blank Park Zoo Rainbow Safari and free entry into the 2024 Capital City Pride Parade.
Kum and Go came in third, winning free entry into the 2024 Capital City Pride Parade.
Bob “Mongo” Eikleberry, original owner of the LGBTQIA+ Des Moines bar Blazing Saddles, gives out the Capital City Pride Robert (Mongo) Eikleberry Community Service Award every year to someone he feels is the most deserving.
“There is only one person that I could think to give it to this year: James Raymond,” Eikleberry said. “If you met him, you couldn’t help but love that laugh. May God rest his soul.”
Raymond, who passed away in May, performed under the drag persona Ruby James Knight for over 30 years. The award was given to Raymond’s family.
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