The parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Spectators will be able to watch an estimated 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol Complex. The parade route starts at the State Capitol Complex and marches west on Grand to 15th Street. The parade will be broadcast live on Iowa PBS starting at 6:15 p.m.

Volunteers

Join us in celebrating Iowa's greatest tradition! We'll have parade volunteer opportunities beginning at 4 p.m. on August 6. 

• Staging Lot - Greet parade entrants and line them up in numerical order, provide parking directions and help non-parade traffic out of the area.
• Barricade/Traffic - Direct non-parade traffic around the staging area and help parade entries find their staging lot.
• Parade Route - Keep spectators off the parade route, answer questions from spectators, and monitor parade entries.
• End of Route/Dispersion - Direct parade entries (vehicles and walkers) off the parade route at the end so they do not stop on the route causing backups.

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