This weekend the Drake neighborhood will shine brighter than ever with the return of Dogtown Lights.
The immersive light show with music takes over University Avenue near Drake University.
“(One of our goals is) making the neighborhood safe and fun to use year-round. One of the ideas was a lighting event,” said Christopher Civitate, the neighborhood development manager with Invest DSM, the real estate investment nonprofit in Des Moines, about how the event first came about in 2021. “(We were) approached by Wells Fargo with a grant that was related to small, diverse business owners… and bring people in when foot traffic really falls off.”
The idea of a lighting event like this had been one that Invest DSM had brainstormed, but the Wells Fargo grant helped get the event running last year and is once again a factor in making Dogtown Lights possible this weekend.
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What’s happening during Dogtown Lights?
As the event returns for 2022, Civitate said there will be “more than double the amount of lights as last year.” In 2021, the holiday lights extended from 23rd to 24th streets. Now the lighting will stretch as far as 25th Street. Additionally, there will be more event programming for this Saturday’s kickoff, which runs until 9 p.m., with a variety of activities through the neighborhood.
Events and activities throughout the evening include:
- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ― Face painting at Dough Co. Pizza, 2330 University Ave.
- 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ― Riffs for a Cure at Lefty’s Live Music, 2307 University Ave.
- 6:15 p.m. ― Official unveiling of this year’s lights
- 6:25 p.m. ― Remarks from event organizers
- 6:40 p.m. ― Performance from Leradee and the Positives
- 7:30 p.m. ― DJ performance
- 8 p.m. ― Display Case EP release show at xBk Live, 1159 24th St.
Throughout the evening, Mars Café, 2318 University Ave., will also be celebrating its second anniversary with food, drink and live music. Gursha Ethiopian Grill, 2316 University Ave., will also have free food and Lucky Horse, 2331 University Ave., will have sliders and drinks available in its parking lot while the Drake Small Business Clinic will host giveaways and provide snacks. Civitate also mentioned free yoga and a scavenger hunt during the evening.
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Live music during Dogtown Lights
The Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) working with Invest DSM to bring in the live band and DJ for the evening.
“(It’s) just a chance to get bands that we love and a really great live show in front of an audience,” said Mickey Davis, the executive director at DMMC.
Davis also encourages those who come out for the evening to check out the events at Lefty’s Live Music and xBk Live, though DMMC didn’t organize those. According to Davis, the increasing abundance of music performance spaces outside of downtown Des Moines is good for the community.
“Live music is really baked into the neighborhood’s growth and Dogtown really shows that music plays a big role in the health and vibrancy of a neighborhood,” he said.
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Events like Dogtown Lights are meant to encourage more live entertainment. According to Civitate, last year’s event performed well, though the exact measure of success is hard to quantify.
“Coming out of the pandemic, some of the businesses were new, some of them had been closed for a while,” he explained. “All of the businesses performed better than expected.”
Once this evening ends, though, Civitate noted that the lights themselves will stay up through February. Since the display is programable, the lights will continue to change over the course of the next few months, often in recognition of dates like the Lunar New Year or Black History Month, in hopes of continuing to encourage foot traffic during the slower winter months.
“I think there are huge opportunities to support our local businesses and strengthen our corridor,” said Civitate. “Encouraging that in any way we can is one of the core parts of the mission work that we do.”
Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Des Moines Register. Reach him at [email protected] or 319-600-2124, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.