The Des Moines Symphony's 28th Annual Yankee Doodle Pops

Each year, the Des Moines Symphony welcomes more than 100,000 Central Iowans to celebrate Independence Day at Yankee Doodle Pops, the largest single-day concert event in Iowa. This July, Music Director & Conductor Joseph Giunta and the musicians of the Des Moines Symphony are pleased to bring The Des Moines Symphony’s 28th Annual Yankee Doodle Pops back to the steps of the Iowa State Capitol and to its largest-ever audience through a statewide broadcast in partnership with Iowa PBS and Iowa Public Radio. As always, the Des Moines Symphony will perform time-honored patriotic favorites, including the 1812 Overture and Stars & Stripes Forever. The winner of the Des Moines Symphony’s annual "Oh Say, Can You Sing?" competition will open Yankee Doodle Pops with The Star-Spangled Banner. 

How to Get There

Free Shuttle

• Park and ride to Yankee Doodle Pops! DART will detour its FREE D-Line shuttle and extend its hours to 11PM on July 1 to accommodate Des Moines Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops attendees.

Bike Valet

• The Des Moines Bicycle Collective will offer a FREE bike valet on the Capitol grounds for Yankee Doodle Pops. The bike valet will be open 5:30-10:30PM.

Parking/Street Closures

• Due to street closures and limited parking around the Capitol, we recommend using the FREE D-Line Shuttle or Bike Valet services.
• Limited parking is available in designated downtown lots around the Capitol. The public is welcome to park in all lots with the exception of 13 and 21 – click here to see map
• The following roads will be closed during the following times:
  • Penn/East 7^thStreet – Locust Street to Grand Avenue (8:30AM Thu Jun 30 –  3:00AM Sat Jul 2)
  • Grand Avenue Bridge – Robert Ray Drive to 2nd Avenue (12:00PM Fri Jul 1 – 12:00AM Sat Jul 2)

ADA accessibility

• Capitol lots 9 & 10 (near the intersection of Grand and Finkbine) will be available for handicapped parking. Only those with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking tags or plates will be allowed in these lots. Click here to see map
• A drop off for those with physical disabilities is located at the corner of Grand Avenue and East 9th (Finkbine) Street.
• Additional handicapped parking spots may be available in Capitol lots 1, 2, 8, 11, 15, 19, 24, PS1.

Plan your evening

Food vendors (on Finkbine)

• Vendors will be announced in spring 2022.

Medical

• For on-site medical needs, please visit the medical unit on Finkbine or a uniformed on-site police officer.

Volunteer

• Interested in volunteering at Yankee Doodle Pops? Check out our SignUp page for available shifts. You’ll get great parking and reserved seating close to the stage!

Safety

• For safety and security needs or concerns, please visit the Iowa State Patrol Command Center on Finkbine or notify a uniformed on-site police officer.
• Members of the Iowa National Guard will set off four howitzer cannons, as designated in the musical score, during Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The cannons will be located in the west corner of the triangle bounded by the Public Safety Parking lot, Walnut Street and Finkbine.