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Ticket PriceFree
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Duration1hr 30min
- Friday, July 3, 2026 8:30PM — West Terrace, Iowa State Capitol
Yankee Doodle Pops
Join us for the Des Moines Symphony’s 32nd annual Yankee Doodle Pops!
Join us for the Des Moines Symphony’s 32nd annual Yankee Doodle Pops, Iowa’s largest single-day concert event! This family-friendly, patriotic concert will pay tribute to the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a variety of special performances, including:
- Renowned CBS and NBC television journalist Harry Smith joining the Orchestra to narrate Copland's Lincoln Portrait and the newly-commission American Mosaic by Peter Boyer and photographer/video artist Joe Sohm
- Billy "B.Well" Weathers performing his spoken word piece My, My, My
- The Weary Ramblers opening the evening with a very special Concert Prelude performance
- The Des Moines Choral Society singing several pieces, including The Star-Spangled Banner, with the Orchestra
- An over-the-top fireworks display over the downtown Des Moines skyline
- As always, the Des Moines Symphony will perform time-honored patriotic favorites, including the 1812 Overture and Stars & Stripes Forever
Best of all: the entire event is free. Bring your picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs, or purchase food from an array of vendors at the concert and join us on July 3 at the Iowa State Capitol!
Check back for further information, including Stars & Stripes Section seating.
Viewing Party for Yankee Doodle Pops
The Viewing Party is a premier Independence Day celebration coupled with one of our community’s favorite summertime traditions: the Des Moines Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops! This ticketed event includes a pre-concert cocktail reception, a gourmet picnic dinner provided by Baratta’s, a cash bar, premium reserved parking, HD livestream of the 32nd Annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert and a spectacular view of fireworks over the city skyline.
Plan your evening
Food vendors (on Finkbine)
Each year, in addition to the incredible music provided by the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, Yankee Doodle Pops attendees can sample food and drinks from some of the best local and national vendors around. You can find all the delicious wares on Finkbine, right in front of the Capitol building.
* Note: All food vendors and offerings are tentative and subject to change.
Medical
- For on-site medical needs, please visit the medical unit on Finkbine or a uniformed on-site police officer.
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.
Broadcast Details
- Yankee Doodle Pops will be broadcast live on Iowa PBS. To learn more about streaming and online viewing options, visit iowapbs.org/watch/stream.
Bike Parking
- Free bicycle valet: Starting at 3pm on the Capitol grounds, a free bicycle valet (provided by Des Moines Street Collective) will be available on the corner of E. 9th and Grand. Please provide your own lock.
Parking/Street Closures
- 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 7thStreet – Locust Street to Grand Avenue (8:30AM Sun Jul 2 – 3:00AM Tues July 4)
- Grand Avenue Bridge – Robert Ray Drive to 2nd Avenue (12:00PM Mon Jul 3 – 12:00AM Tues July 4)
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.
Smokefree Air Act
Per the Smokefree Air Act, smoking is prohibited in outdoor areas owned by the state government. This includes the Iowa State Capitol grounds during Yankee Doodle Pops. Troopers patrol the area and do their best to remind guests of the Smokefree Air Act.
In addition, vaping and e-cigarettes are also prohibited on state property.
Event Sponsors
Media Partner
Yankee Doodle Pops supported in part by:
Yankee Doodle Pops Signature Sponsors
Yankee Doodle Pops Premier Sponsors
Yankee Doodle Pops Supporting Sponsors
Yankee Doodle Pops Patron Sponsors
Yankee Doodle Pops Table Sponsors
- Bankers Trust
Program
- KEY / Arr. Damrosch The Star Spangled Banner
- COPLAND Fanfare for the Common Man
- Peter BOYER Music from American Mosaic
- Traditional / Arr. Kessler Armed Forces Salute
- John WILLIAMS Hymn to the Fallen from Saving Private Ryan
- COPLAND Lincoln Portrait
- HOWE / Arr. Wilhousky Battle Hymn of the Republic
- BERLIN / Arr. Healy God Bless America
- Steve HEITZIG “Post Balzac” from Symphony in Sculpture with Billy "B.WELL" Weathers' My, My, My
- WARD / Arr. Dragon America the Beautiful
- TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture
- John WILLIAMS Midway March
- SOUSA The Stars & Stripes Forever
Joseph Giunta Conductor
One of America’s most distinguished, versatile and dynamic conductors, Joseph Giunta is a musician of international acclaim. He is recognized as an important American conductor for his innovative programming and for his compelling interpretations of traditional and new music. His musical depth combined with his boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm makes him one of the most respected and successful orchestra leaders in the United States.
Des Moines Choral Society James Rodde, Director
In 1979, Marion A. Hall assembled a 250-member chorus to perform with the Des Moines Symphony at its inaugural concert in the new Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Growing out of that ad hoc chorus, the Des Moines Choral Society, an auditioned choir of volunteer singers from throughout Central Iowa, has become a vital part of the Des Moines arts community. Under the artistic direction of Dr. James Rodde, the Society continues its 45-year tradition of musical excellence, repertoire development, educational outreach and collaborative community involvement. Each season the Choral Society performs Christmas with the Choral Society, a Celebration in Song: a collegiate invitational, and a spring Masterworks concert at St. Ambrose Cathedral in downtown Des Moines. In addition to a commitment to excellence, the Choral Society is also dedicated to making a permanent contribution to choral literature through the commissioning of new choral works from diverse composers such as Eric Whitacre, Ily Maniano, Elaine Hagenberg, and Marques Garrett. In 2021 the choir premiered Illuminare, Elaine Hagenberg’s first extended work, consisting of five movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra, and in 2023 performed it at Carnegie Hall.
Dr. James Rodde
Dr. James Rodde is the Moen-Hamilton Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Iowa State University, where he has overseen an active program of up to 400 undergraduate choristers. He conducts the Iowa State Singers, the Iowa Statesmen, and teaches courses in choral conducting and literature.
Choirs under his direction have toured internationally to critical acclaim and been honored with performances at 13 national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, and two national conferences of the National Collegiate Choral Organization.
Under his leadership the Iowa State Singers were named the 2013 national winners of The American Prize, College/University Division. As a conducting mentor, one of his students won the 2005 ACDA National Undergraduate Conducting Competition in Los Angeles.
An active clinician, Dr. Rodde has led numerous festival ensembles, including divisional ACDA honor choirs and more than a dozen All-State choirs. Upon his arrival at Iowa State in 2000, he instituted the ISU Honor Choir, a highly select ensemble of high school students chosen annually through live auditions across the state.
Dr. Rodde also serves as Artistic Director of the Des Moines Choral Society, a post he has held since 2003. For over a decade he served ACDA as the North Central Repertoire and Standards Chair for Male Choirs, and he continues to edit and arrange choral music, with a number of published works.
A native of Minneapolis, Dr. Rodde received the bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Augsburg University and completed the M.A. and D.M.A. degrees in Choral Conducting at the University of Iowa. From 1985 to 2000 he served at the University of North Dakota, where he was honored with the Fine Arts Faculty Award for Teaching. His alma mater, Augsburg University, recently honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his significant achievement in vocation and outstanding contribution to the community.
Billy "B.WELL" Weathers Guest Artist
Local hip-hop artist, humanitarian, and creator Billy “B.WELL” Weathers graduated from Simpson College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communications and a minor in Sports Administration. Upon graduation, Weathers began to surround himself with leaders, artists, creatives, and educators with unique and growing perspectives. These relationships added to his creativity and served as sounding resources as he began to embrace new ideas and create resources for his community. Before long, the name B.WELL grew with numerous sold out shows and his work in local schools.
Weathers was named the Des Moines Education Association Volunteer of the Year in April 2020, American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa’s Iowan of the year in July of 2020, Des Moines Register’s “People to Watch in 2021” in January 2021, Simpson College’s Recent Alumni Humanitarian Award in November 2021, and Business Record’s 40 Under 40 Award in April 2022 for his work in founding a local non-profit organization, the B.WELL Foundation.
The B.WELL Foundation strives to build stronger futures for youth and lift them to a place of prosperity and has invested over $100,000 into local schools since its inception in June 2020. As he continues to work with youth and facilitate events to give back, B.WELL hopes to ignite new ideas and light to the next generation along the way.
Harry K. Smith Narrator
One of television’s most distinguished journalists, Harry Smith has been a news anchor for more than 30 years. Before joining NBC News, he hosted the CBS News morning shows The Early Show and its predecessor CBS This Morning for 17 years. Harry Smith was named Correspondent, Rock Center with Brian Williams in July 2011.
Smith served as a senior correspondent for CBS News and substitute anchors for the CBS Evening News, Face the Nation and CBS News Sunday Morning. He also hosted the A&E series Biography.
Smith began his broadcasting career at Denver radio stations KHOW and KIMN and Cincinnati radio station WLW (1973–81). From 1981-82, he worked for Denver's public television station, KRMA-TV. From 1982-85, he served as a reporter and anchor for KMGH-TV, the CBS affiliate in Denver. In 1986, Smith joined CBS News as a reporter and was named a correspondent in 1987.
He received his B.A. degree in Communications and Theater from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Smith lives in New York City with his wife, sportscaster Andrea Joyce, and their two sons.
