Yankee Doodle Pops

dmclone

Well-Known Member
Oct 20, 2006
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In all my years of living in Des Moines, I've never went. Recommendations on best places to sit? What time to get there if it starts at 8:30.
 
Sitting usually doesn't matter. Avoid places where trees will hock fireworks. We usually get there about 7. Yankee Doodle pops is one of my favorite Des Moines things.
 
In all my years of living in Des Moines, I've never went. Recommendations on best places to sit? What time to get there if it starts at 8:30.

About 5:30 or 6 it'll start being busy and all the shaded areas will be full. By the time it starts it's pretty much solid people from the Capitol to the stage.

All the trees in the area are really big and nice looking now but the area is not the greatest for fireworks watching. The fireworks in the past have been fired from the grand st bridge. You'll want to try and confirm that.
 
It is pretty cool. As for the fireworks themselves, you'll find better displays elsewhere but it is good show with the orchestra playing and the skyline as the background. One bummer this year is that the I-Cubs are on the road. Normally you get to see both Fireworks displays...many times one right after the other.
 
One thing i'd recommend- park on the west side of the river somewhere and walk over. Parking is a mess for this on the east side as that's where everyone who doesnt know downtown tries to park, and getting out of there is even worse- you'll be home quicker if you walk a little and leave from there, traffic thins out west of 2nd.
 
Great time. Last year Icubs fired theirs off at nearly same time.

DO NOT park in the parking garage. Spent 2 hours there after one 4th. .

Love me some Overture of 1812...

As others have said stay clear of trees.
 
This is kind of an aside, but we've had a great time the last few years parking on the roof of the parking garage on Court and 2nd and watching both Yankee Doodle Pops and the I Cubs fireworks. We park there, walk around the river with the kids until it gets dark, bring some popcorn (and some beer) and enjoy the show. Usually can get out of town without the traffic being too bad.
 
I know this isn't formal concert like in the Civic Center but what would you do if someone sitting by you talked during the Des Moines Symphonic Orchestra performance?

I had this happen to me last time I went.
 
One thing i'd recommend- park on the west side of the river somewhere and walk over. Parking is a mess for this on the east side as that's where everyone who doesnt know downtown tries to park, and getting out of there is even worse- you'll be home quicker if you walk a little and leave from there, traffic thins out west of 2nd.

Good advice.

Another option to consider that I've been doing more and more when there are big events downtown. I throw our bikes in the back of my truck and park somewhere on the edge of downtown (or somewhere along a trail that heads into downtown). It is a great way to stay outside all the car congestion/parking issues and still be able to get yourself up and close to whatever event you are attending.
 
Good advice.

Another option to consider that I've been doing more and more when there are big events downtown. I throw our bikes in the back of my truck and park somewhere on the edge of downtown (or somewhere along a trail that heads into downtown). It is a great way to stay outside all the car congestion/parking issues and still be able to get yourself up and close to whatever event you are attending.

Great, now I'm going to need to buy some bikes and a truck.:smile:
 
I saw in the paper the other day that they will be having the downtown shuttle loop running along Grand/Locust (and Walnut segment) every 10 minutes until 11pm...so if you want to park further away or eat elsewhere you can get there and back on the bus.

Map:
http://www.ridedart.com/sites/defau...ymphony Yankee Doodle Pops 2016 6.10.2016.jpg

WEB%20DART%20Dline%20Des%20Moines%20Symphony%20Yankee%20Doodle%20Pops%202016%206.10.2016.jpg
 
I saw in the paper the other day that they will be having the downtown shuttle loop running along Grand/Locust (and Walnut segment) every 10 minutes until 11pm...so if you want to park further away or eat elsewhere you can get there and back on the bus.

Map:
http://www.ridedart.com/sites/defau...ymphony Yankee Doodle Pops 2016 6.10.2016.jpg

WEB%20DART%20Dline%20Des%20Moines%20Symphony%20Yankee%20Doodle%20Pops%202016%206.10.2016.jpg

I thought about doing this but then I thought about how many people would be trying to get on the bus after the event all at once.
 
I might ride the shuttle to get there and just walk back to my car afterwards because of the long line that there is going to be.
 

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