The Garden

Celebrating diversity since opening in 1984, The Garden has become not only Des Moines' hottest gay nightspot, but also the premiere place for gays and lesbians to meet and greet in all of Iowa. Located downtown in a well-known renovated warehouse, The Garden hosts out-of-towners from all over the Midwest including Omaha, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. The Garden boasts bars on both levels and dancing all week, with disco on Wednesdays and house music on Thursdays. Friday and Saturday drag shows keep you guessing who’s really a lady. Check out the amateur strippers on Friday while the pros strut their stuff on Saturday. Sundays, The Garden proudly presents Rita’s Rec Room, a hilarious take on the comedy club. There are special events almost every night, like live concerts and dance troupes, with drink specials and reduced cover before 9pm Thursday through Saturday. It’s a great place to let your hair or wig down in a comfortable environment where almost anything goes.