Crowds and friends reunite for East Side Night at the Iowa State Fair
East Side Night brings residents from Des Moines together to reminisce, reunite and celebrate their East Side pride.
East Side Night brings residents from Des Moines together to reminisce, reunite and celebrate their East Side pride.
East Side Night brings residents from Des Moines together to reminisce, reunite and celebrate their East Side pride.
The first Friday night at the Iowa State Fair means something different for everyone, but most people in Des Moines know it's East Side Night for hundreds of people.
East Side Night brings residents from Des Moines together to reminisce, reunite, and celebrate their East Side pride. It's often seen as the unofficial Lee Township and East High School reunion.
"East Side Night is nothing but love," said Erik Bair, who comes out every year.
"We all come together for one night — it's the whole East Side — and it's just one big class reunion," said Katie Hentges.
East Side Night is also a beloved tradition that many take very seriously, like Kristin Dorrance and her friends.
"We have a very large friend group who loves the Iowa State Fair," Dorrance said.
Dorrance told vlog she's not an East Side resident herself, but her friend of eight years, Stacia Dunham, is.
"She was diagnosed in May with throat cancer and cannot be here today," Dorrance said.
Dorrance said her friend is now recovering and that she finished her last radiation treatment on Monday. While she's feeling a bit better, Dorrance said Dunham didn't come out due to the heat.
While Dunham couldn't attend the East Side Night herself, Dorrance made sure to take a picture of her posted on a popsicle-like stick and carry it around.
"I made this cute little picture of her, and I've been taking pictures with all of our friends around the fair, doing fun things with her, saying you may not be here, but you're here in spirit," Dorrance said.
It's that closeness and sense of community that eastsiders say East Side Night is all about, whether hanging out at The Depot, The Bud Tent, or just walking around the state fairgrounds.
To eastsiders who show up every year, this is more than a tradition; it's a sense and show of community.
"We get to see a bunch of old friends and get together," Bair said. "We don't see each other that often, but once a year we get together and it's a great night."
"We stick together. It's Lee Township against the world is the quote of the night," Hentges said. "It's just, we all stick together."
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