TodayYANKEE DOODLE POPSOrquestra Alto Maiz opens at 6:30 p.m. for the Des Moines Symphony’s annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert, which begins at 8:30 p.m. on the west side of the State Capitol and ends with a fireworks finale. Free, and DART will extend the hours of its D-Line downtown shuttle until 11 p.m. Parking is available on the streets and in state lots around the Capitol. Lot 10 at the corner of East 9th and Des Moines streets is for attendees with ADA designation. The ramp at Pennsylvania and Grand avenues is open to the public and parking is available in downtown ramps. Go to www.dmsymphony.org.

Today-SundayGOODGUYS 20TH HEARTLAND HOT ROD AND CUSTOM CAR NATIONALSHead to the State Fairgrounds for a car show with more than 3,500 hot rods, customs and classics through ’72. There will be a swap meet and sale corral, hot rod seminars, fireworks Saturday night, Autocross and more. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. $18 general admission, $6 for children 7-12, free for children 6 and under. Free parking. Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Go to www.heartlandnats.com.

Through July 30JAZZ IN JULYJazz in July, Metro Arts Alliance’s monthlong series of free concerts, kicks off its 29th year today in neighborhoods throughout greater Des Moines. Go to www.desmoinesregister.com/life or www.jazzinjuly.org for a complete concert list.Saturday-Sunday80/35 MUSIC FESTIVALThe downtown music festival returns for a fourth year in Western Gateway Park with Girl Talk and Of Montreal headlining. The event features a paid main stage with acts like Grace Potter, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Titus Andronicus and Karl Denson, and two stages of free music including Blackalicious, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Envy Corps and others. The festival starts at noon each day. $60 for both days or $35 per day through www.midwestix.com ($40 at the gate). Go to www.80-35.com.

Thursday-July 10ANKENY SUMMERFESTThe long list of activities at this annual festival of all things summer includes a carnival, a kiddie parade (5:30 p.m. July 8) and a cardboard boat regatta (July 9 at Northview Lake). On the last day, kids ages 1-9 can run in the Hawk Trot and stay up late for the fireworks display at 10 p.m. that night. 210 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny. Go to www.ankenysummerfest.org.July 8BLUES BEFORE SUNSETThe State Historical Society’s monthly concert features a performance by Bella Soul featuring Tina Haase Findlay for its July edition. The concert is held on the State Historical Building’s Grand Terrace and includes food by Fat Tuesday Cajun Restaurant and pizza by Baratta’s. Wine, beer and soft drinks are available. Free. Go to www.iowahistory.org.

July 9CORNDOG KICKOFF BENEFIT AUCTION AND FAIR FOOD GRAZING PARTYTaste the foods of the fair – without having to wait until August – at the 15th annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party. The event also celebrates 100 years of the butter cow. “There’s Nothing Butter” than a night with your favorite fair foods, an auction and entertainment. 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 in advance, or $100 after June 30. Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Go to www.blueribbon foundation.org.

July 9BREWFESTEnjoy unlimited samples of 400 beers from more than 125 brewers at the fifth annual Brewfest. Held at Principal Park, the event is an afternoon of sunshine, live entertainment and, well, beer, from 3 to 7 p.m. It expands to both levels of the concourse this year to allow space for increased attendance and easy access to restrooms and concessions. Experts from breweries will be on hand to share their knowledge, and food will be provided by Principal Park concessions. $23 in advance at area Hy-Vee stores and Principal Park, or $28 at the door. Designated driver admission is $10. Principal Park, 1 Line Drive. Go to www.brewfestdsm.com.

July 12GATHERING ON THE GROUNDSStop by the Iowa State Fairgrounds for an evening of music, food, bikes and cars during Gathering on the Grounds. Have a motorcycle or new/restored car you’d like to show off? Cruise it to the event and park it on the Grand Concourse for everyone to see. $5 admission gets you a ticket for any food or beverage item you like. Additional food and beverages are available for purchase. Free parking. 6-10 p.m. Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue.

July 12CELEBRATION IN BRASS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS CONTESTPut some music in your week and check out the drum and bugle corps contest, featuring The Colts, a corps from Dubuque. They’ll compete against five other corps, including teams from California, Illinois and Massachusetts, during the Celebration in Brass contest. 7 p.m. $10-$40 (groups of 10 or more get a $5 discount). Waukee High School Stadium, 555 S.E. University Ave., Waukee.July 15-17

36TH ANNUAL COUNTRY LIFE AND POWER SHOWThe Central Hawkeye Gas Engine and Tractor Association will host the 36th annual Country Life and Power Show, with antique tractors, engines, tractor pulls, demonstrations and more over the weekend. There will also be a craft and flea market featuring local vendors. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $4 general admission, free for children 12 and under. Held in Waukee. Take I-80 to exit 117 (Waukee exit), then go south on R-22 (Ute Avenue) about a quarter mile and watch for signs.

July 15 through Aug. 7′HAIRSPRAY’Tracy Turnblad and all her dance-crazed friends give it a go on “The Corny Collins Show” in the Des Moines Community Playhouse’s new production, starring Samantha Aaron as Tracy and Douglas Cochrane as her larger-than-life mom, Edna. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $20-$35 for adults, $19-$33 for seniors and $20 for students. Call (877) 862-5621 or visit www.dmplayhouse.com.Through July 17

DES MOINES METRO OPERASee three operas. “La Bohème” is back for a fifth time, with Puccini’s larger-than-life arias and the tragic love story. Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites” is based on the real-life story of an order of Catholic nuns who get swept up in the French Revolution, and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” tells the tangled tale of a beautiful woman and three goofballs: the guy who loves her, his rich uncle and the uncle’s pompous doctor. Through July 17 on the Simpson College campus in Indianola. $47-$87. (515) 961-6221. Go to www.desmoinesmetroopera.org.

July 21-24SHAKESPEARE ON THE LAWNRepertory Theater of Iowa presents the comedy “As You Like It,” which gave the world the phrases “all the world’s a stage” and “too much of a good thing,” for the eighth annual outdoor series at Salisbury House and Gardens. Take a blanket or lawn chair and, if you’re feeling fancy, pre-order a picnic from Gateway Market ($10 for the sandwich basket, $15 for one with wine and cheese). Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. Go to www.salisburyhouse.org.

July 22-31IOWA SHAKESPEARE EXPERIENCEDes Moines’ third annual outdoor Shakespeare festival presents two shows downtown at the Simon Estes Amphitheater, as well the historic Randleman House in Carlisle (July 29) and Wagner Park in Ankeny (July 30). On the program: “The Regina Monologues,” a re-imagined story about Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I, and “Mark Twain-ment Tonight,” based on the writings of the Bard of Hannibal, Mo. All of the performances are free. Go to www.iowashakespeare.org.

July 23WING DING FESTIVALIt’ll be a “cluckin’ good time” at the annual Wing Ding event, which benefits VSA Iowa. Enjoy wings from 11 different Des Moines restaurants, plus live music, eating games, contests and more. Admission includes a pound of wings of your choice and a drink ticket. Restaurants include Court Avenue Brewing Company, Bourbon Street Grill, Daytona’s, el Bait Shop, Felix and Oscars, Gerri’s, Jethro’s, Mo’Rub, Quinton’s, Pyle’s Barbecue and West End Diner. Soulful Security, Dead Yellow Canaries, Truth Be Told, Floodplane, Jamie Grimm, Jeremy Alverez, J.B. Williams and Brandon Harkin will perform. 4-11 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at Des Moines area Hy-Vees, or $20 at the door. Jethro’s BBQ, 3100 Forest Ave. Go to www.wingdingdsm.com.

July 24-30RAGBRAIThe Register’s 39th Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa rolls from Glenwood to Davenport this year, with overnight stops in Atlantic (July 24), Carroll (July 25), Boone (July 26), Altoona (July 27), Grinnell (July 28) and Coralville (July 29). Each town will be throwing a big party. Expect to see more Cyclone, Hawkeye, Panther and Bulldog jerseys than usual on July 29, when alumni from the state’s colleges and universities rally support for the ride’s first-ever College Spirit Day, finishing with mascot relays in Coralville. Go to www.ragbrai.com.

July 29-30ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVALViva l’Italia! The Italian-American Heritage Festival returns to downtown Des Moines on the Court Avenue Bridge. Dine on authentic Italian foods at several vendors, shop for unique items at craft booths, watch the bocce ball tournament and Mama Mia contest, and enjoy live music and entertainment all weekend. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. Free admission both days before 4 p.m. with a food or monetary donation to the Food Bank of Iowa, or $5 after 4 p.m. Court Avenue Bridge downtown. Go to www.italianfestivalofiowa.com.

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