2025 Manifestations
December Bingo Fundraise & No Nun Should be Left Cold, Period.
December 17: The Blazing Saddle
We closed out the year with bingo to raise funds for the Des Moines Queer Youth Resource Center! This bingo also marked the second annual winter clothing and period products drive. We raised over $500 and filled two vehicles FULL with donations!! We love everyone that attended, donated and supported our endeavors.
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We also surprised Sister Constance Struggle and Sister Kitty Chaos with their Fully Professed vows!
Day With(out) Art
December 7: Des Moines Art Center
In recognition of World AIDS Day, The Priory partnered again with the Des Moines Art Center for A Day With(out) Art — a day to come together, slow down, and reflect, using art as a space for healing, remembrance, and hope.
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Founded in 1989 at the Museum of Modern Art, this event is a call to action, care, and reflection on AIDS’ impact. Art gives voice to the silence, inspiring compassion and support for those affected.​
DMGMC - Silver Bells
December 6: St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines
The DMGMC welcomed us back again to support their Silver Bells Holiday Concert. Silver Bells showcases the rich tones of the DMGMC, the emotional power of beautiful music, and the extravagant melodies that only the Holiday season can afford.​
Quad Cities Red Ribbon Ball
December 6: Davenport, IA
The Project of the Quad Cities said it best:
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We had leather and lace as far as the eye could see; we had more fun than we thought possible; but most importantly, we had a deep sense of community and an unwavering commitment to serving and supporting our clients.
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Because of that commitment, we raised over $76,000 toward the work we do, and we are so grateful for every dollar.
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A special thank you to our performers and all of the people behind the scenes who made the evening such a success!
If you missed it, we've got you covered. Mark your calendars today for the Red Ribbon Ball 2026 on December 5th at the Hotel Blackhawk!
East Village Holiday Promenade
November 21, December 12: East Village, Des Moines
Once again we brave the winter cold to celebrate the holidays in the East Village. We visited our favorite stores and ventured in to many new ones. We were delighted to see so many people out having a great time.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20: The Little Book
We partnered with The Little Book to honor the trans siblings we lost due to anti-trans violence this year. The event hosted a ceremony of remembrance, speakers, and discussion time as we both honor those we have lost and reaffirm our community’s resilience.
October Bingo Fundraiser
October 25: The Blazing Saddle
We hosted a spoopy Halloween bingo to support Animal Lifeline of Iowa. We had an amazing time and raised over $600 to help Animal Lifeline save the puppies and kitties.
Vampire Ball
October 17: The Garden Nightclub
We joined the Satanic Temple of Iowa for a night of vampiric elegance benefiting the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund. We entertained, mingled, and sold jello shot to help raise over $900!
Ames Pride
October 11: Ames, IA
We returned to Ames for our third Ames Pride! Ames Pride was established out of a need to build community for LGBTQIA+ people in Ames, Iowa State University and the surrounding area. They are committed to building relationships within the community and creating bridges with other groups in the Ames area.
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We say many old friends and made so many more new ones. We will return next year!
Witches Walk
September 9: Ames, IA
The Sisters got witchy with it and descended upon Ames for the Witches Walk. We hit up one of our faves (London Underground) and explored the other amazing small business in downtown!
September Bar Ministry and Gear Night
September 27: East Village, Des Moines
Another fabulous night of community engagement! We started the night at The Garden and then invaded Gear Night at The Blazing Saddle. Shenunigans abounded!
Des Moines Renaissance Faire 2025
September 28: Sleepy Hallow
The Sisters got Medieval and invaded the Des Moines Renaissance Faire! We ate, we drank (just a little mead), and we made merriment all around. We made many friends that day, including the Pirate Queen and King.
ILW 2025
August 22-23: East Village, Des Moines
We joined ILW once again in a celebration of the leather and fetish community in Iowa, hosted by The Blazing Saddle, Iowa’s oldest gay bar located in the East Village of Downtown Des Moines.
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We mingled with the bears, pets, leather people, and kinksters of all kinds throughout the weekend. We opened the show on Saturday with a blessing and emphasized inclusivity and diversity in all aspects of the event.
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The outgoing title family surprised an honored The Priory with the Service to the Community award. We cherish this award and will use it to remind ourselves of the good we can do for the community.
The wonderful JD Fetish Photography captured the group photo of our blessing.
Bar Ministry
July 26th: The Garden Nightclub and The Blazing Saddle
A night of visiting our home bars and local establishments! We smiled a lot, mingled a lot and made merry…a lot! These establishments have been a beacon of light for the community and we love them for it!
More information on our local bars:
Midwest Sister Synod
July 24th-27th, Madison, WI
Two of our sisters were able to join with the Mad City Sisters for a chance for siblings from several Midwest houses to gather to learn, grow, and bond. Celebrating the Madison house with a glitter ceremony, botanical garden tour, and a Mad Tea Party to cap off a wonderful weekend of exploring and engaging their community. They reconnected with current friend and new friendships were forged with some incredible people.
More information on the Synod
Bear Happy Hour and Fundraiser Show
July 12th, The Garden Night Club
The Priory partnered with the Capital Bears for their “Christmas in July” Happy Hour and fundraiser show for Adopt-a-Family! We raffled items and sold shots as well as having a Sister sing Christmas tunes and another read from a smutty novel!
Valley Junction Pride
June 29th: Valley Junction
Valley Junction Pride rounded out June for the Sisters.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day wandering around Valley Junction, listening to performers, dropping by local businesses, and getting to take pictures with folks. We had so much fun, we forgot to take our own pictures!
More information on Valley Junction Pride
Photo Credit to Bryon Houlgrave / The Des Moines Register
Saddle Bingo with the Sisters
June 28th: The Blazing Saddle
If you've never attended Bingo at the Saddle with the Sisters, you are missing out!
The Priory had generous donations from local businesses for prizes and raised money to help us continue to serve the community at large. Thank you to The Blazing Saddle for continuing to partner with us!
More information on The Blazing Saddle:
Iowa City Pride
June 21st: Downtown Iowa City
The Priory traveled to Iowa City to celebrate Pride on a very hot Iowa day.
Despite the exceptionally steamy weather, Priory members were out spreading love and joy to attendees.
More information on Iowa City Pride:
DMGMC Pride Cabaret
June 13: Temple for Performing Arts, Des Moines
The Priory joined the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus for their Pride Cabaret: Proud ‘N Pink.
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Proud ‘N Pink is not your average cabaret. It’s part concert, part catharsis, and a full-throated celebration of love and the strength we find in one another when times get tough. You’ll hear the power-pop anthems of Pink, the poetic brilliance of Maya Angelou, and the unapologetic songs from artists like Chappell Roan, Pentatonix, Janelle Monáe, Doechii, and Bad Bunny. This is a setlist with purpose. Our ensemble TRANScendent will also premiere a powerful new commission titled “They Cannot Erase Us,” created for this moment.
Capital City Pride
June 6-8: Easy Village, Des Moines
Pride season kicked off early with Capital City Pride!
We spread joy and frivolity around the pride grounds on Friday night and were incognito for Saturday festivities. We also snuck in a Conclave and Sister Clara's house Saturday afternoon.
Sunday we were up bright and early to prepare for the Pride parade! This year our theme was flower power as a peaceful protest and we marched a gaggle of clown nuns down Grand Avenue. We twirled for the Beaverhausen's and put on a spectacle for all the queers and allies!! While we didn't win best parade entry this year (cough, cough, rigatoni) we were delighted to see the honor go to the Iowa Pride Ensembles with their debut entry. We're still exhausted but it was a magical weekend for all.
More information on Capital City Pride can be found here:
Bingo supporting the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition
May 31: The Blazing Saddle, Des Moines
Our second bingo was a blast! We packed the house once again to raise money for the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition.
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The IHRC works to create health equity in Iowa communities through advocacy, education, and drug user health services.
They are committed to building power among people impacted by the war on drugs, including people who use drugs and communities of color; committed to acceptance of stigmatized and minoritized peoples and people who use drugs; and committed to dismantling systems of race, class, and gender-based privilege.
May East Village Ministry
May 16: East Village, Des Moines
Pappa Tarte came to town to meet the clowns! What better way to introduce him to Des Moines than drag shows and gay bars?!
Mother's Day Brunch and Bingo
May 11: Garden Nightclub, Des Moines
The Priory hosted our brunch and bingo event to celebrate the fabulous mothers in our lives! Our very own, Randi Tarte, served up some great food and the fabulous Rusty Jones kept everyone hydrated at the bar. We are beyond thankful to everyone that showed up and look forward to hosting more bingo events throughout the year.
Animal Lifeline's Comedians to the Rescue
May 2: Event's Center West, West Des Moines
Our favorite animal shelter invited us once again to their annual Comedians to the Recuse fundraiser. Animal Lifeline is a no-kill animal shelter that specializes in special needs cats and dogs. Willie Farrell, Jonathan May, and Dwayne Clark entertained the audience in one of Animal Lifeline's biggest fundraisers. The Priory will be hosting bingo later this year for Animal Lifeline so stay tuned!
More information on Animal Lifeline can be found here:
Indie Bookstore Weekend Story Time
April 27: The Little Book, Des Moines
We returned to our favorite bookstore to host another story time and sing-a-long! The Little Book hosted The Priory once again to read and sing with kids of all ages, and kids at heart. Afterwards, we ventured through Highland Park for delicious food and meeting new friends at local businesses.