ℹ️ What Is Iowa Leather Weekend
- Iowa Leather Weekend began in 1988 as a simple contest for Mr. Iowa Leather. Over the years it expanded to include additional titles — Ms. Iowa Leather, Mr. Iowa Bear, and Iowa Pet — turning the event into a full-scale celebration of the fetish, leather, bear, pet, and kink communities.
- ILW is hosted by The Blazing Saddle — Iowa’s oldest gay bar, located in the East Village of Downtown Des Moines.
📆 2026 Details & Timing
- For 2026, Iowa Leather Weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM CDT.
- The weekend wraps up on Sunday, August 30, 2026, making it a three-day event.
🎉 What Happens at ILW — Events, Contests & Socials
ILW is much more than a title contest weekend. It’s a full community gathering combining events, socials, contests, vendor-mart, and more:
- Title Contests: During the weekend ILW awards the titles of Mr. and Ms. Iowa Leather, Mr. Iowa Bear, and Iowa Pet. Winner-holders go on to represent Iowa in various regional and national competitions.
- Social Events & Themed Parties: Expect events such as a Cigar Smoke-Out, a Grill Out, Rubbermen Meet-Ups, Pet “moshes” or socials (for pet/pup-play community), and other themed gatherings.
- 3-Day Vendor Mart: A large vendor marketplace offering leather gear, fetish wear, accessories, and more. Many attendees look forward to this as a chance to browse, shop, and connect with vendors from across the region.
- Community & Charity Engagement: ILW maintains strong community ties — their website lists a broad range of community partners including LGBTQ+ support organizations, Pride groups, health and social-justice/nonprofit organizations, showing that ILW is more than socializing — it’s also about solidarity, support, and giving back.
- Victory Party & Closing Events: At the end of the weekend, ILW hosts a Victory Party and other closing events to honor contest winners and celebrate the community together.
🤝 Why ILW Matters — Community, Culture & History
- ILW is one of the longest-running leather/fetish events in the Midwest. Its history stretches back decades, evolving from a single-title contest into a multifaceted community event.
- It provides a regional gathering point for people involved in leather, bear, pet, kink, fetish — whether newcomers or long-time community members. For many, ILW is about connection, acceptance, and shared identity.
- ILW fosters community outreach and visibility. By partnering with advocacy, health, and social groups, it supports more than the social or fetish scene — it contributes to LGBTQ+ visibility, support networks, and broader community health and solidarity.
- The event tradition helps sustain and grow leather/fetish culture in Iowa and surrounding regions — offering education, social bonding, safe spaces, and opportunities for personal expression.
