Des Moines served up a heaping helping of community fun this weekend as the Bacoon Ride 2026 made its colorful return to the city. The annual event — a beloved local tradition that blends cycling, creative costumes, and a celebration of everyone’s favorite cured meat — drew riders of all stripes through the streets of Des Moines on Saturday, June 20.
Photos from the Des Moines Register captured the festive spirit of the day, showcasing participants decked out in imaginative costumes alongside their equally decorated bikes. The Bacoon Ride has built a reputation as one of the metro’s most lighthearted warm-weather gatherings, bringing together cyclists and community members for a shared love of good humor and good times.
Events like the Bacoon Ride highlight what makes Des Moines such a vibrant place to live — neighbors coming together, getting outside, and celebrating community in a way that’s uniquely their own. Whether participants came for the bacon, the bikes, or simply the chance to show off an outrageous outfit, the 2026 edition delivered on all fronts.
Keep an eye out for next year’s ride if you missed this one — it’s the kind of only-in-Des-Moines event that’s hard to top.
Sources: The Des Moines Register
