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Iowa Leather Weekend 2027

August 27, 2027 - August 29, 2027

ℹ️ What Is Iowa Leather Weekend

  • Iowa Leather Weekend (ILW) is an annual celebration of Iowa’s leather, fetish, kink, bear, and pet communities, hosted by The Blazing Saddle in Downtown Des Moines.

    The event’s history dates back to 1988, when Robert Eikleberry, known as “Mongo,” created the original Mr. Iowa Leather contest. Over the years, the weekend grew and additional titles were introduced, including Ms. Iowa Leather, Iowa Bear, and Iowa Pet.

    Today, ILW has evolved its title system to three inclusive, gender-neutral titles:

    🏆 Iowa Leather
    🐻 Iowa Bear
    🐾 Iowa Pet

    The change continues ILW’s long tradition while opening its titles to a broader and more diverse group of contestants. ILW titleholders have the opportunity to represent Iowa at various national competitions and events.

📆 2027 Details & Timing

  • For 2027, Iowa Leather Weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 27, 2027 at 3:00 PM CDT. 
  • The weekend wraps up on Sunday, August 29, 2027, 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:. 

  • 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.

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