The 2024 Burning Boat fundraiser event, originally scheduled for New Year’s Eve at the Des Moines Marina, has been canceled, organizers announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
The decision comes amid limited staff availability and a large number of outstanding tasks that need to be addressed in a short timeframe, according to event officials.
This year’s event had new organizers at the City of Des Moines, and was intended to raise funds for the city’s Parks & Rec programs. The previous two events, raised over $22,000 for Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care and $26,000 for the Highline Schools Foundation.
“This decision was made due to a combination of factors, including limited staff availability and a significant number of outstanding action items that require attention within a short timeframe,” organizers said.
Burning Boat has been a popular New Year’s Eve tradition, drawing crowds to celebrate community spirit, with cathartic rituals like writing messages on pieces of paper, putting them into a wooden boat made by Maritime High School students, then watching it burn.
Organizers remain optimistic about its return in 2025 and thanked supporters for their understanding.
Further updates regarding next year’s event are expected to follow as planning progresses.
