WHERE CREATIVITY BECOMES COMMUNITY
Unfiltered Events exists to create bold, inclusive, and accessible events that celebrate creativity, amplify underrepresented voices, and connect communities through art, music, community events, and shared experiences. We are a social enterprise that host events to give back. A portion of revenue is donated to organizations supporting families and children impacted by abuse, teen pregnancy, autism awareness and mental health initiatives.
Decades on the Orchard
Oct 17, 2026, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Winterset Cidery, 1638 US-169, Winterset, IA 50273, USA
Unfiltered sounds through the Eras. Join us in 2026, in beautiful Winterset, Iowa, for an unforgettable experience where we rewind through the decades. For one day only, we’re taking over the orchard with nonstop music of every era you love. From classic rock to 90s alt to early‑2000s emo anthems, each set is crafted to take you back and keep you dancing.
Featuring a handpicked lineup of cover bands performing on a stage beneath open skies.
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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
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Not Quite Brothers
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Emo Kids
Festival-goers can enjoy:
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Live music all night from local and touring acts
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Delicious eats from local food trucks and vendors
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Craft beer, Ciders and refreshing beverages from Iowa brewers.
Bring your friends, your blankets, and your love for all the eras. Unfiltered Events isn't just hosting a music festival, it’s creating a place to connect, celebrate, and feel rooted. This is your chance to experience the eras, unfiltered
Tickets on sale now!
Meet the bands
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a nostalgic trip back to the start of rock and roll, with a strict adherence to the 1950-1969 timeframe. A trip back to when songs were tossed back and forth by artists, and one night could find Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis all on the same stage. An experience of the birth of rock music, with over 50 songs from a time before music started its electronic shift. Their repertoire is ever-growing and assures you’ll be twisting all night long with their modern take that continues to be true to the original sound. Like the king himself said, “Rock and Roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can’t help but move to it”.
Not Quite Brothers is Central Iowa's fastest growing cover band. Formed in 2018, the band quickly became known for their huge sound, eclectic setlist and ability to enhance any party. Fans of all ages agree... "it feels like I am watching the band they are covering in their heyday" and "It's so cool to see a younger generation playing my favorite songs on stage!" Sam Johnson (vocals) and Isaac Johnson (guitar) are twins and although Cooper Corcoran (guitar), Ben Schmelzer (drums) and Nathan Klein (bass) are of no relation to each other, these five fellas are as tight as brothers… but not quite.
EMO KIDS are the best emo cover band in the country, and what separates them is their dedication to not only playing as close to album-perfect as possible, but also being able to play for hours non-stop, while bringing the intense energy with which this music was created. Emo Night events have existed for some time now, but have mostly revolved around DJ’s playing recordings of all these classic emo hits. We know that emo music is best enjoyed LIVE, however, so Emo Kids' mission is to finally give the country that option, at the highest quality. Unlike many other live acts, with Emo Kids you’ll experience every harmony, see every drum fill, feel every bass drop, and hear each and every musical detail that you always look forward to when listening to these youth-defining records. Watching Emo Kids is like actually seeing all your favorite bands in one night, without having to run from stage to stage, and they never play the same set twice! Though based in Southern California, the “kids” tour nationally in their LIVE EMO NIGHT TOUR, which incorporates support from a mixture of local emo cover and tribute bands from the era, as well as live-mixing DJs, to redefine what makes an amazing Emo Night show! From poppier classics like Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy, heavier bangers like A Day To Remember and Pierce The Veil, and even some emo-adjacent surprises, Emo Kids take the audience on an emo-tional rollercoaster ride they haven’t been on since The Warped Tour.
additional details coming soon.
Upcoming Events
Decades on the OrchardSat, Oct 17Winterset Cidery
Middle Class Meltdown: Painting ClassDate and time is TBDLocation is TBD
Our Services
Celebrate in Style
We bring the energy, the organization, and the eye for detail that turns chaos into controlled magic.
Fundraising Events for a cause.
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Free or Low-Cost Public Events and Festivals - We specialize in large-scale events with production, art, music, and Midwest grit.
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Pop-Ups, Seasonal activities and Partnered Events.
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Our Non-profit funds future community events.
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Unfiltered Events is a social enterprise that throws festivals and events that give back. A portion of event revenue is donated to organizations supporting families and children impacted by abuse, teen pregnancy, autism awareness and mental health initiatives.
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Our Mission:
To produce immersive, community-driven events that break down barriers, uplift marginalized voices, and spark social change through celebration.
To empower emerging artists, performers, and curators by providing high energy platforms for expression, connection, and growth.
To foster emotional wellness, connection, and healing through curated events that blend art, music, movement, and community support.
We provide free and accessible experiences to the community.
Our Team
Lauren Herselius
President & Co-Founder
Sarah Peterson
Community Outreach
Jenn Hoffmann
President & Co-founder
Kayli Mernka
Board of Directors
Alexandra Thiel
Secretary
Our Story
Unfiltered Events was created by two resilient moms who defied the odds, spoke up when no one else would, and built a platform to uplift those who need it now more than ever. What started as friendship during the hardest seasons of our lives has grown into a mission: to create community, connection, and change.
Lauren Herselius, originally from Georgia, brings the southern charm to the 515. After moving to Des Moines, she found herself navigating life as a single mom, struggling to make ends meet, advocating for her son’s complex mental health needs, and battling a system that seemed to work against her at every turn. With courage and relentless determination, she overcame abuse, misinformation, and isolation. Lauren read everything she could, fought for the right answers, and never stopped showing up for her sons, and for herself.
Jenn Hoffmann, just another small town Iowa farm girl, moved to the “big city” to start fresh. She became a teen mom just three days after her 18th birthday, while trapped in an abusive relationship. Refusing to let statistics define her, Jenn graduated high school and college alongside her peers, all while raising her son as a single parent. With government assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid as her safety net, she juggled multiple jobs and broke cycles of abuse and poverty to build a better life for her family.
As two women that found each other at some of the hardest years of our lives, we understand that having a strong support system means everything. However, financially we still struggled in many ways and were defeated and wronged by “the system”. It is now our mission to give back to those that need it most. We believe in a better future for those impacted by domestic, emotional & financial abuse, teen pregnancy and mental health issues. We made it to the other side, and we can’t wait to welcome you here.
With love,
2 Unfiltered AF Moms:
Jenn & Lauren
GALLERY
