Looking for things to do this August? We've put together The Ultimate August Guide to Des Moines—a growing resource packed with local festivals, family events, farmers markets, outdoor adventures, concerts, and more.

But here's the thing: no one knows Des Moines better than the people who live here.

We're asking for your help to make this guide the most complete and accurate August resource for our community.

If you notice an event we missed, spot outdated information, or have a favorite August tradition we should include, we'd love to hear from you. At the bottom of the guide, you'll find our "Was This Helpful?" section where you can leave a rating, report corrections, and suggest additions.

Together, we can build a resource that helps everyone make the most of August in Des Moines.

👉 Explore the guide and share your feedback:
desmoinesdigest.com/featured/the-ultimate-august-guide-to-des-moines/

🌳 Follow the "20-Minute Outside" Rule: Encourage your child to spend at least 20 minutes outdoors each day. Fresh air, movement, and nature can boost mood, creativity, and overall well-being.

📚 Read What They Love: Whether it's comics, sports magazines, recipe books, or graphic novels, any reading counts. Letting kids choose what interests them helps build a lifelong reading habit.

🍳 Teach One New Life Skill Each Week: Pick one practical skill—making breakfast, folding laundry, budgeting allowance, or organizing a backpack. Small lessons today build confidence for tomorrow.

💬 Ask One "What If?" Question Daily: Spark curiosity with questions like, "What if animals could talk?" or "What if you could invent a new holiday?" Creative thinking helps develop problem-solving skills.

😴 Start Shifting Bedtime Early: About two weeks before school starts, move bedtime and wake-up time 10–15 minutes earlier every few days. A gradual reset makes the return to school much easier.

Learning doesn't stop when school is out. Camp Homework helps students build confidence, strengthen skills, and stay ready for the school year ahead.

Don't Buy That Supply List Yet — Here's What Actually Matters (and What's a Waste of Money)

The supply list lands in your inbox and it's always longer than it needs to be. Twenty-four glue sticks. A calculator that costs more than your last electric bill. Before you burn a Saturday driving to three different stores chasing one specific brand of colored pencil — here's the shortcut nobody tells you.

The secret: most consumables — glue, tissues, pencils — get pooled into shared classroom supply. Store brand is fine. Nobody's checking. What does matter is anything the teacher specifically requires for a subject — a particular calculator, a binder system the whole class uses together. Get those wrong and you're making a return trip.

Timing matters just as much as the list itself: buy big-ticket items — backpack, shoes, calculator — now, before back-to-school demand jacks up the price. Wait on the small stuff, since sizes and preferences shift fast at this age. And the "perfect" homework station? It doesn't need to be Pinterest-worthy — just a flat surface, good light, and close enough to an adult that a quick question doesn't become a whole production.

See What's Worth Buying Now vs. Later →

Save money on supplies, invest it where it counts. Camp Homework tutoring starts at $150/month — often less than what families spend re-buying "required" supplies they didn't need.

Explore Camp Homework Plans →

When: Through Saturday, August 8 Where: Memorial Balloon Field, Indianola What: This year marks 50 years of ballooning in Indianola. Catch morning competition flights, evening balloon glows, live music, and fireworks throughout the final stretch of the run.

When: Through Saturday, August 8 Where: Drake Stadium, MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, Wellmark YMCA, and other metro venues What: More than 14,000 young athletes are competing across the metro in the largest multi-sport event for youth in the country. Many events are free to watch — genuinely fun to catch in person.

When: Thursday, August 6, 6–9 p.m. Where: Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines What: The last Thursday night of Jasper's free summer concert series — bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and grab burgers, brats, or wood-fired pizza on site.

Here's where to shop fresh this week — a market pops up somewhere in the metro almost every weekday.

We want to hear from you! Des Moines Digest exists to help locals find the best things to do, see, and explore across the metro — but we can only make it better with your input. Tell us what sections you love, what you skip, and what you wish we covered more. Whether it's a hidden gem, an event type, or just a quick "keep doing this" — we're all ears. Your feedback shapes every issue, so hit reply or click below and let us know. This digest is for you, Des Moines! 💬
DesMoinesDigest.com/feedback

Thanks for starting the week with us, Des Moines. See you Thursday! 🌱

— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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