🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #23| THURSDAY, June 25, 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
Good morning, neighbors! ☀️
What a week it's been — we kicked things off with some rumbling storms (classic Iowa, right?), but the back half of the week is shaping up to be gorgeous. Thursday might start with a few leftover clouds and breezy conditions, but by Friday? Pure sunshine and low-80s weather. Summer is officially here, and Des Moines is ready for it.
This week's edition is loaded with good stuff. We've got the biggest weekend event of the summer kicking off RIGHT NOW — the Des Moines Arts Festival — plus Iowa Cubs World Series Night, a trip to the Botanical Gardens, and all your family fun for the weekend.
Grab your coffee and let's get into it! ☕ 👇
☁️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 73°F | 76°F | 78°F | 91°F |
Conditions | ☁️ Mostly cloudy | ☁️ Mostly cloudy | ☁️ Mostly cloudy | 🌦️ Scattered showers |
🌥️ Thursday stays cool and comfortable with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 73°F. Friday remains pleasant with clouds lingering and temperatures reaching 76°F. Saturday looks like the pick of the weekend, with a comfortable 78°F and generally quiet weather for outdoor plans. Sunday brings a major warm-up, soaring to 91°F with higher humidity and the chance for scattered showers. If you're heading out, plan for summer-like conditions and keep hydrated. ☀️💧
🔥 Looking Ahead: The heat doesn't stop there — highs are expected to reach the 90s early next week before sunshine takes over by Wednesday.
Now this week's very important question:
🚗 What's your unofficial Iowa superpower?
🌽 Des Moines Summer Bucket List: 5 Tiny Adventures To Do Before July Ends
You don't need a vacation to make summer feel memorable.
☀️ Watch a Sunset Somewhere New
Pick a park, a hill, or a lakeside spot you've never visited before. Bring snacks and stay until the sky changes color.
🍦 Try an Ice Cream Spot You've Never Been To
The rule: nobody orders their usual flavor.
🚲 Take the Long Way Home
Bike, walk, or drive a route you've never explored. Sometimes the best discoveries are five minutes from home.
📚 Create a "One Hour, No Screens" Challenge
Books, cards, sidewalk chalk, basketball, puzzles—anything goes except phones and tablets.
🌻 Find One Thing That Feels Like Summer
A farmers market, a splash pad, a baseball game, a picnic, a firefly-filled evening. Just one moment you'll want to remember later.
✨ Summer doesn't have to be packed with plans. Sometimes the smallest adventures become the stories everyone talks about the longest.
🌿 Family Connection Corner
Day | Family Connection Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | If you could turn any hobby into your job when you grow up, what would it be? |
Friday | What's one thing you learned this week that surprised you? |
Saturday | If our family was in a movie, what kind of movie would it be? |
Sunday | What's something kind someone did for you recently? |
Monday | If you could redesign your bedroom however you wanted, what would it look like? |
Tuesday | What's one thing you're really proud of yourself for lately? |
Wednesday | If you could add one class to school that doesn't exist yet, what would it be? |
These questions are a great way to kick off dinner — and if you've got a student in the house, they're a good reminder that learning doesn't stop when school does. Camp Homework supports K–12 students all year long — whether they need a little extra help keeping up or just want to stay sharp and ahead of the curve. Worth a look at camphomework.com.
Real talk: the last few weeks of school matter. If your child is struggling, Camp Homework connects K–12 students with real human tutors — not AI — starting at just $150/month. Affordable, personal, and actually effective. Don't wait until summer to course-correct. camphomework.com →
🎟️ EVENT SHOWCASE
Iowa Cubs vs. Buffalo Bisons — World Series Trophy Night!
📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026 | First pitch: 6:08 PM
📍 Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines
This Saturday night at Principal Park is going to be one for the memory books. The Iowa Cubs are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series Championship, and they are pulling out all the stops.
The actual 2016 World Series trophy will be on display at the ballpark — yes, THE trophy. You and your family can see it up close, and Clark the Cub will be there to greet fans and pose for photos. As if that wasn't enough, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a replica of the 2016 World Series trophy to take home. Get there early — that giveaway is going to go fast.
There is truly nothing like a summer night of Triple-A baseball in downtown Des Moines. Grab your seats, bring the family, and soak in one of the best evenings of the summer. The Iowa Cubs host the Buffalo Bisons in what is sure to be a packed, electric atmosphere.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Jun 27 • 6:08 PM | Principal Park, Des Moines | Ticketed | |
Sun, Jun 28 • 1:08 PM | Principal Park, Des Moines | Ticketed | |
Fri–Sun, Jun 26–28 | Western Gateway Park, Downtown DSM | Free | |
Fri, Jul 3 | West Terrace, Iowa State Capitol | Free | |
Fri–Sun, Jul 3–5 | Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines | Ticketed |
💛 SMALL & LOCAL FAVORITES
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sun, Jun 28 • 9:00 AM | Cowles Commons, Downtown DSM | Free | |
Sun, Jun 28 • 10 AM–5 PM | Franklin Jr. High Event Center, DSM | Free | |
Tue, Jun 24 • 10:00 AM | Cowles Commons, Downtown DSM | Free |
🌽 FARMERS MARKETS
Market | Day & Time | Location | Cost |
|---|
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market | Every Saturday • 7 AM–Noon (May–Oct) | Historic Court District, Downtown DSM | Free |
Valley Junction Farmers Market | Every Thursday • 4–8 PM (May–Sept) | 100–300 Block of 5th St, West Des Moines | Free |
Beaverdale Farmers Market | Every Tuesday • 4–7:30 PM (May–Sept) | Beaverdale Neighborhood, Des Moines | Free |
Johnston Farmers Market | Every Tuesday • 4–7 PM (Seasonal) | Johnston Town Center | Free |
Waukee Farmers Market | Every Wednesday • Evening (Seasonal) | Downtown Waukee | Free |
Bondurant Farmers Market | Every Wednesday • Evening (Seasonal) | Downtown Bondurant | Free |
Indianola Farmers Market | Every Wednesday • Afternoon/Evening (Seasonal) | Downtown Indianola | Free |
Polk City Farmers Market | Every Thursday • Evening (Seasonal) | Town Square, Polk City | Free |
Grimes Farmers Market | Every Friday • Evening (Seasonal) | Grimes Community Complex | Free |
Norwalk Farmers Market | Every Friday • Evening (Seasonal) | Norwalk City Venue | Free |
Global Greens Farmers Market | Every Saturday • 9 AM–1 PM (May–Oct) | 3200 University Ave, Des Moines | Free |
Southside Sunday Market | Every Sunday • 9 AM–2 PM (Seasonal) | South Des Moines | Free |
Ankeny Farmers Market | Saturdays • Morning (Seasonal) | Ankeny Market Pavilion | Free |
Pleasant Hill Community Farmers Market | Mondays • Evening (Seasonal) | Pleasant Hill Community Area | Free |
Thank you so much for reading — we hope you found something fun, helpful, and inspiring in today's edition! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with your friends and family so they can be part of the fun too. The more the merrier! We'll see you back here on Monday for our next edition. Have a wonderful weekend, Des Moines! 🎉
— Alex | Des Moines Digest
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