🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #21| THURSDAY, June 18, 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
Good morning, neighbors! ⛅
Father's Day weekend is here — and Des Moines is ready to celebrate. It's been a week that had a little bit of everything: some storms rolled through mid-week, the kind that rattled windows and sent everyone to the radar app, but we came out the other side and now we've got a weekend worth showing up for.
Fair warning on the weather: Thursday is a soggy one, with showers and possibly a thunderstorm through the afternoon (90% chance of rain, high of 66°). Friday keeps that unsettled pattern going, with rain likely in the afternoon (60% chance). But here's the thing — Saturday clears out to around 50° and mostly cloudy, and Sunday shines up to a beautiful 52° and mostly sunny — which honestly sounds like a perfect Father's Day. Dads, you've earned that patio chair.
This weekend is stacked with reasons to get outside: the Iowa Cubs host the Indianapolis Indians in a Father's Day special Sunday at 1:08 p.m. at Principal Park, Pacapalooza brings alpacas to Norwalk on Friday, and Neighbors Day at Western Gateway Park celebrates Juneteenth on Saturday with a full community party. Plus, next weekend the Des Moines Arts Festival takes over downtown — more on that below.
Let's get into it.
☁️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu, Jun 19 | Fri, Jun 20 | Sat, Jun 21 | Sun, Jun 22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 66°F | 65°F | 50°F | 52°F |
Conditions | 🌧️ Showers & storms, 90% rain | 🌦️ Rain likely PM, 60% rain | ⛅ Mostly cloudy, 50% rain | ☀️ Mostly sunny, 10% rain |
🌧️ Thursday and Friday are carrying the rain baton — keep the umbrella handy and indoor plans ready. Saturday chills down a bit with lingering showers possible, but Sunday is the reward: mostly sunny and a beautiful Father's Day. Dads, the grill is calling. ☀️
Now this week's very important question:
What's your Father's Day move this year?
A quick message from Camp Homework
Fun fact: kids can lose up to 3 months of learning over summer break. Not-so-fun fact: most parents don't realize it until September.
Camp Homework's free email course makes it easy to get ahead of it — 10 simple strategies, no worksheets, no stress. Takes two minutes to sign up. Do it before that last bell rings. →
🎈 Weekend Plans That Cost Almost Nothing But End Up Being The Most Fun
Kids don't remember the price tag. They remember who was there, how it felt, and whether they laughed.
Here are a few ideas for a weekend that will actually stick.
🧇 "Dad Chooses Everything" Day — Hand the day to dad. He picks breakfast, the drive, the playlist, the lunch spot. No agenda. No suggestions. Just go wherever he says. You'll probably end up somewhere weird and it'll be the best day.
🌧️ Puddle Walk — Sounds too simple. It isn't. Pull on the rain boots, find the biggest puddles, and don't avoid a single one. Kids will talk about it for longer than you'd expect. Adults will, too.
📷 Neighborhood Safari — Everyone gets their own "camera" (a phone, a disposable, or just their imagination) and you walk the neighborhood looking for the most interesting, weird, or beautiful things you can find. Share favorites at dinner.
🎶 Dad's Playlist Dinner — Let dad run the dinner music, no objections allowed. Ask him to explain one song — where he was when he first heard it, what it means to him. You might learn something you didn't know.
🌅 Sunday Slow Morning — No alarms. No plans before 10. Pajamas encouraged. Stack of pancakes optional but recommended. The whole thing costs almost nothing and feels like a gift every single time.
✨ Tiny adventure rule: If the plan falls apart a little and everyone still smiles anyway, you're doing the weekend exactly right. ❤️ ❤️
🌿 Family Connection Corner
Sponsored by Camp Homework
One good question at dinner can open a conversation that lasts all week.
Day | Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | What's something dad (or a dad figure in your life) has taught you that you actually use? |
Friday | If you could build your dream backyard, what would be in it? |
Saturday | What's a tradition our family has that you hope we never stop doing? |
Sunday | What's something you'd want to do together as a family before summer ends? |
Monday | If you could switch jobs with any adult for a day, whose job would you want? |
Tuesday | What's a place in Des Moines you've never been to but want to visit? |
Wednesday | What's something you're proud of from this school year — big or small? |
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 FATHER'S DAY GAME vs. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
📍 Principal Park, 1 Line Dr, Des Moines
Sun, Jun 21 • 1:08 p.m.
There might not be a better way to spend Father's Day than a Sunday afternoon ballgame at Principal Park — and the Iowa Cubs are making it special. The I-Cubs host the Indianapolis Indians in a Father's Day afternoon game at 1:08 p.m., right downtown where the Des Moines River runs alongside the stadium and the skyline sits just beyond the outfield wall.
Principal Park is one of the most underrated ballpark experiences in the Midwest. It's affordable, walkable, and genuinely fun for every age — from toddlers chasing foul balls to grandpas keeping score cards. The Iowa Cubs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, so you're watching real talent on their way up.
Get tickets at or at the Principal Park box office. Dads get in on Father's Day — worth checking for any special promotions on the team's website.
🌍 NEIGHBORS DAY — IOWA JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE
📍 Western Gateway Park, Des Moines
Sat, Jun 21 • Free
Juneteenth falls on Friday, June 19 — and the community celebration rolls into Saturday with Neighbors Day at Western Gateway Park. This free outdoor gathering features a parade, live music, children's activities, food, and a whole lot of community spirit.
It's a beautiful event and the kind of afternoon that reminds you why Des Moines feels like home. Western Gateway Park is one of the best outdoor spaces in the city, and having it filled with music and neighbors on a summer Saturday is exactly what it was made for. Bring the whole family, bring a blanket, and come ready to celebrate together.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Fri, Jun 19 • 7:08 PM | Principal Park, Des Moines | Ticketed | |
Sat, Jun 20 • 6:08 PM | Principal Park, Des Moines | Ticketed | |
Sun, Jun 21 • 1:08 PM | Principal Park, Des Moines | Ticketed | |
Fri, Jun 19 | Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, 4100 Mills Civic Pkwy, WDM | Free | |
Fri–Sun, Jun 26–28 | Western Gateway Park, Des Moines | Free |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Fri, Jun 19 | Rose Farmstead, Norwalk | Reservations required | |
Sat, Jun 20 | Jasper Winery, Newton | Ticketed | |
Sat, Jun 21 | Western Gateway Park, Des Moines | Free | |
Sun, Jun 21 | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | Dads free | |
Tue, Jun 23 • 7 PM | Colby Park, 6850 School St, Windsor Heights | Free | |
Sundays, Jun 7–Sep 27 • 9 AM–2 PM | 1111 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines | Free | |
Sun, Jun 28 • 9 AM | Cowles Commons, 221 Walnut St, Des Moines | Free | |
June 21 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Des Moines Biergarten | Free | |
June 28 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Des Moines Biergarten | Free | |
Sat, Jun 20 • 9 AM-12 PM | Killinger Family Stage | 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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