🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #20| THURSDAY, June 11, 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
Good morning, neighbors! ☀️
Can you feel it? School's out, the city has exhaled, and Des Moines is fully, officially in summer mode. No more countdowns — we're here.
And the weather is showing up in a big way this weekend. Thursday is a rainy one — 85% chance of rain and a high of 72°, so keep the umbrella close today. But here's the good news: Friday flips completely — zero chance of rain, 84° and pure sunshine, which is honestly perfect timing for PrideFest opening night in the East Village. Saturday has some showers possible at 45%, so keep an eye on radar, and Sunday wraps up the weekend beautifully at 73° and nearly clear skies — ideal for the Pride Parade at noon.
This weekend has the kind of energy that makes you want to just go be somewhere in this city. Capital City PrideFest takes over the Historic East Village for three full days — free, open to everyone, headliners Friday night, parade Sunday at noon. The Wallflowers hit Hoyt Sherman Saturday night. Todd Rundgren closes out the weekend at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee on Sunday. And Steve Trevino is at the Funny Bone Friday and Saturday if you need a good laugh between it all.
Summer is here, Des Moines — and this weekend proves it.
Let's get into it.
☁️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu, Jun 11 | Fri, Jun 12 | Sat, Jun 13 | Sun, Jun 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 72°F | 84°F | 81°F | 73°F |
Conditions | 🌧️ Rainy, 85% rain | ☀️ Sunny, 0% rain | 🌦️ Showers possible, 45% rain | ⛅ Mostly Clear, 10% rain |
🌧️☀️ Thursday is a wash — heavy rain likely all day, so keep indoor plans ready. Friday is the star of the weekend — zero chance of rain and 84°, absolutely perfect timing for PrideFest opening night. Saturday has some showers in the mix at 45%, but plenty of dry windows throughout the day — keep an eye on radar. Sunday is a beautiful closer — 73° and nearly clear skies, ideal for the Pride Parade at noon. ⛅
Now this week's very important question:
You suddenly have a completely free Saturday. What's your first move?
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
The strange thing about kids is that they rarely remember what things cost.
They remember how something felt. ❤️
🍦 Ice Cream Before Dinner Night — Break the rule on purpose. Grab ice cream first, then figure out dinner later. Kids will talk about it for weeks.
🌳 The "We've Never Been Here" Challenge — Pick a park, trail, neighborhood, or playground you've never visited before. No reviews. No planning. Just go explore.
📚 Library Treasure Hunt — Everyone has to find:
• A book that looks funny
• A book they've never heard of
• A book they'd normally never pick
You might leave with a new favorite.
🚗 Three-Song Road Trip — Get in the car and drive somewhere you've never driven before. The trip only lasts three songs. Wherever you are when the third song ends, stop and explore.
🍩 One Treat, Four Forks — Order one dessert and share it. Somehow sharing one thing always becomes more memorable than everyone getting their own.
🌅 Golden Hour Walk — Head outside 30 minutes before sunset. Walk slowly. Let the kids choose the direction. No destination required.
✨ Tiny adventure rule: If everyone is smiling but nobody knows exactly what the plan is, you're probably doing the weekend right. ❤️
🌿 Family Connection Corner
Sponsored by Camp Homework
Conversations that actually go somewhere — one question a day, all week long.
Day | Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | If you could swap lives with any animal for a whole day, which one and why? |
Friday | What's something you learned this week that surprised you? |
Saturday | If our family had a theme song, what would it be? |
Sunday | What's one small thing someone did for you recently that made you smile? |
Monday | If you could design your dream summer day from start to finish, what's on the schedule? |
Tuesday | Would you rather visit the ocean, the mountains, or a big city — and who would you bring? |
Wednesday | What's a skill you'd love to get really good at before the end of summer? |
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
Billy Currington & Kip Moore with Kenny Whitmire
📍 Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park
Pkwy | Sat Jun 13, 6:30 p.m.
Two platinum country artists on one stage at one of Des Moines' best outdoor venues. Billy Currington ("Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right") and Kip Moore ("Somethin' 'Bout a Truck") headline the Willis Summer Series at the Lauridsen Amphitheater, with opening act Kenny Whitmire. Gates at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets available at the Water Works Park website.
Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival
Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St, Des Moines
Fri Jun 12, 7:30 p.m.
A Friday night live music experience at one of downtown Des Moines' most intimate venues. Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival bring their signature blend of classic rock and modern blues to the Temple Theater stage.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Fri–Sun, Jun 12–14 | Historic East Village, Des Moines | Free | |
Sat, Jun 13 • 6:30 p.m. | Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park | Ticketed | |
Thu–Sat, Jun 11–13 | Terra Park, Johnston | Free | |
Through Sun, Jun 14 | Stoner Theater, 221 Walnut St, Des Moines | Ticketed / $5 rush | |
Fri–Sat, Jun 12–13 | Funny Bone, 560 S Prairie View Dr, WDM | $37–$47 | |
Fri, Jun 12 • 7:30 p.m. | Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St, Des Moines | Ticketed |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Jun 13 • 10 & 11:30 a.m. | Cowles Commons, 221 Walnut St, Des Moines | Free | |
Sun, Jun 14 • 5:30 p.m. | Ankeny Bandshell, 410 W. 1st St, Ankeny | Free | |
Fri, Jun 12 • 10:30 a.m. | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr | With admission | |
Sat–Sun, Jun 13–14 | 7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines | Admission | |
Sat–Sun, Jun 13–14 | 401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines | Admission | |
Sat, Jun 13 • 8 a.m. | East 6th and Locust, Des Moines | Registered | |
Mon, Jun 15 • 6 p.m. | Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Pkwy | 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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