🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #57| Thursday, October 1st, 2026
Good morning, neighbors! 🌧️
Welcome to October! Today is a rainy, cozy, stay-dry kind of Thursday. Some of that rain could be heavy, so give yourself extra time on the roads. The good news is that it clears out fast, and Friday through Sunday look mild and mostly dry, with highs in the 60s. That's peak sweater weather.
This weekend, a piece of Des Moines history rolls back into town: the circus is returning to Casey's Center after an 11-year break. We've also got the Downtown Farmers' Market, a few very cheap ways to make fall memories, and a look ahead at next weekend's hockey opener.
Let's get into it.
🌤️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 70°F | 68°F | 66°F | 65°F |
Conditions | 🌧️ Rain, heavy at times | ⛅ Sun and clouds | ⛅ Sun and clouds | ☀️ Mostly sunny |
The week in one line: Soggy today, then a crisp, comfy fall weekend. Grab a light jacket, not an umbrella.
Now this week's very important question:
It's officially October, Des Moines. Which fall thing is winning your weekend?
🚨 Important for Des Moines Homeowners
1,000 more Des Moines properties could qualify for free lead water line replacement.
Des Moines Water Works is expanding its lead service line replacement program into Drake, Chautauqua Park, Mondamin Presidential, King Irving and ACCENT, with about 1,000 properties included in the next phase.
The important part for homeowners: eligible properties can have their lead service line replaced at no cost to the homeowner. The program is being funded through federal and state sources, and eligibility depends on specific requirements, including factors related to the property and neighborhood.
For comparison, KCCI reported that replacing a lead service line privately can cost roughly $10,000–$12,000.
Live in one of these neighborhoods? Check your property. Des Moines Water Works will contact properties that qualify, but it's worth checking your address and watching your mail for a notice.
👉 Check your property: Des Moines Water Works Lead Service Line Lookup
Know someone who lives in Drake, Chautauqua Park, Mondamin Presidential, King Irving or ACCENT? Send this their way.
💡 HELP WITH RENT & UTILITIES IN THE DES MOINES METRO
A rent increase, unexpected bill, or tough month can make it hard to keep up with housing and utilities — and knowing where to turn isn't always obvious.
There are local programs and resources that may help with rent, utility bills, housing costs, and emergency assistance across the Des Moines metro.
We pulled the key options into one guide so you don't have to search through a dozen different websites.
👉 See the full guide:
https://desmoinesdigest.com/guide/rent-utilities-help-des-moines-metro/
Save this one. It could be useful for you, a friend, or a neighbor when they need it.
🎈 Weekend Plans That Cost Almost Nothing But End Up Being The Most Fun
Ask anyone what they remember from being a kid. It's rarely the expensive stuff. It's the blanket fort, the silly game, the night everyone ended up laughing at the dinner table for no reason at all.
Here are a few tiny adventures for this weekend:
🏰 Living Room Fort Olympics. Today's rain is your excuse. Build a fort out of couch cushions and every blanket you own. Then hold events like "fastest crawl through the tunnel" and "best fort doorbell."
🍎 The Great Apple Taste-Off. Pick up three or four kinds of apples at the store or Saturday's farmers' market. Slice them up, close your eyes, and rate each one. Crown a family champion and argue about it.
🍂 The Leaf Detective Walk. Take a stroll around the neighborhood and hunt for the biggest leaf, the reddest leaf, and the weirdest leaf. Tape your finds onto paper to make your own field guide.
🍝 Mystery Ingredient Dinner. Let the kids pick one pantry item that has to show up in tonight's dinner. Beans? Pasta? Sprinkles? (Maybe not sprinkles.) It's a story you'll retell for years.
📮 Kindness Mail. Write a postcard or a note for a grandparent, a neighbor, or a teacher. Decorate it, walk it to the mailbox or their porch, and count the smiles.
🌅 Sunset Chase Sunday. The sun sets around 6:50 PM on Sunday. Hop on bikes or start walking about half an hour early and see who can find the best view.
✨ If everyone's laughing and nobody can quite explain the plan, you're doing the weekend right. ❤️
🌿 Family Connection Corner | Sponsored by Camp Homework
Dinner's one of the few times the whole family lands in the same room — here's a question to open things up each night this week.
Day | Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | What's your favorite thing about fall, and what's one fall thing you'd happily skip? |
Friday | If we made a time capsule from this week, what's one thing we'd put in it? |
Saturday | If you could invent a brand-new holiday, what would it be and how would we celebrate? |
Sunday | What's one tiny thing that makes a gloomy day better? |
Monday | If you could ask a grandparent (or someone much older) any question, what would it be? |
Tuesday | If you could invite any book or movie character to dinner, who'd be at our table? |
Wednesday | What job do you think would be secretly the most fun, and which would be the most stressful? |
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
📅 Dates: Thursday, Oct. 1 – Sunday, Oct. 4
🕐 Showtimes include: Thu. 7 PM, Sun. 1 PM and 5 PM (more Fri.–Sat., so check the event page for the full schedule)
📍 Where: Casey's Center, 730 3rd St.
🎟️ Tickets: On sale now at Hy-VeeTix.com. Check the event page for current pricing.
The Greatest Show On Earth is returning to Des Moines after an 11-year hiatus, and it's been reimagined for a new generation. Expect a fast-paced, high-energy circus that's a totally different vibe from the one you remember.
It's the kind of outing kids talk about for months and grown-ups secretly love just as much. If you went as a kid, this is your chance to bring the next generation.
Good to know: Casey's Center is cashless, so bring a debit or credit card. Tickets also need to be saved to your phone's digital wallet for entry.
UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Fri., Oct. 2 · 7:30 PM | Hoyt Sherman Place | $34–$56 (reserved seating) | |
Fri., Oct. 9 · 7 PM | Casey's Center | Ticketed (Kids Opening Night is Oct. 10!) | |
Sun., Oct. 11 · 7 PM | Des Moines Civic Center | Ticketed |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat., Oct. 3 · 7 PM | Temple Theater | Ticketed | |
October 3 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am | Science Center of Iowa | Free | |
October 3 10 am - 12 pm | The Garden | $35 | |
October 3 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Jordan House Museum | Free | |
October 3 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | CAP Theatre | $10 | |
October 3 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Science Center of Iowa | Free | |
October 3 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Des Moines Playhouse | $20-$45 | |
October 3 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Ankeny Community Theatre | $20 – $25 | |
October 3 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Stoner Theater | $50 | |
October 4 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Blank Park Zoo | general admission | |
October 4 @ 12:15 pm - 6:05 pm | xBk 24th Street, Des Moines | Free | |
Sat., Oct. 10 · Check-in 8 AM, ceremony 9 AM | Principal Park | Free to join (donations welcome) | |
Sat., Oct. 10 · 10 AM–5 PM | Iowa Events Center | Ticketed (early entry 8:30 AM) |
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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