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. →

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Not every great weekend has to be planned to the minute. Sometimes the best ones sneak up on you. Here are some easy ideas to spark something this weekend:

🎪 Circus Night Out — Make Friday evening a real event. Head to the Venardos Circus opening night at the Outlets of Des Moines — dress up a little, grab cotton candy, and let the aerialists do the rest. It's the kind of night kids will talk about for weeks.

☕ Saturday Morning Farmers Market Ritual — Hit the Downtown Farmers Market by 7:30am before the crowds hit. Coffee from a local roaster, fresh flowers, a pastry from someone's kitchen — and then you feel smugly accomplished before 10am.

🎭 Theater Night for the Grown-Ups — Lucy Darling brings award-winning comedy, magic, and charm to Hoyt Sherman Sunday at 8pm. Grab a babysitter, make a dinner reservation first, and treat yourself to a real night out.

⚽ Family Soccer Night Saturday — The Menace game at Mediacom Stadium on Drake's campus is $9 a ticket, family-friendly, and the vibe is pure community joy. Get there early and let the kids explore the stadium.

✨ Tiny adventure rule: Do ONE thing you'd normally say "maybe next time" to. That's usually the memory everyone keeps. ❤️

Put the phones away and pull your people in a little closer — here are this week's dinner table conversation starters, one for every day Thu–Wed. These questions are a wonderful way to learn something new about the people you love most!Put the phones down and pull everyone in a little closer — here are this week's dinner table conversation starters, one for every day Thu–Wed. You might learn something totally unexpected about the people you love most. 🥢

Want more tips to help your kids succeed in school? Subscribe to our newsletter and stay ahead with proven strategies, ideas, and support.

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 →

Friday, May 29, 2026 | 7:00 PM — Opening Night!
Outlets of Des Moines, Parking Lot C | 801 Bass Pro Dr NW, Altoona, IA 50009

Curiouser and curiouser indeed. The beloved Venardos Circus — a Broadway-style, animal-free big top show — returns to the Des Moines metro for a brand-new production inspired by the spirit of Alice in Wonderland. Step through the looking glass and into a world where gravity is optional, the aerialists are breathtaking, the acrobats are jaw-dropping, and the comedic performers will have the whole family in stitches. It's not just a circus — it's a full theatrical experience with live music, dazzling costumes, and world-class talent all under the iconic red-and-white striped big top.

Doors open one hour before showtime with pre-show entertainment, circus photo ops, and classic concessions (cotton candy, fresh-squeezed lemonade, popcorn). The main show runs approximately 90 minutes with a brief intermission. Free parking on-site.

Opening Night: Friday, May 29 at 7:00 PM Weekend shows also available: Saturday, May 30 at 11 AM, 2 PM & 5 PM | Sunday, May 31 at 2 PM & 5 PM

🎟️ Youth (under 12) from $17.95 | Adults from $28.95 | Free parking on-site

Saturday, May 30, 2026 | Mediacom Stadium, Drake University
2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

This one is more than just a soccer match — it's a full community celebration. The Des Moines Menace host Sunflower State FC on Saturday night in a very special Des Moines Public Schools Night, presented by Bank of America. DMPS students and staff can request up to two complimentary tickets for the match, and the entire evening is built around honoring students — with a DMPS student performing the national anthem, another delivering the game ball, and student-athletes recognized on the video board all night long.

Single-game tickets start at just $9, making this one of the best-value live sports experiences in the city. The Menace played a terrific 2025 season — winning the Great Plains Division title with a 10-1-1 record — and they're back hungry under returning head coach Charlie Latshaw III. Mediacom Stadium is intimate, modern, and puts you closer to the action than you'd expect. Great night for families.

🎟️ Single-game tickets from $9 | DMPS students/staff: request free tickets via the district website.

Sunday, May 31, 2026 | 8:00 PM Hoyt Sherman Place
|1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Award-winning performer Carisa Hendrix stars as Lucy Darling — a delightfully self-assured socialite with razor-sharp wit, spot-on unquestionable advice, and genuinely incredible sleight-of-hand magic. Alongside the wonderfully eccentric musician Mark Ettinger, Lucy Darling delivers a variety show that's part comedy, part illusion, and entirely unexpected. This is sophisticated grown-up fun: the kind of show that has you laughing out loud at moments you didn't see coming, then gasping at moments you definitely didn't see coming. Hoyt Sherman Place is one of Des Moines' most gorgeous venues — arrive a few minutes early to soak it in.

🎟️ Tickets required — visit HoytSherman.org for details and pricing 📍 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

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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