🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #44| Thursday, August 13, 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
👋 Good morning, neighbors!
August is here — Today's the day — the Iowa State Fair swings open its gates for 11 days of everything that makes this state great: fried food on a stick, the Butter Cow, big-name concerts, and enough rides to make your stomach regret those cookies. This issue is basically a love letter to the Fair, with everything you need to plan your first (or fifth) trip out to the fairgrounds this weekend. Grab your walking shoes — let's get into it.
🌤️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu 8/13 | Fri 8/14 | Sat 8/15 | Sun 8/16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 79°F | 81°F | 82°F | 80°F |
Conditions | ⛈️ Storms late tonight | 🌧️ Heavy rain likely | ⛈️ Humid, scattered storms | 🌦️ Morning showers, clearing |
Quick Look | Fine by day, storms overnight | Our wettest day — plan for rain | Warm and sticky, storm chance | Clears up as the day goes on |
The one-liner: Friday looks like the rain day of the bunch, so if you've got flexibility, Thursday daytime or Sunday afternoon are your best bets for dry fairgrounds walking — otherwise, bring a poncho and enjoy the Fair anyway (it never really stops for rain). ⛈️🎡
Now this week's very important question:
What's your must-do at the Fair this year?
🎡 IOWA STATE FAIR SPECIAL SECTION
The Fair runs August 13–23 this year at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (3000 E. Grand Ave.) — here's everything you need for opening weekend.
🎟️ Getting In
Advance online tickets closed last night (Aug 12) — from here on it's gate pricing
Gate admission: $16 adults (12+), $10 kids (6–11), kids 5 and under free
Money-saver: Monday–Thursday evenings, 5–10 p.m., admission drops to $12 adults / $8 kids — so tonight (Thursday) is a great time for an evening-only visit
🎤 Grandstand Concerts (ticketed, separate from gate admission)
Thu, Aug 13: HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
Fri, Aug 14: Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx
Sat, Aug 15: The Red Clay Strays
Sun, Aug 16: Lainey Wilson with special guest Tigirlily Gold — sold out
🎶 Free Entertainment (included with gate admission)
Thu, Aug 13: Jake Worthington (country) — MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.
Fri, Aug 14: The Nadas (folk) — MidAmerican Energy Stage, 7 & 9 p.m.
Sat–Sun, Aug 15–16: Jammy Buffet (Gulf & Western coastal rock tribute) — MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.
🤠 Elwell Family Park
Thu–Fri, Aug 13–14, 1 p.m.: Wild West-themed kickoff with a PRCA-sanctioned championship rodeo — genuinely great live entertainment and included with Elwell admission.
🍪 Don't Skip: Barksdale's State Fair Cookies, anything "on a stick," and the classic Butter Cow in the Agriculture Building — free to see and a Fair institution since 1911.
👉 Read the full guide:
desmoinesdigest.com/guide/iowa-state-fair/
The First-Month-of-School Checklist That Prevents a Bad Year
The first month of school can reveal small struggles before they become big ones.
Not because every rough day means something is wrong—but because small struggles are much easier to fix when you catch them early.
Here’s what to watch before the first report card arrives.
🟢 GREEN FLAGS
Things are probably on track if your child is:
• Getting back into a steady sleep routine
• Settling into a regular homework rhythm
• Talking about teachers, friends, or something they learned
• Taking a little time to adjust—but gradually getting more comfortable
🔴 RED FLAGS
Worth taking a closer look if you notice:
• Homework suddenly taking twice as long
• Assignments starting to pile up
• Frequent stomachaches or headaches on school mornings
• Avoiding a specific subject or class
• Becoming unusually frustrated, withdrawn, or discouraged
👀 It Looks Different at Every Age
🎒 Elementary
Morning battles, bigger meltdowns, trouble sleeping, or “School is too hard.”
📚 Middle School
Missing assignments, messy organization, or suddenly falling behind.
🎓 High School
Withdrawal, major sleep changes, or going from sharing everything to just saying “Fine.”
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Homework struggles aren’t always about motivation.
Sometimes, a skill gap from last year is making this year’s work harder.
Camp Homework helps students find the gap, build the skills, and regain confidence—so they can keep moving forward.
Seven Fresh Dinner Table Conversation Starters — One for Every Night This Week
Day | Family Connection Question |
Thursday | If you had to eat one Fair food "on a stick," what would you invent? |
Friday | What's an animal you'd want to meet at the Fair's livestock barns? |
Saturday | If you designed a Fair ride, what would it do? |
Sunday | What's the most fun you've had getting soaked in the rain? |
Monday | If you could headline the Grandstand stage, what song would you open with? |
Tuesday | What's a county fair tradition from your own childhood? |
Wednesday | If you could win a blue ribbon for anything, what would it be for? |
A note from our sponsor: Homework battles shouldn't eat up your evenings. Camp Homework offers judgment-free, one-on-one tutoring support that builds real confidence — not just finished worksheets. Learn more about Camp Homework →
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
When: Thursday, August 13 Where: Iowa Lottery Grandstand — Krause Group Stage, Iowa State Fairgrounds What: The Fair's Grandstand season kicks off with country hitmaker HARDY, joined by special guest McCoy Moore. A great way to open 11 days of entertainment.
When: Friday, August 14 Where: Iowa Lottery Grandstand — Krause Group Stage, Iowa State Fairgrounds What: A legend takes the Grandstand stage with special guest Richard Marx — reportedly one of Rod Stewart's final large-scale tour stops. Given the rain forecast, dress for weather but don't let it stop you.
When: Thursday, August 13 & Friday, August 14, 1 p.m. Where: Elwell Family Park, Iowa State Fairgrounds What: A PRCA-sanctioned championship rodeo kicks off this year's Fair with genuine Wild West flair — bull riding, barrel racing, and all the classic rodeo events, included with Elwell admission.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎉 Big Events
Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
Thu, Aug 13 – Sun, Aug 23 | Iowa State Fairgrounds | |
Thu, Aug 13 | Iowa Lottery Grandstand | |
Fri, Aug 14 | Iowa Lottery Grandstand | |
Sat, Aug 15 | Iowa Lottery Grandstand |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
Thu, Aug 13 | West Des Moines | |
Sat, Aug 15 | Historic Court District |
🌾 Farmers Markets
Market | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
Thu, 4–8 p.m. | West Des Moines | |
Polk County Farmers Market | Thu, 4–7 p.m. | Town Square, Polk City |
Norwalk Area Farmers Market | Fri, 4–7 p.m. | 705 Main Street, Norwalk |
Sat, 7 a.m.–noon | Historic Court District | |
Sat, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 1907 Carpenter Ave, Des Moines | |
Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market | Sat, 8 a.m.–noon | 715 W 1st St, Ankeny |
Indianola Farmers Market | Sat, 8 a.m.–noon | Warren County Fairgrounds, Indianola |
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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