🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #31| THURSDAY, July 9, 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
Hey, Des Moines. ☀️
There's a specific kind of Iowa summer feeling — you know the one. It's warm but not unbearable. There's live music somewhere nearby. Somebody's grilling. A kid is running through a sprinkler three houses down. This weekend has that feeling written all over it.
Beaverdale is throwing its 10th bluegrass party at Tower Park. Ankeny SummerFest is going full "Jingle in July" — yes, really, and it's going to be delightfully chaotic. The Iowa Cubs are hosting the St. Paul Saints for a three-game home stand with Friday night fireworks. And if you can make the drive to Pella, hot air balloons over Lake Red Rock are one of those Iowa experiences that never gets old.
This is the good stuff. Right here. Let's get into it. ☕👇
☁️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 85°F | 85°F | 87°F | 91°F |
Conditions | 🌦️ Morning shower possible, then partly sunny | 🌦️ Scattered showers possible | ☀️ Mostly sunny | ☀️ Mostly sunny & warmer |
Thursday may start with a brief shower or thunderstorm before skies brighten. Friday brings another chance for scattered showers, but the weekend looks much better with plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Great weather is expected for Ankeny SummerFest and the Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival—just keep sunscreen and water handy.
Now this week's very important question:
🗳️ This week's very important question: What's your ideal Iowa summer Saturday?
Five things worth doing before August shows up:
🎈 Drive to Pella for the Balloonfest and watch hot air balloons drift over Lake Red Rock at sunrise — it's one of Iowa's most beautiful sights.
🎸 Catch at least one song at Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival and let yourself stay for three more.
⚾ Grab a $13 ticket to an Iowa Cubs game on a warm summer evening — there's nothing more Iowa summer than that.
🌽 Challenge yourself to buy something at the farmers market you've never cooked before and figure it out.
🌅 Find a Tuesday night with nothing scheduled and just sit outside until dark.
🌿 Family Connection Corner
Day | Family Connection Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | What's one thing you want to do before summer ends? |
Friday | If you could learn to play any instrument, what would it be and why? |
Saturday | If our family had a theme song, what song would it be? |
Sunday | What's the best meal we've made this summer? |
Monday | What's something you've never tried before but want to this year? |
Tuesday | If you could travel anywhere in Iowa for a day trip, where would you go? |
Wednesday | What's one thing that always makes you laugh no matter what? |
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
🎸 Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival — 10th Annual!
📅 Saturday, July 11 · Tower Park, Des Moines
A Des Moines gem turns double digits this year! The Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival is celebrating its 10th annual gathering at Tower Park, and it's shaping up to be their biggest yet. Expect a full day of live bluegrass and acoustic music, local food trucks, cold beer, and a genuinely welcoming neighborhood vibe that makes this one of the most beloved free events of the summer. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs — just leave the outside food and drinks at home. Kids are welcome, dogs are welcome, and good vibes are practically guaranteed. This is one of those events you go to once and put on the calendar every year forever.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date & Time | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Jul 11 | Tower Park, Des Moines | Free | |
Fri–Sun, Jul 10–12 | The District, Prairie Trail, Ankeny | Free Admission | |
Fri–Sun, Jul 10–12 | Pella, IA (~45 min from DSM) | Free | |
Fri, Jul 10 • 7:08 PM | Principal Park, Downtown DSM | Ticketed | |
Sat, Jul 11 • 6:08 PM | Principal Park, Downtown DSM | Ticketed | |
Sun, Jul 12 • 1:08 PM | Principal Park, Downtown DSM | Ticketed | |
Sat, Jul 11 | Downtown Bondurant | Free |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date & Time | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Fri, Jul 10 • 6:30 PM | Uptown Ankeny | Free | |
Sat, Jul 11 • 9:00 AM | Ankeny | Free | |
Sun, Jul 12 • 9:30 PM | Ankeny | Free | |
Tue, Jul 22 • 10:30 AM | Cowles Commons, Downtown DSM | Free |
🌽 Farmers Market around the Metro
Market | Day & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
Downtown DSM Farmers' Market | Saturday • 7:00 AM – Noon | Historic Court District |
Valley Junction Farmers Market | Thursday • 4:00–8:00 PM | 5th St, West Des Moines |
Beaverdale Farmers Market | Tuesday • 4:00–7:30 PM | Beaverdale Neighborhood |
Ankeny Farmers Market | Saturday • Morning | Ankeny Market Pavilion |
Global Greens Farmers Market | Saturday • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | 3200 University Ave, Des Moines |
Southside Sunday Market | Sunday • 9:00 AM–2:00 PM | South Des Moines |
Waukee Farmers Market | Wednesday • Evening | Downtown Waukee |
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
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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