🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #31| THURSDAY, July 16 , 2026
A Week Full of Good Things, DSM
Hey, Des Moines. ☀️
Fair warning: this weekend is a proper scorcher, triple digits in the heat index and all. But don't let that keep you inside — Waukee's rolling out its arts festival, Clive's got fireworks and cardboard boats waiting, and the farmers market will be going strong Saturday morning before it gets too brutal out there. My advice? Get out early, find some shade by afternoon, and let the evening concerts and cold drinks carry you the rest of the way.
Let's get into it.
☁️ Weekend Weather Outlook
Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 94°F | 96°F | 96°F | 92°F |
Conditions | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunshine | ☀️ Sunny & humid | ⛅ Warm, partly cloudy |
Quick Look | Hot and humid, clear skies | Our hottest day — stay hydrated! | Mostly clear, feels like a sauna | Mostly clear, feels like a sauna |
The one-liner: It's a hot one, Des Moines — think sunscreen, shade breaks, and extra water bottles for the whole crew this weekend. 🧴💧
Now this week's very important question:
If friends were visiting Des Moines for one day, where would you take them first?
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 | Dinner Table Question |
|---|---|
Thursday | If you could design your own summer festival, what would it be called, and what's the first thing people would see? |
Friday | What's the hottest day you can remember, and what did you do to cool off? |
Saturday | If you had a food truck, what's the one thing you'd sell? |
Sunday | What's one skill you'd love to learn if you had an entire lazy summer afternoon to practice it? |
Monday | Would you rather explore outer space or the bottom of the ocean? Why? |
Tuesday | What's one small thing that made you smile today? |
Wednesday | If you could add one new tradition to our family, what would it be? |
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
When: Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19 Where: Centennial Park, Waukee What: A weekend celebration of art, music, and community with local vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden.
Don't miss Saturday night's headlining concert, "Born to Run: The Music of Bruce Springsteen," performed live by The Monday Night Live Band.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
🎯 BIG EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
Fri–Sun, July 17–19 | Centennial Park, Waukee | |
Fri–Sat, July 17–18 | Greenbelt Landing, Clive | |
Sat, July 18, gates 6 PM | Riverview Park |
💛 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
Thu, July 16 | Greater DM Botanical Garden | |
Fri, July 17 | Greater DM Botanical Garden | |
Sat, July 18 | Science Center of Iowa | |
Runs through July 26, 7:30 PM | Elle Woods heads to Harvard Law | |
Fri–Sun | Prairie Meadows Racetrack, Casino & Hotel. | |
Fri: The Faster Horses · Sat: DAKØTA & Soulcage · Sun: Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones | Local East Village music venue |
🌽 Farmers Market around the Metro
Market | Day & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market | Saturday • 7:00 AM–12:00 PM | Historic Court District, Downtown Des Moines |
Valley Junction Farmers Market | Thursday • 4:00–8:00 PM | Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines |
Ankeny Farmers Market | Saturday • 8:00 AM–12:00 PM | 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 | Southridge Mall, Des Moines |
Olde Town Farmers' Market | Thursday • 4:00–7:00 PM | Olde Town, Altoona |
Grimes Farmers Market | Friday • 4:00–7:00 PM | Grimes Public Library |
Norwalk Farmers Market | Friday • 4:00–7:00 PM | Norwalk Christian Church |
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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