Public Safety Night
4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 on 2nd Street between Warford and Willis, Perry.
Check out the Perry Farmers Market from 4-7 p.m. every Thursday, but especially on the Third Thursday of the month for special events. Thursday, June 19 is Public Safety Night at the 2025 Perry Farmers Market. Special guests will include the Perry Fire Department, Perry Police Department, Dallas County EMS, Dallas County Emergency Management, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services. The Perry Fire Department will host a grill-out during the market.
Summer Solstice
8:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, June 20 at Hanging Rock Park, 416 Redfield St., Redfield.
Join DCCB naturalists at the astronomical clock atop the ridge at Hanging Rock to observe and celebrate the sunset of Summer Solstice. This is a time of growth, creativity, and self-actualization. Consider an intentional gesture at this historic site to recognize the changing of the seasons as people have done for thousands of years.
Pancake Breakfast
Postponed.
Aspire of Perry has postponed its outdoor pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 21 because of the heat advisory. Watch for a new date announcement on the Aspire of Perry Facebook page.
Summer Cookout
Canceled.
Due to extreme heat conditions forcast for this Saturday, the Dallas County Picnic set for Saturday, June 21 in Perry has been cancelled.
Concert on the Prairie
Postponed.
The Brenton Arboretum has decided to postpone the live music event: Concert on the Prairie featuring Luke Stutzman. This event was scheduled for Saturday, June 21, but due to excessive heat warnings it has been postponed to a future date. As soon as the new date has been coordinated it will be announced on our website and social media outlets. Tickets already purchased will automatically forward to the new event date. Learn more at thebrentonarboretum.org/event/luke-stutzman-in-concert/
Movie Night
8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at Bouton City Park.
An outdoor movie will be shown on Saturday, June 21 at Bouton City Park. “Hotel Transylvania” will start playing at 8 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase.
St. Pat’s Summer Fest
12 p.m. Sunday, June 22 at south green lot across from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Perry.
Join the St. Pat’s church community in celebrating all things St. Patrick School, including Father Litto, one last time. Potluck-style meals and a hog roast, courtesy of the St. Patrick Knights of Columbus, will be provided, along with entertainment and fun for all ages. There is no cost to attend. Bring your favorite dish for the potluck, your lawn chair and drinks (no alcohol).
Free Merchant Movies
11 a.m. Wednesday, June 25 at Perry Grand 3 Theatres.
The Perry Grand 3 Theatres will continue its 2025 summer movies on Wednesday, June 25 with “The Bad Guys.” All movies will be shown at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays through Aug. 13. Admission is free thanks to local sponsors. Look for a full list of upcoming movies on the Perry Grand 3 Theatres Facebook page.
Pollinator Palooza
12-3 p.m. Friday, June 27 at The Brenton Arboretum, 25141 260th St., Dallas Center.
Join The Brenton Arboretum in a celebration of pollinators! At the 2025 Pollinator Palooza families will learn all about all the things that pollinate plants: ants, bats, bees, birds, butterflies, moths, and wind. Several exploration stations will demonstrate how, thanks to pollination, we reap the benefits of seeds, fruits, honey, and species diversity. Pollinator Palooza is a free event and no registration is required.
Van Meter Yoga in the Park
8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28 at 910 Main St., Van Meter.
The Van Meter Parks & Rec Board is partnering with Twisted Yoga 108 to provide Yoga in the Park in the green space between the Legion and the Legion Shelter House on the following Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Be sure to bring a mat and join in! All ages welcome, there is no cost to the participants. Yoga in the Park will be held on June 28, July 12, 19 and 26, Aug. 9 and 23.
Waukee Yoga in the Park
8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28 at 114 Windfield Pkwy, Waukee.
Join local, certified yoga instructors from Fit & Fierce 515 for Yoga in the Park this summer! Participants 12 years old and up are encouraged to bring a yoga mat or towel, water bottle and $5 per person to Windfield Park on the second and fourth Saturdays of June-September.
Wheeling with Waukee Bike Ride
10 a.m. Saturday, June 28 at 208 W. Hickman Rd, Waukee.
Grab your friends and get ready to ride through Waukee at the Waukee Area Chamber’s 1st Annual Wheeling with Waukee Bike Ride. Join the Waukee Chamber on Saturday, June 28, starting at the Waukee Trailhead and bike the Raccoon River Valley Trail to Dallas Center. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the ride will begin at 10 a.m. After the ride, keep the fun going at Kenny’s Garage with an exclusive BOGO drink deal and explore special offers from local businesses in the Downtown Waukee Triangle. It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer, support local, and connect with your community! Register at members.waukeechamber.com/events/details/2025-wheeling-with-waukee-annual-bike-ride
Perry Lutheran Homes Summer Concert Series
7 p.m. Monday, June 30 at Eden Acres Campus, 1300 28th St., Perry.
Perry Lutheran Homes is bringing music, joy, and community connection to Perry this summer with its Live Music Concert Series. This concert lineup aims to bring community, family, and seniors together at free, family-friendly events open to the public and held on the Eden Acres Campus. The series will continue with Greater Des Moines Community Band on June 30. Upcoming concerts include Jim Quales Ministries on Aug. 18.
Perry Community Blood Drive
1:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3 at Perry Hy-Vee.
A Perry Community Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, July 3 through the Bloodmobile in the Perry Hy-Vee parking lot. Schedule your lifesaving blood donation by visiting lifeserve.info/schedule or by calling 800.287.4903.
Waukee’s Independence Day Celebration
July 3-4 at Centennial Park, Waukee.
Waukee’s Independence Day Celebration returns on July 3-4 at Centennial Park. Enjoy classic American summer activities from a pancake breakfast to a pie-eating contest to professional fireworks and a parade. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. Find all the details and register for the parade, volunteer opportunities, tournaments and wrist bands for all-you-can-jump inflatables at Waukee.org/July.
Minburn’s Fourth of July Celebration
Friday, July 4 in Minburn.
Minburn’s Fourth of July festivities will kick off with a Meet Me in Minburn concert from 7-9 p.m. on July 3 in Meek Park. A free-will donation meal will be served from 5:30-7 p.m. by the Friends of the Minburn Library. One2Go will perform live music from 7-9 p.m. The outdoor skating rink will also be open, with free skate rentals. The festivities will continue on July 4 with a 9 a.m. parade (8:30 a.m. line-up at co-op), family games at Rogers Park, bags tournament at Mudders, All Wheel Show on Baker Street, lunch and bingo at the food shelter, open skating, live music, pie auction and more. Fireworks will close out the festivities at dusk. Find more information at www.minburn.org.
Perry’s Fourth of July Celebration
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday, July 4 in Perry.
Join the Perry Chamber for a fun day filled with a parade, food, live music and more on the Fourth of July in Perry. Festivities will include a 10 a.m. parade on Willis Avenue to Pattee Park (line-up at 9 a.m. at East Perry Plaza), 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. vendors at Pattee Park, 1-4 p.m. Bingo in the Bandshell, 2 p.m. Perry Fine Arts Musical Extravaganza & Ice Cream Social at First United Methodist Church, 6-9:30 p.m. Live Music at Pattee Park Bandshell by Retrospect and 9:30 p.m. fireworks finale.
Woodward Social Center Luncheon
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 7 at Methodist Church, Woodward.
The Woodward Social Center will serve a luncheon on Monday, July 7. The menu will include hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and dessert bars. A free-will offering will be taken to support the Woodward Public Library.
To submit events to be included in the Around the County round-up, email news@adelnews.com or news@theperrychief.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do in Dallas County this weekend include Public Safety Night, Summer Solstice
Reporting by Staff Report / Des Moines Register
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