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.
Movie in the Park
8:45 p.m. Friday, July 27 at Kinnick-Feller Park, Adel.
Spread out your blankets, grab your lawn chairs, and enjoy the whimsical world of “Wonka” with Adel Parks and Rec. The movie begins at sunset. Free popcorn will be available.
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.
Art in the Park
10-11 a.m. Saturday, June 28 at Johnson Park, Van Meter.
The Van Meter Public Library and Van Meter Parks & Recreation Board are teaming up to provide several Art in the Park activities this summer – all centered around the theme of Color Our World. Join the Library & Park Board at 10 .m. on the following Saturdays at Johnson Park to participate: June 28; July 12, 26. All art supplies will be provided by the city.
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
Wine on the Prairie
6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at The Brenton Arboretum.
Join The Brenton Arboretum for a special sunset event. Purchase a ticket to enjoy wine and light appetizers while mingling with arboretum supporters. The event has been moved to the Vista Room and Lawn, so there will be plenty of air conditioning to keep you cool as you sip, socialize, and enjoy the gorgeous mid-summer views.
Movie Night
8 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at Bouton City Park.
An outdoor movie will be shown on Saturday, June 28 at Bouton City Park. “The Minecraft Movie” will start playing at 8:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
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.
High–Low Hike
8-9 a.m. Tuesday, July 1 at Voas Nature Area.
There’s a trail at Voas Nature Area, which courses through both a high ridgetop savanna and a low-lyingcreek drainage. Dallas County Conservation will lead attendees through a one-mile route traversing forested hills, a rocky creek, and stopping at a scenic viewpoint of the North Raccoon River Valley, while keeping an eye out for wildlife.
Free Merchant Movies
11 a.m. Wednesday, July 2 at Perry Grand 3 Theatres.
The Perry Grand 3 Theatres will continue its 2025 summer movies on Wednesday, July 2 with “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.” 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.
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.
Musical Extravaganza and Ice Cream Social
2 p.m. Friday, July 4 at Centrum of First United Methodist Church, 1100 3rd St, Perry.
Perry Fine Arts will present its annual Musical Extravaganza and Ice Cream Social on July 4. Perry Fine Arts’ annual variety show has been going on for over 50 years. It has become a mainstay of Perry’s Fourth of July festivities. Come and enjoy, in air-conditioned comfort, as Perry area performers entertain you with vocals, and instrumentals. Following the program, come and socialize while having a scoop (or two) of ice cream, cake, and goodies. Perry Fine Arts concerts are free and open to all. A free-will offering will be taken and a reception will follow the concert. The building is handicapped accessible.
Memorial Golf Tournament
Sunday, July 6 at Perry Golf and Country Club.
The late Edward and Wilma Collins will be honored at the 12th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament on Sunday, July 6 at Perry Golf & Country Club. Anyone who would like to enter the Memorial Tournament may enter by contacting the Perry Golf & Country Club at (515) 465-3852. In addition to the open event, individuals who are 50-69 years of age may play in the senior division and people who are 70 years and older may play in the super senior division.
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.
Free Community Supper
5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 at Heartland Church of Christ, 14417 J Ave, Perry.
All are welcome to join us at Heartland Church of Christ for supper on the 2nd Wednesday of every month – no charge. Dine in or carry out. Handicap accessible. Take a night off cooking and let us serve you!
Dallas County Fair
July 8-12 at Dallas County Fairgrounds, Adel.
The Dallas County Fair will return from July 8-12. Grandstand evening activities include Mutton Busting and Rodeo by Double S Bull Company on July 10, a concert featuring Matt Stell with special guest Jordan Beem on July 11, Figure 8 and Circle Track Racing followed by live music by The Other Brothers and fireworks on July 12. Other activities include 4-H/FFA livestock shows, a carnival, free entertainment and more. Find a full schedule at dallascountyfair.com/fair-schedule.
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 Pollinator Palooza, outdoor movies
Reporting by Staff Report / Des Moines Register
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