Good morning, Des Moines! 🌅 Who’s ready for East Side Night?!?! 🍺 🍗

In todays issue:

• 🌽 Adel Sweet Corn Festival

• New leadership for Hy Vee 👨‍💼

• 🤽 Water Park for WDM

And we’re off.

— Nick Rivas

ADEL SWEET CORN FESTIVAL 🌽 

The Adel Sweet Corn Festival, an annual tradition in the charming town of Adel, is a vibrant celebration that brings the community together with delicious food, lively entertainment, and a strong sense of camaraderie. Held every August, this beloved event has become a highlight for residents and visitors alike, offering a perfect blend of small-town charm and festive excitement.

The festival's origins trace back to the mid-1970s when a group of Adel residents decided to create an event that would showcase the town's agricultural heritage and foster community spirit. What began as a modest gathering has grown into a major event that attracts thousands of people each year. The star of the show is, of course, the sweet corn, and festival-goers are treated to an abundance of this delicious, locally-grown crop.

One of the main attractions of the Adel Sweet Corn Festival is the free sweet corn, served hot and buttery to all attendees. The festival organizers, with the help of numerous volunteers, cook and distribute thousands of ears of sweet corn throughout the day. The sight of steaming corn being handed out to eager festival-goers is a quintessential image of the event, and the sweet, juicy kernels are a testament to the quality of Iowa's agriculture.

The festival kicks off early in the morning with a 5k that takes place along the scenic brick streets of Adel, followed by Dallas County’s largest parade that winds through the streets of downtown Adel. The parade features an array of floats, marching bands, vintage cars, and community groups, all decked out in festive attire. Children line the streets, eagerly collecting candy tossed from the floats, while adults enjoy the vibrant display of local talent and creativity. The parade sets the tone for a day filled with joy and celebration.

In addition to the parade and sweet corn, the Adel Sweet Corn Festival boasts a variety of entertainment options for all ages. Live music is a staple of the event, with local bands and musicians taking the stage to perform a mix of genres, from country to rock to folk. The music provides a lively backdrop for the festivities, encouraging attendees to dance and sing along.

The festival also features a bustling vendor area, where local artisans and businesses showcase their products. From handmade crafts and jewelry to delicious baked goods and unique clothing, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The vendor area is a great place to discover one-of-a-kind items and support local entrepreneurs.

For families, the festival offers a range of activities designed to keep children entertained. Carnival games, face painting, and inflatable bounce houses are just a few of the attractions that delight younger attendees. The festival also hosts a variety of contests, such as pie-eating competitions and corn shucking races, adding an element of friendly competition to the day's events.

See you on Saturday!!

THE ROUNDUP 🧵📱

Hy Vee transitions to new CEO 🍞 🥫 

Randy Edeker, a familiar figure in the Hy-Vee community, has stepped down as CEO after a tenure that began in 2012. Edeker, who has been with Hy-Vee for over 43 years, has played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a regional grocery chain into a major Midwestern powerhouse. His leadership has seen the introduction of innovative store formats, expansion into new markets, and a deepened commitment to community engagement, making Hy-Vee a beloved institution in Des Moines and beyond. Edeker passes the torch to Jeremy Gosch, who previously was the company president. The move was announced in January 2023 and went into effect on Aug 1.

WDM Water Park 🏨 ♒️ 

The West Des Moines Planning and Zoning Commission has taken significant steps to advance the Grand Experience development, a $500 million project set to include a 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, a 60,000-square-foot conference center, two hotels, and 150 affordable housing units. The commission's approval of amendments to the city's development and land use plans paves the way for the project, which aims to boost tourism and economic growth in the area. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025 near the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex on Grand Avenue and developers say it could bring around 1,000 jobs to the area.

@DSMATDAWN 📷

Photo Cred: Anonymous friend of The Dawn

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WHAT TO DO 🚨🏁

Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair officially kicked off this morning, following the Iowa State Fair Parade last night. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $10 for kids over 5, and are discounted after 5PM on weekdays.

Meteor Shower Watch

All ages are welcomed to Yellow Banks Park to learn about asteroids, meteors, and meteorites. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the night sky from 8:30-10 Sunday night.

Cousins Maine Lobster at Confluence

This food truck has made its way to DSM all the way from Atlanta, GA. They will be set up at Confluence Brewing Company on Sunday from 12-6PM. Head out for a lobster roll, a beer, and maybe a stroll around Gray’s Lake.

Movies in the Park

This recurring event put on by Des Moines Parks and Rec makes its way to Ewing Park on Saturday to show E.T. 👽️ The presentation starts will start at 8PM right after the Star Party. It is free to attend and blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks are encouraged.

Squonk Brouhaha

Head down to Cowles Commons this weekend for this visual extravaganza. The show features a Squonkcordian, an enormous musical instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells, and Squonks musicians fuse many styles while promoting audience participation. The first show is Friday night and continues throughout the weekend.

WEATHER   🌞 🌡️

Weather Beacon: ⚪️ Colder weather in sight (but not too cold)

Thursday

High 76 | Low 53 | Cloudy ☁️ 

Friday

High 74 | Low 52 | Mostly Sunny 🌤️ 

Saturday

High 76 | Low 58 | Mostly Sunny 🌤️ 

Sunday

High 77 | Low 63 | Partly Cloudy ⛅️ 

MUSIC SCENE 🎶🎤

Thursday

Old 97’s | 7PM | Wooly’s

Dog Party | 7PM | xBk Live

Hazmat Kids Tour | 7PM | Lefty’s Live Music

Friday

Gina Gedler - The Fab 4 | 7PM | Noce

Sapphira Cristal | 8PM | Wooly’s

Saturday

The Grand Marquis | 7PM | Noce

When We Were Nu | 8PM | Wooly’s

Gooseberry | 8PM | xBk Live

Max Wellman | 9:30PM | Noce

Sunday

Ben Folds | 7:30PM | Hoyt Sherman Place

State Fair

Check out all Grandstand Entertainment as well as all the free shows.

SPORTS 🏈🏅

Iowa Cubs ⚾️

The Iowa Cubs are in Omaha this weekend taking on the Storm Chasers.

Knoxville NOS Energy Drink Nationals 🏎️

Aug 7-10 | Knoxville Raceway

We highlighted the 360 Nationals last week, and this week its “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All”. Knoxville Raceway will host more than 100 drivers and many more fans. It’s the most anticipated week in Sprint Car Racing and its happening just down the road.

Savannah Bananas ⚾️ 🍌 

We’ll have more on the Bananas coming to Principal Park next month, but TruTV has announced it will be carrying the Friday night game.

THANK YOU! 🙌 

Thank you for reading DSM at Dawn.

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