Hello Granger | Granger Days + E-Bikes + Support Local

You made it through the first week of school—now it’s time for some fun! 🎉 There’s plenty happening close to home this week, including the Granger Days parade and festivities, the farmers market and more.

And don’t forget the Community Board—basically our town bulletin board, minus the pushpins. 📌 It’s where you’ll find important reminders, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved.

Here’s what you need to know—and if I missed something, let me know!

Friday, Aug. 28
Main Street Mercantile Ribbon Cutting
Main Street Mercantile, 1910 Main St., Granger | 10 a.m.
The Granger Economic Development Association (GEDA) is officially welcoming Main Street Mercantile to the Granger business community! Stop by for the ribbon cutting, check out the new store and help give one of Granger’s newest businesses a warm welcome.

WG Football Team Send-Off
State Street line up at 5:15
WG fans, line State Street in Granger (the street with the WG Early Learning Center and District Office) with fans, signs and plenty of Hawk spirit as the Woodward-Granger football team heads to Madrid for the Battle of the Bridge!

Brick & Ember Pizza at Bud’s Pub
Starting at 5 p.m.
The Brick & Ember Pizza Company will be outside Bud’s Pub serving whole pizzas, slices and their new Peanut Butter & Jelly Cobbler Pizza. Stop by for dinner on your way to the football game in Madrid or before you settle in at the movie in the park.

First WG Football Game
Madrid High School | 7 p.m. 
The Hawks hit the road for their first Friday night matchup. Head over to Madrid and cheer on Woodward-Granger as they kick off the football season!

Movie in the Park: Cars
Centennial Park, Granger | 8 p.m./dusk | Free
Kick off Granger Days with Cars at Centennial Park! Kona Ice will be available. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and settle in for an outdoor movie night.

Saturday, Aug. 29
Granger Days 5K
Granger Community Center | Check-in: 7-7:30 a.m.
The Granger Days 5K is back! Run, walk, bike or bring the kids for the Fun Run. Already registered? Watch your inbox for race-day details. Race-day registration is also available! Thanks to Granger Partners of the Parks for putting it all together!

Granger Days Parade
10 a.m.
There’s plenty of school spirit and hometown pride in this one! We’ve sat along State Street for the parade in years past, and the candy haul is always impressive!
Parade route: Start at Kennedy Blvd. → down State Street to Walnut Street → left on Walnut Street to Elm Street → left on Cherry Street → back down to Kennedy Blvd.

Granger Days Centennial Park Fun
10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Spend the day at Centennial Park with Vendor Village from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., a petting zoo and geocaching from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., inflatables and a rock wall from 11 a.m.–7 p.m., plus a beer tent, food and wine slushie trucks from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Granger Days Tournaments & Games
Centennial Park
Catch plenty of competition throughout the day, including volleyball and bags tournaments, Fire & EMS Water Fights from noon–3 p.m. on Sycamore St., Hawk Games for ages 11–17 from 3–5 p.m., plus Fun & Games for the 21+ crowd by the beer tent (register by 3 p.m.) .

Live Music
Bud’s Pub | 8 p.m.–midnight
The band Encore Legends will bring live music with a high-energy mix of classic rock favorites and modern hits.

Fireworks
Ballfield by the Community Center | 9:30 p.m.
Close out Granger Days with a bang at the annual fireworks show.

Sunday, Aug. 30
Yoga in the Park
Centennial Park | 9 a.m.
Slow down after all the back-to-school and Granger Days craziness with a little movement, mindfulness and fresh air with Jessica Bilbo Yoga before heading over to the Farmers Market. All levels are welcome—just bring a mat and come as you are.

Granger Farmers Market
Centennial Park | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
More than 30 vendors, three hours and plenty of reasons to wander every booth. Shop local goods, grab something to eat and see what you didn’t know you needed until you find it at the Granger Farmers Market.

Monday, Aug. 31
Explore the Iowa Arboretum
Iowa Arboretum & Gardens, Madrid | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Admission: $12 for ages 13+, $7 for ages 3–12 and free for ages 2 and under.
Head to the Iowa Arboretum to explore the gardens and trails—and don’t miss the Treehouse Village! Winter is only 115 days away, so soak up the green while you can! 

Tuesday, Sept. 1
Adult Yoga
Granger Community Center | 10-11 a.m. |
Yoga for adults with beginner to intermediate experience.

Wednesday, Sept. 2
Library Story Time
Granger Public Library | 11:15-11:45 a.m. | Ages 0-5 |
Little ones can enjoy stories, songs, snacks and crafts at this weekly library get-together. No registration needed.

Pasta Night at Crossroads Church
Crossroads Community Church Property, 13240 NW 102nd Ave., Granger | 5 -7 p.m.
Take a night off from cooking with a pasta and salad dinner, plus a silent auction featuring pies and cakes! Free-will offerings and auction proceeds will help build the church’s new home. RSVP ahead to save your seat.

Thursday, Sept. 3
Senior BINGO
Granger Community Center | 1-3 p.m. |
Granger seniors are invited to gather for a fun, friendly game and a chance to connect with others in the community.

Toddler Tales: Spiders
Jester Park Nature Center | 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. | Free | Ages 2+
Little ones can get up close with nature during this spider-themed story time, followed by a surprise activity chosen by a naturalist—maybe an animal encounter, puppets or a craft. No registration needed.

There’s a good chance Spellman Photography owner Katie Spellman already knows the people who show up for a photo session—and that’s one of her favorite parts of the job.

She grew up in Woodward, graduated from Woodward-Granger in 2006 and now lives with her husband between Woodward and Granger. Her son attends Woodward-Granger Elementary, and she’s active with the WG ELC & Elementary PTO.

“I’m basically just a lifer,” she said.

Photography, however, wasn’t always her career. The business was founded by her husband, but as he became more involved with his family’s farming business, she began learning photography from him. In 2013, she left her corporate job to run the business full time.

Since then, she’s continued learning through plenty of trial and error. Becoming a parent gave her a new perspective, too. She began thinking more about the photos parents and grandparents will treasure and now makes a point to capture those.

Her local connections help behind the camera, too. She often already knows her clients, their kids and some of their interests. That familiarity helps her connect quickly and bring out their genuine personalities.

“If you're a more reserved group, I don't want to come in like a Labrador retriever and make you feel all slobbered all over,” she said.

With an outgoing family, she’ll match their energy and take it up a notch. With a quieter family, she knows that approach won’t work. She admits there’s usually plenty of energy on her side of the camera, though.

“I’m pretty much always highly caffeinated—shout out to Vintage Road,” she joked.

One of her favorite parts of the job is watching local families grow. Some have returned for more than a decade, and she often sees photographs she took hanging on friends’ walls.

“Watching their kids grow has just been one of the highlights of my career,” she said.

📸 Spellman Photography’s fall calendar is now open for bookings—click here!

• E-Bikes and Scooters Get City Council’s Attention
With e-bikes, scooters and other motorized bikes becoming more common, the Granger City Council recently discussed concerns about traffic violations and rider safety.

Police Chief Cox said the department is working with schools on education about traffic laws, while the Council plans to review ordinances from other communities to see whether additional local regulations are needed. No formal action was taken.

Granger isn’t alone in the conversation. Grimes is participating in a metro-wide safety campaign focused on speed, trail etiquette, yielding to pedestrians and safe crossings, while Ankeny updated its bicycle and e-scooter ordinance earlier this year.

•Local Youth Groups Are Back!
Local church youth groups are one way for kids and teens to meet new people, have some fun and get involved in the community.

🙌 Stone Bridge Church: Stone Bridge Youth
18280 Wendover Ave., Granger | Wednesdays | 6:30
Enjoy playing some seriously fun and unique games, singing along to current worship music, and spending time in small groups where you can get to know other students and your leaders. For students in grades 6-12.

🙌 Crossroads Community Church : Crossroads Student Ministry
13240 NW 102nd Ave., Granger | Kick-off Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 6 p.m.
Food, games and friends are in the kick-off lineup for students in grades 6–12! During the school year, it’s more of the same—fun, connection and growing in their faith.
Email [email protected] to connect on Facebook + Instagram.

🙌 Assumption Catholic Church: High School Youth Group
Kick-off Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 7 p.m.
Assumption Catholic Church is kicking off its high school youth group with faith, fun and food! All high school students are welcome, regardless of faith! After the kickoff, the group will meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

🙌 Granger Emmanuel United Methodist Church: Youth Group
A joint youth group with Woodward Methodist Church is being planned to start in September, with more details coming soon.

📌 Community Board

👕 Let’s Help Everyone Get WG Gear!
Woodward United Methodist Church is collecting new and gently used WG spiritwear to help get Hawks gear into the hands of local kids and families who can use it. If you have WG gear to pass along, contact Brenda Talbert at [email protected].

🍅 Help Keep the Woodward Farmers Market Going!
The current farmers market planner is ready to hand things over to someone new. If you enjoy bringing people together, supporting local vendors and want to help keep the market going, contact Theresa Seeman Hotchkiss on Facebook.

🏠 Give your Driveway a WG Upgrade!
WG students and parents are painting school-spirit decals, with four designs/logos to choose from: WG, WG Hawk, Iowa State or Iowa Hawkeyes. One design is $30, or save when you choose multiple. Painting dates are Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and Sept. 20. Proceeds help the WG Class of 2028 host Prom 2027.
Pick your design → click here

🍗 If you're able, consider picking up an extra source of protein—dairy, meat, etc.—during your next grocery trip and drop it by the community refrigerator at the Granger Public Library. Or, if you’re in Woodward, drop your items off at the Woodward Public Library for the community refrigerator there.

🚘 Volunteer Drivers Needed
Volunteer Community Services of Woodward & Granger (VCSWG) is looking for volunteer drivers to help local residents get to appointments, pick up groceries, and run errands—helping neighbors stay independent. Students, this is also a great opportunity to earn Silver Cord hours.For more information, call 515-978-8114 or visit vcswg.org.

❓Do you have a volunteer opportunity, job posting or another local announcement you’d like included here? Reply to this email and let me know.

🗓️ Save The Date!

🎃 Oct. 17 — Granger Fall Festival & Fishing Tournament is coming soon! Click here to follow along for details and updates as they’re shared.