Are we all a little over the latest foodborne illness headlines? Here's the good news:The current outbreak has been linked to a recalled commercial lettuce supply chain—not local Iowa farmers markets. Whew! 😅
So if you're looking for fresh produce, 🌽 there are a few nearby farmers markets to check out this week. You'll also find local events, community highlights and—I'd love your feedback—are you enjoying the 🏡 Real Estate Minute at the end?
Have a great week! ☀️
📅 Things to Do This Week
Friday, July 31
Family Fun Night
Jester Park Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center | 6-8 p.m. | $5 under 4 are free
Try bouldering (ages 4+), archery (ages 10+), family games, puzzles, and make s'mores around the fire. It's an open-house style event with light snacks provided. No registration required.
Roller Skating in Dallas Center
Dallas Center Mound Park | 7-9 p.m. | Free
Beat the heat—for free! It's just a 15-minute drive from Granger. Bring your own skates or borrow free quad or inline skates, available in toddler through adult sizes. Enjoy music, games, prizes, budget-friendly concessions, and Water Night—so be prepared to get wet!
Saturday, Aug. 1
Yoga in the Park
Centennial Park | 8 a.m. | Free
Open to all experience levels, this outdoor class, taught by Jessica Bilbo Yoga, is a great chance to enjoy fresh air, movement and a relaxing start to the weekend. Bring your own mat if you have one, though extras will be available.
Woodward Farmers Market
By the mural in Woodward | 10 a.m. -12 p.m. |
Shop local at the Woodward Farmers Market. Find fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more from local vendors.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Sunday Music Series
The Cellar Winery in Madrid | 2-5 p.m. | No Cover Charge
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for an all-ages performance by Ducharme-Jones. The tasting room will have wine, beer, cocktails, mocktails, and more available for purchase, and you can bring your own snacks.
Monday, Aug. 3
Mommy + Me Yoga
Granger Community Center | 9-10 a.m. | Free but register
Caregivers and children of all ages are invited to stretch, breathe, and move together in a come-as-you-are environment. Pics from this event look like so much fun!
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Adult Yoga
Granger Community Center | 10-11 a.m. |
Yoga for adults with beginner to intermediate experience.
VBS at Granger Emmanuel United Methodist Church
1910 Locust St. | Tues. - Thurs. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Free
Kids ages 4+ can enjoy a creative, fun-filled time. A light meal’s included, for kids and their families! Click here to register.
Woodward Community Food Pantry's Summer Food Pickup
Pick up at designated location 5-7 p.m.
Eligible families in Granger, Woodward, and Bouton can pick up food at their community's designated pick-up location. Click here and scroll down for more info.
Wednesday, Aug. 5
Dallas Center Farmers Market
Heritage Park, Dallas Center | 4-7 p.m.
Dallas Center’s just a short drive away and has locally grown produce, handmade goods, and a food truck or two.
Thursday, Aug. 6
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.
Perry Farmers Market
2nd St., South of Willis Ave. in Perry | 4-7 p.m. |
About 20 minutes from Granger, but this one looks worth the drive! Shop local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade crafts, and food vendors, then explore downtown while several local businesses stay open later.
Toddler Tales
Jester Park Nature Center | 9-9:30 a.m., or 10-10:30 | Free
If your little one is curious about snakes, this story time is worth checking out. The program includes a story followed by a surprise activity, such as an animal encounter, puppets, or a craft. Recommended for ages 2–5.
🏪 Top Local Stories
• Your Guide to the Hwy 141 Garage Sale
Planning to Sell?
If you're planning for the Hwy 141 Garage Sale on Aug. 7-8, here are a few research-backed pointers to help make your sale a success. Here's to selling more and taking less back inside! 🥂
Garage Sale Tips:
Put your best treasures near the street. Large and eye-catching items like bikes, furniture, and tools are more likely to catch drivers' attention and encourage them to stop. As a drive-by shopper, I can vouch for this one.
Bundle smaller items. Deals like "3 books for $2" or "Fill a bag for $5" can help move more items and increase sales.
Make it easy to browse. Group similar items together, keep walkways clear, and display items neatly so shoppers can quickly find what they're looking for.
Refresh your sale after the morning rush. Rearrange tables or move different items to the front around lunchtime—and again before the second day—to catch the attention of new and returning shoppers.
Offer multiple payment options. Having small bills for change and accepting digital payments like Venmo make buying easier for your shoppers.
Planning to Buy?
If you're not into the work of planning a garage sale (✋), but you're serious about finding the best deals, it pays to have a game plan. The Hwy 141 Garage Sale stretches more than 177 miles from Grimes to Sloan, so you can make it a two-day adventure or stay close to home and shop the sales in Granger and our surrounding communities.
Garage Sale Shopping Tips:
Wait until Thursday, Aug. 6 to map out your route. The registration deadline is the day before, so the latest list of registered sales should be available on the official Hwy 141 Garage Sale website by then.
Bring cash—and a few quarters. It may be old school, but cash is still the easiest way to pay at most garage sales. Small bills make it easier for sellers to make change.
Plan for breakfast and lunch! You'll find plenty of food options along the route, from local restaurants and community groups. In Granger, the Granger Women's Club will be serving a Walking Taco Meal Deal for $7 at the Granger Community Center both days from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. And the Granger Public Safety Auxiliary will have breakfast burritos to start your day Aug. 7!
Start early for the best selection. Shoppers searching for furniture, collectibles and other popular items often arrive right when sales open—or are already waiting when they do.
Measure before you go. That dresser may be the deal of the day, but sometimes trunks look bigger than they really are. (Speaking from experience.)
📸 Tag @HelloGranger on Instagram with your favorite Hwy 141 Garage Sale find or your biggest sale.
• Granger Days 5K Returns Aug. 29
Granger Days has been bringing the community together for more than a decade, and the Granger Days 5K has been part of the celebration since 2019.
This year's race, hosted by Partners of the Park, includes a 5K run, 5K walk, bike ride and Kids Fun Run beginning at the Granger Community Center.
Hosting events like this is one way the organization supports its mission. Partners of the Park is a Granger-based nonprofit that works alongside the City of Granger and community partners to support parks, public spaces and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.
Now for the part you know you want—the T-shirt! Register by Aug. 7 to guarantee this year's event T-shirt. Registration also includes a race bib and number, refreshments, a raffle entry and prize drawings.
Click here to register!
🗓️ Save The Dates:
🎉 Aug. 28-29 — Granger Days
🎃 Oct. 17 — Granger Fall Festival & Fishing Tournament
Click here for the Facebook event page to stay up-to-date on the exciting details!
📌 Community Board
🏷️ Granger Nursing & Rehab is collecting gently used donations for its Highway 141 Garage Sale. Donations can be dropped off by August 5 at 2001 Kennedy St. Every donation helps support the residents.
✏️ W-G School Supply Lists: Elementary: click here Middle School: click here
High School: click here
💚 Need help with back-to-school supplies?
Stone Bridge Church in Granger would like to help! Click here to sign up. While they can't guarantee every item on each grade's supply list, they hope to help supplement your family's needs. Questions? Call 641-260-0184. Also—the Woodward United Methodist Church is hosting its School Supply Closet for families in Woodward and Granger. To register, call 515-438-2808 or 515-210-9805 by July 31.
🍗 The Granger Public Library shared that the community refrigerator has been especially busy lately. If you're able, consider picking up an extra source of protein—dairy, meat, etc.—during your next grocery trip and drop it by.
🚒 Serve with Granger Fire & EMS
A chance to serve close to home: Granger Fire & EMS is looking for residents within 10 minutes of the station to join its paid-per-call volunteer team and help support local emergency response efforts. Click here for contact info.
🚘 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.
Real Estate Minute: How much is this Granger home listed for?
I’m remarkably bad at guessing home prices, but I love seeing what’s available in the area. If you do too, see whether you can guess the correct price below! 🏠💲
Details: 4 beds, 2 baths, 2,272 sq. feet, built in 1905
A. $189,900
B. $290,000
C. $302,000
Click here to go to the Zillow listing and see if you’re right. I was closer on this one! 👍
— Stephanie, Hello Granger
Know something going on? Just hit reply and email me with the info!
