Ready or Not, Summer Vacation Is Here!
Rain, rain, stay away—we have too many fun things planned this weekend and next week! Let’s dive in.
Thank you for being here!
📅 Things to Do This Week
Friday, June 5
Vintage Road Coffee Turns 5
2206 Broadway St. | 6:30 a.m.-12 p.m. + 4-9 p.m. |
Stop by to help celebrate five years in business with specials throughout the day!
Woodward Friends & Neighbors Day Weekend Kicks Off
The celebration begins with the Christian Church Beef Burger Dinner at the church from 5 to 6:30. Then live music by Royce Johns and the Little Mister and Miss Woodward contest are in the plaza area (by the mural). Woodward welcomes neighbors from Granger and surrounding communities to join the celebration!
Dallas Center Pool Now Open
1108 Vine Street in Dallas Center | 12:30-7 p.m. | $5 for ages 2+, $2 for under 2
We didn't find the Dallas Center Pool until the end of last summer and really enjoyed it, so it's definitely on our list this year! They’re open daily and take cash, check and cards.
Summer Movies in the Park
Centennial Park | 8 p.m. (dusk) | Free
Grab a blanket or lawn chair and head to the park for a free showing of Lilo & Stitch (live-action version). Free-will donation slushies will be available at the concession stand. Thanks to Granger Parks and Recreation for this free family event!
Saturday, June 6
Woodward Friends & Neighbors Day
Woodward Main Street + Plaza Area
The annual parade begins at 10 a.m. on Main Street in Woodward. Throughout the day, enjoy vendors, food, live music, and family-friendly activities in the Main Street and plaza area, with fireworks wrapping up the celebration at 9:45 p.m. For more details on ALL the fun–click here.
Yoga in the Park
Centennial Park | 8 a.m. | Free
Join Jessica Bilbo for FREE Yoga in the Park. All skill levels are welcome, so bring a friend and enjoy a relaxing start to the weekend. Limited mats available.
Brenton Slough Grand Opening
Check link for map | 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Free
Enjoy nature games, learn about ongoing plant and wildlife research, hunt for insects and birds, and take a hayrack ride with family and friends.
P.S: If you're wondering what a slough is, you're not alone—I had to look it up! A slough (pronounced "sloo") is a marshy, shallow body of water. Brenton Slough is a 1,113-acre natural area located southeast of Granger in both Polk and Dallas counties.
Sunday, June 7
Woodward Friends & Neighbors Day
Woodward Plaza Area | 9 a.m. |
Cup of Joy coffee and community church service from Stone Bridge Church.
Whistlin’ Donkey Live Music
111 N. Main St. in Woodward | 2-5 p.m. | No cover
Luke Farland is performing upbeat country, rock, pop, and crowd-favorite hits.
Monday, June 8
Granger Public Library Summer Reading Program: Plant a Seed, Read
Granger Public Library | 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. |
Sign up for the Granger Public Library's Summer Reading Program and earn prizes throughout the summer! As a bonus, participants can enjoy a free potted flower (June 8–9) or slushie (June 8–10, 12–4 p.m.) while supplies last, just for registering.
The library will also host free Wednesday afternoon programs from 2–3 p.m., including Summer BINGO, a magic show, and art activities. Registration is required for each event, so keep an eye on the library's event calendar for details and sign-up information.
Tuesday, June 9
Adult Yoga
Granger Community Center | 10-11 a.m. |
Yoga for adults with beginner to intermediate experience.
Guided Nature Hike
Jester Park Nature Center | 2-3:30 p.m. | Free + No registration required
Join a naturalist for a leisurely, all-ages hike through this historic park and learn about local plants, wildlife, history, and whatever else you discover along the way. The mostly flat hike lasts about 1.5 hours, including stops. Bring water and sturdy shoes.
Woodward Community Food Pantry's Summer Food Program Starts
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 for more info. in last week’s newsletter.
Wednesday, June 10
Woodward Farmers Market
Woodward Plaza (by the mural) | 5-7 p.m. |
A great mid-week stop, with local vendors, baked goods, crafts, produce, and more.
Live Music + Line Dancing
Lake Robbins Ballroom | 7-10 p.m. | $5
No partner? No problem! Line dancing is easy to learn, fun to join, and a great way to get moving.
Thursday, June 11
Senior Social Time
Granger Community Center | 1-3 p.m. |
Hosted by Granger Parks & Recreation, Senior Social Time gives older adults a chance to gather for cards, games, movies, conversation, and the occasional ice cream social. It's all about having fun and enjoying good company.
📰 Top Local Stories
• W-G Administrative Search Update
As summer begins, many Woodward-Granger school families are watching to see who will step into two important positions for the upcoming school year.
The district's openings for Middle School Principal and Activities Director/Assistant Principal were set to close May 31 after just over two weeks of accepting applications.
According to district social media posts, the next step is interviews with finalists, which are expected to take place next week (the week of June 8). District officials previously reported that more than 20 applicants had started applications for each position. A request for additional information from Superintendent Mark Lane was not returned before publication—but to be fair, I'm guessing he's a little busy right now!
A couple of notes: Iowa school districts more commonly handle administrator renewals and contracts during March through May school board meetings. Both positions require an Iowa Administrator License, which requires a teaching license, at least three years of teaching experience, a master's degree, and completion of an approved administrator preparation program.
🏪 Local Business Spotlight
Central Iowa Swim
Maybe I’m the only one 😅, but when we first moved to town, I kept seeing Central Iowa Swim pop up whenever I searched for local places to swim and couldn’t quite figure out what it was! As it turns out, it's a private pool in Granger, owned by Randy Parker, that's used for swimming lessons and will soon be available for pool parties, too.
Now entering its seventh season, Central Iowa Swim has helped kids and adults build confidence in the water through more than 1,400 lessons each year. Coaches work with swimmers ages 2 through adult, helping them build skills and confidence in the water. Lessons are offered in one-week sessions and meet for 30 minutes each day.
And learning isn't the only goal—each session wraps up with a certificate and a well-earned popsicle.
In addition to helping kids build confidence in the water, swimming lessons can play an important role in water safety. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental injury death for young children, and Iowa water-safety officials encourage families to combine swimming skills with active adult supervision and wearing properly fitted life jackets in open water.
📍Randy Parker’s house at 10815 NW 105th Ct., Granger
🌐 https://centraliowaswim.com
💬 Community Feedback
• ☀️ I'm working on a local Summer Guide!
Hit reply and let me know if you have something you’d like included.
📌 Community Board
• Have a valid driver’s license and a little extra time? Volunteer drivers are needed to help provide rides for appointments, groceries, and errands—keeping local residents independent. Call 515-978-8114 or visit their website for more info.
• Afternoon part-time job opportunity available at Janning Family Chiropractic in Granger. Hours are Monday–Thursday from 2–6 p.m., with possible Friday hours as well. Send your resume and a brief bio to [email protected].
• The community refrigerator at the Granger Public Library is accepting donations. Items like milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables and protein are always needed.
• 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 and we’ll share with our readers!
— Stephanie, Hello Granger
Know something going on? Just hit reply and email me with the info!
