Des Moines West KOA

2010

Figure 8 Races - Adel - April 10 - October 9

Figure 8 Races are held every other Saturday in April through October. Just 7 miles from the campground, experience a favorite local attraction!

Festivale Cinco de Mayo - May 1

Hosted by the Historic Valley Junction Foundation at Railroad Park and 5th Street in Valley Junction, this annual event celebrates the Mexican heritage of the many railroad workers who moved to the area during the establishment years of Valley Junction. Visitors are invited to enjoy Mexican foods, artwork, live music, dancing, and family activities. This activity is free! See www.valleyjunction.com for more information.

Tulip Time Festival May 4-8

Pella is beautiful and unique all year long, but at Tulip Time it comes alive with tulips, Dutch attire, parades, food, fun and more! Visit Pella Tulip Time online.

Valley Junction Farmer's Market - May 6 - September 30

The Valley Junction Farmer's Market features a wide variety of vendors selling homegrown vegetables and fruits, baked goods, prepared foods, fresh-cut flowers, plants, crafts and much more. Over 100+ vendors. This event is held in conjunction with Music in the Junction, a free outdoor concert series that is held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday evening from May through the end of September.

Smokin' In The Junction - May 30

Valley Junction is excited to announce the 1st Annual Smokin' in the Junction BBQ Contest on Saturday, May 30, 2010. Join us for hot BBQ, great food, live music, food vendors, beer garden and a day full of fun! All BBQ contestants will be eligible to win a portion of nearly $3,000 in prize money. In addition to the BBQ competition, we will have a food court, live music, beer garden and other activities throughout the festival. Tentative vending hours are noon-10:00 p.m.

PGA Champions Tour Principal Charity Classic - May 31 - June 6

The Champions Tour will be back in town this year for the annual Principal Charity Classic held at Glen Oaks Country Club. Don't miss any of the action to come! Get your tickets early. The Principal Charity Classic is a community event and contributes greatly to the economic vitality and quality of life in central Iowa. The tournament also serves as a way to raise money for local non-profit organizations supporting children. Tickets are available at www.principalcharityclassic.com.

Adel's 5th Annual Brick Street Car Show - June 5th

This annual event features over 100 cars, food, vendors, and music in this all day event centered around the Historic Dallas County Courthouse square. For more information, visit Adel Partners online.

Dam to Dam Race - June 5

There are 20 kilometer, 5 kilometer and youth runs scheduled for the Dam to Dam Race.

National Pork Producers World Pork Expo - June 9-11

The National Pork Producers Council's 2010 World Pork Expo is the world's largest trade show for the pork industry. If it has to do with pork production, you'll find it at the World Pork Expo. Competitions, Pig-Casso Art Show and the Great Pork BarbeQlossal! Food, music and fun at the Iowa State Fairgrounds!

Des Moines Art Festival - June 25-27

The Des Moines Arts Festival is Iowa's premier celebration of the arts. Each year the FREE, three-day celebration of the arts, decorates the downtown riverfront with exceptional artwork, entertainment and children's activities. Artists from all over the country will showcase their original artwork at the 2010 Festival. Attendees can enjoy and purchase artwork from more than 180 talented artists in a variety of styles and prices. Fireworks Saturday night! A MUST SEE!

Hy-Vee Triathlon - June 11-13

In 2007, the inaugural Hy-Vee Triathlon drew athletes from around the world to compete for the richest prize purse ever on the elite triathlon circuit. In 2008, the world's top triathletes again competed for $700,000 in prizes, but that year much more was at stake for American athletes-a spot on the 2008 Olympic USA Triathlon Team. In 2007, 2,000 participants rode their bicycles across the City as part of the amateur race. The 2010 Hy-Vee Triathlon, to be held June 11-13 at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, IA, includes competitive events for amateur age groups and the ITU Elite Cup for the world's top-ranked professionals. The elite competitors will race for triathlon's largest purse -- $1 million, with first-place checks of $200,000 for the winning male and female athletes. Proceeds from the Hy-Vee Triathlon benefit Variety - The Children's Charity of Iowa, an organization that provides grants to more than 80 charities serving children and families. For more information regarding the 2010 Hy-Vee Triathlon, please visit hy-veetriathlon.com.

Gold Wing Ding 32/Motorcycle Rally - June 30 - July 3

The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is the world's largest single-marque social organization for owners/riders of Honda Gold Wing/Valkyrie motorcycles-and some would say, the world's largest family. Dedicated to their moto, Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge, GWRRA members enjoy the freedom of belonging to a not-for-profit, non-religious & non-political organization. Founded in 1977, GWRRA has grown to more than 80,000 U.S., Canadian & international members in 53 foreign countries in just 32 years. Over 800 active Chapters are managed by 4,000 volunteer leaders working with members to foster safe, enjoyable riding while also working to improve the public image of motorcycling. Register on-line at www.wing-ding.org. The Des Moines West KOA offers a 20% discount to Gold Wing Ding attendees.

Goodguys Heartland Rod and Custom Nationals - July 2-4

Over 3,500 Rods, Customs & Classics thru '72. Nightly Parties, Swap Meet & Cars 4 Sale Corral, Goodguys Street Challenge AutoCross, Giant Saturday Night Fireworks Show, Live Nostalgia Entertainment, Hot Rod Seminars, Vendor & Manufacturer Exhibits, Goodgals Gallery, and Model & Pedal Car Show. Held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information, visit Good-Guys online.

80/35 Music Festival - July 3-4

Watch the website for details! Dates this year fall on Saturday and Sunday, but did you know that the fest features two full days of music this year? And by full we mean noon to night. Seriously. If we could bend time and squeeze 49 hours of music into the two-day fest, we would. 80/35 is presented by U.S. Cellular and is organized by the volunteers of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, a non-profit movement committed to building a stronger and more diverse live music economy.

Dallas County Fair - July 8-11

Held in July, the Dallas County Fair offers talent show, cruiser cars, rodeo, tractor and pickup pull, figure 8 races, livestock judging, music and much more!

Indianola Balloon Festival - July 30 - August 7

Balloons fly all week long at 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Come out to the National Balloon Classic in the morning and enjoy a pancake or omelet breakfast or in the evening you can find treats at the concession stand. Sit, relax and enjoy the live entertainment and the spectacle of the hot air balloons.

Iowa State Fair - August 12-22

Yes, the country's most famous state fair and Iowa's largest tourism event will be held August 12-22. The 2010 theme - "Non Stop Fun" - harkens to the endless array of food, animals, entertainment, exhibits, rides, music, people-watching, contests, er, well…you get the idea. The 2010 Iowa State Fair promises to be the same round-the-clock blur of activity folks have come to expect from the country's favorite state fair. Iowa State Fair

Sweet Corn Festival - August 13-14

Nothing can compare to sweet corn grown in Iowa! The Sweet Corn Festival is an annual festival that features six tons of free sweet corn, craft and food vendors, free entertainment, evening street dance and beer garden. Take a short drive of 7 miles from the campground to Adel on August 13 and 14 and you can experience it first-hand. The best part is, it's FREE!

Pufferbilly Days - September 9-12

A citywide celebration of railroad heritage with a parade, food, entertainment, wine tasting, spike driving contest and a carnival. For more information, visit Boone Chamber of Commerce online.

Covered Bridge Festival - October 9-10

The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival has been a time-honored tradition in Madison County, Iowa since 1970. Each year on the second full weekend in October, county residents gather under the brilliant hues of autumn to celebrate their historic covered bridges. The festival features a wide variety of food, antique and craft vendors, nonstop music and entertainment, artisans demonstrating the old-fashioned ways, quilt show, car show, an antique vehicle parade, guided bus tours of the covered bridges, and so much more.