Good morning, Des Moines.

Jingle in the Junction kicked off the holiday season at Valley Junction under the glow of over 100,000 lights—featuring free horse-drawn trolley rides, live ice carving, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Old City Hall.

Many stores extended their hours with special deals as the event will run each Thursday for the next four weeks.

Microsoft donated to the West Des Moines Holiday Food Assistance Program (which offers food vouchers up to $75 to over 500 income-eligible households) to help local families during December's food shortages.

Staff at Microsoft's local datacenters also held a food drive (collecting over 1,200 pounds for the local food pantry) to further support community aid efforts.

Daniel Doyle, a Des Moines man, won $250,000 in the Holiday Gold scratch-off game when he bought his ticket at Price Chopper on Beaver Avenue— the Iowa Lottery said nonwinning tickets can enter a second-chance draw for a share of $1 million.

Hundreds gathered at Plymouth Church in Des Moines on Thursday to honor Bill Knapp, a visionary businessman and founder of Iowa Realty who left a lasting impact on the community.

Friends and family recalled his humor and caring nature—he stayed active even at 99—while a committal service is planned for today in Van Meter at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Des Moines’ Register is sharing photos of old buildings that once served as city halls, depots, and shops — many built in the late 1800s and early 1900s that have since been used for new roles.

The archive shows how the city has grown and changed over the years.

Jill Viles was a geneticist and writer who used her science skills to spot a rare muscle disease in her family—she also noticed similar signs in an Olympic hurdler.

Her memoir Manufacturing My Miracle was published after her death and shares her remarkable life story.

Des Moines International Airport is getting ready for a busy holiday travel time as officials expect a 13% rise in flights and about 24,000 travelers from Wednesday through Sunday (new routes include an Allegiant flight to Fort Myers leaving today).

A new terminal opening in January will add six more gates (helping the airport handle the extra travel).

The American Farm Bureau’s 40th annual Thanksgiving Dinner cost survey showed the total for ten servings dropped to $55.18 – a 5% decrease from last year as the turkey price fell 16% from $25.67 to $21.0 to help ease shoppers’ costs.

The survey, which checks prices of 12 items, also found that an expanded meal cost $77.09, modestly lower than in 2024.

Next week is expected to be one of Iowa's busiest travel periods with nearly 82 million Americans heading out for Thanksgiving.

AAA Iowa said more than 5.8 million Midwesterners will drive plus gas in Iowa costs $2.80 a gallon, 30 cents below the national average, while officials urge drivers to buckle up.

Des Moines Public Schools reported that unsheltered students increased from 6 to 26 and students living in vehicles grew from 7 to 21 in the 2025–26 school year—more than 550 students are facing homelessness while the district ramps up support with tutoring and essential supplies.

Today on the Great American Smokeout, Iowa smokers are urged to plan quitting as studies show the state has one of the nation's highest cancer rates with over 5,100 smoking-related deaths each year.

Jackie Cale said her group will lobby lawmakers in January to raise tobacco taxes by $1.50 per pack — a change expected to bring in 82-million dollars annually to fund cessation programs.

New Functional Fitness Class at DM Yoga and Wellness

This FUNctional fitness class will increase your strength for everyday living!!

Winter Storytime with The Grinch

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Meet The Grinch and enjoy a reading of his classic tale along with a fun holiday activity.

Turkey Trails Thanksgiving Run

9 AM - 12 PM — Gray's Lake Park — $25.98 — Participate in a Thanksgiving-themed 5k/10k run complete with custom swag and family fun.

Baby Rhyme Time

9:30-10:00 a.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — Enjoy rhymes, songs, and stories while bonding with your baby in a playful setting.

Open Studio Holiday Shopping

11 AM – 3 PM — Mainframe Studios — Free entry — Shop for unique art pieces and discover local talent in a festive atmosphere.

Weekly Art Nights with Art is Rad

6-8 p.m. — Big Grove Brewery & Taproom — $10 per artist — Unleash your creativity with hands-on art activities for all ages and skill levels.

Monthly Writing Night at Smokey Row

7-9 p.m. — Smokey Row Coffee — Free entry — A relaxed evening for writers to create together or explore new ideas with prompts.

Christmas With The Celts

7:30-9 p.m. — Hoyt Sherman Place — $29.50-$69.50 — Experience a lively blend of Irish traditions and contemporary Christmas music with humor and dance.

Central College Dance Team Championship

6:00 PM — Casey's Center — Free entry — Witness the Central College Dance team compete against ISTDA State in an exciting showcase of talent.

Freedom in Freeform Poetry Showcase

4-5:30 p.m. — Des Moines Public Library - Central Library — Free entry — A vibrant space for poets to share their original works and celebrate the art of poetry.

Holiday Movie Night

5:30-8:00 p.m. — Science Center of Iowa — $2 for kids, $3 for adults — Enjoy a festive screening of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' with free snacks and goody bags.