What's happening
The day-by-day rundown of everything worth leaving the house for.
This Week in Waukee
Off work and not sure what to do? We keep the whole week in one place so you're not digging through five Facebook pages. Here's what's on, plus the stuff you can count on every week.
This week: Aug 24 to 30
Sources this week: the City of Waukee calendar, the Waukee CSD 2026-27 calendar, MaxPreps schedules for both high schools, and the Iowa Cubs home schedule.
Every week, count on these
Coming up
Bigger metro weekends and day trips are down in Worth the Drive.
More to plan with: the standing weekly rhythm above · the City of Waukee calendar · WaukeeDowntown events.
This Week's Spotlight
Five hand-picked local things this week - a spot to support, something to do, a hidden gem, a new opening, and a local doing good.
Rube's Steakhouse
Waukee's outpost of an Iowa original, and the pitch is refreshingly blunt: they hand you a raw, hand cut, grain fed steak and you cook it yourself over the open grill. It is the least fussy nice dinner in town, and the one out-of-town guests remember. Reservations are encouraged.
Friday night football is back
Both Waukee programs open the season on Friday, Aug 28 at 7pm: the Warriors host Johnston, and the Northwest Wolves open on the road at Ankeny. If you want a cheaper warmup, the JV and freshman teams play Johnston Thursday at 6pm. The two Waukee schools do not meet until Oct 16.
Sugar Creek Municipal Golf Course
The city bought this nine hole course in 2005 and it is still one of the best cheap evenings in Waukee: $19 plus tax for nine on a weekday, $23 on the weekend, and $13 for juniors 17 and under or seniors 55 and up. Carts run $12 a seat for nine. 1505 6th St, open roughly mid March through mid November.
The Waukee Village District
A new 12,000 square foot building at 420 Sixth St, on the site of the old Jerry's Barbershop in the downtown Triangle. It is essentially fully leased, and every tenant is a locally owned business: a coffee shop, a bakery, a salon, a gift and flower shop, plus the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce. Tenants have been opening through the summer.
Waukee Area Christian Services
The food pantry at 1155 SE Boone Drive serves anyone living in the Waukee school district, and the week school starts is exactly when family budgets go tight. Open Monday noon to 6pm, Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 3pm, and Saturday 9am to 11am. Non perishable food, new personal items and baby items are always needed; call 515-987-5523 to confirm hours before you drop off.
Nominate any Waukee business, nonprofit, or hidden gem for next week - recommend it here → (or reply to any issue). It's always free; we never charge to be featured.
Our Town, Our Leaders
Waukee is the fastest-growing large (20,000+) city in Iowa, sitting in Dallas County - one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. Its economy leans finance/insurance, healthcare, education, retail & professional services, with Hy-Vee a major area employer. Newest addition: Iowa Ortho is building a 15,843 sq ft orthopedic care facility to serve the growing west metro.
Safe streets
What's being built
Permits and where the growth is - straight from the City of Waukee's monthly building report.
- City issued 196 permits worth $41.1M in its most recent monthly report (April 2026)
- 30 new single-family homes and 10 new townhomes
- 1 multi-family permit, 2 commercial permits, and 153 permits in the "Other" category (additions, remodels, accessory structures)
Kettlestone Central is the story of the year - developers are pitching the 164-acre mixed-use district as Waukee's future "Main Street," part of the broader $325M Kettlestone Lakes investment reshaping the city's south side. On the flip side: Waukee voters rejected a $35M outdoor aquatic center bond in November 2024 - 54.9% in favor, short of the 60% supermajority Iowa requires for bond referendums - so the city still has no municipal outdoor pool. It's unclear if or when it comes back to the ballot; we're watching.
Getting around while it's built:
- Warrior Lane (Ford Ln/Park Rd to University Ave) - multi-year corridor closure continuing into 2027
- I-35/80 & Hickman Rd interchange - ongoing reconstruction; current lane configuration holds through fall
- Alice's Rd north of Horizon Dr - extension work resuming this season
- Live conditions: 511ia.org →
Your tax dollars
- FY2026 city property-tax levy: $12.80 per $1,000 of taxable valuation - down 15¢ from last year's $12.95
- Total city budget: $159.4M ($27.2M general fund, $45.1M business/proprietary, $15.6M debt service, $51.2M capital improvements)
- 61% of general-fund revenue comes from property tax; the city says fast growth is what's letting it cut the rate
- (the city's just one slice of your bill - Dallas County, DMACC & schools levy the rest)
At City Hall - what the Council is working on
- City Council meets the 1st & 3rd Monday of the month, 5:30pm - City Hall (230 W. Hickman Rd) & by Zoom
- Open to the public, with time for public comment
- Agendas & minutes: Agenda Center →
Here's what actually lands on the agenda most weeks:
Who represents you
Here's who holds each office right now (mid-2026):
2026 is a big year locally: Dallas County's Board of Supervisors expands from three seats to five on the November ballot, with the new, larger board seated in January 2027; at the federal level, Sen. Ernst is not seeking reelection. Look up your exact districts at legis.iowa.gov.
School board
- Waukee CSD Board of Education: 7 members, 4-year terms
- Board President: Armel R. Traore dit Nignan
- Dr. Andy Crozier became superintendent July 1, succeeding Brad Buck, who retired after a 34-year career (Buck is now executive director of School Administrators of Iowa)
- Schedule & agendas: School Board page →
Election center (it's a voting year)
The general election is Tuesday, Nov 3. (The June 2 primary set most of the matchups.)
- On the 2026 ballot: Governor, U.S. Senate & House, other statewide offices, the Iowa Legislature, and county races
Bring a valid photo ID (Iowa voter-ID law). Early voting begins Oct 14; registration/mail-ballot deadline Oct 19; same-day registration allowed on Election Day with ID & proof of residence.
Worship in Waukee
Yours not listed? Add it →
For the Kids
Waukee is one of the fastest-growing family towns in the Midwest - here's where to take them, rain, shine or 90-degree heat.
Make a splash
- Fox Creek Park (522 NE Westgate Dr) - 18-acre park with a free splash pad, tennis court, 4 pickleball courts & play areas
- Honest note: Waukee voters rejected a $35M outdoor aquatic center bond in November 2024 (54.9%, just short of the 60% required), so there's no city outdoor pool yet
- The Waukee CSD Natatorium (an award-winning school pool) offers lap swim & lessons through the district; a handful of metro outdoor aquatic centers are a short drive away
Rainy-day rescue (indoor)
Youth sports & leagues
- Triumph Park (66 acres) - 12 fields plus a Miracle League field adapted for players with disabilities
- Waukee Parks & Recreation runs youth leagues; sign-ups largely run through the district's Community Education portal
- Feeds into Waukee Warriors (original HS) and Waukee Northwest Wolves athletics
Movie night
The Palms Theatres & IMAX - right in Waukee (200 NE Westgate Dr), with a true IMAX screen.
Free at the library
The Waukee Public Library (950 S Warrior Ln, 515-978-7944) holds 40,000+ items and runs storytimes plus children's, teen & adult programming. Hours: Mon-Tue 9-8, Wed-Thu 9-6, Fri 9-5:30, Sat 9-4, Sun 12-4.
Know a family gem we're missing? Recommend it →
Family guides: things to do with kids · parks & playgrounds · the movie theater
Warriors & Wolves
Waukee High (Warriors) & Waukee Northwest (Wolves) - the town's own crosstown rivalry, now that Waukee runs two comprehensive high schools.
Not a score yet: both programs open this week
Fall varsity play has not started, so there is nothing real to put on a scoreboard. Both football teams sit 0-0 and open Friday. Here is what is actually on the schedule.
Two schools, one town
The crosstown rivalry shows up across every sport, from a 31-28 football finish in the fall of 2025 to head-to-head softball, basketball & more. It's the town's own built-in derby now that Waukee has split into two attendance zones.
Follow schedules & scores at Waukee CSD & Northwest Wolves Activities. Full schedules, the rivalry & recent results: our Waukee high school sports guide.
Trails & Triumph Park
Where to hike, bike, and play, minutes from town.
Get Outside
Waukee is a trailhead town - the Raccoon River Valley Trail's 89-mile network starts and ends here, and the newest big park opened in 2022.
Triumph Park
- Triumph Park - 66 acres, 3 miles of connected trails with underpasses for safe crossing, 12 athletic fields plus the adaptive Miracle League field
- Fall favorite: Trick or Trout, when Iowa DNR stocks a Triumph Park pond so kids can catch dinner
Raccoon River Valley Trail
- The RRVT's 89-mile trail network both starts and loops back to Waukee - a 71-mile loop runs through Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Jamaica, Dawson, Perry, Minburn & Dallas Center
- Waukee trailhead, parking & restrooms at the junction of Highway 6 & Route 22
- A 5-mile leg parallels Hwy 6/Hickman Rd to connect Waukee to Clive's Greenbelt Trail; a 12-mile northern extension runs Herndon-Cooper-Jefferson
Centennial Park & Kettlestone trails
Centennial Park is Waukee's community-event park - host to the Easter Egg Hunt, Movies in the Park, and the Waukee Arts Festival. Enter from Ashworth Drive, or park in the gravel lot off University Ave near the covered bridge.
The Kettlestone Greenway is being built out in phases - Phase 2 connects the Kettlestone Commons/Holmes Murphy area through a Grand Prairie Parkway underpass to Kettleview, and through a Westown Parkway underpass to the Grant Park neighborhoods.
Golf
Sugar Creek Municipal Golf Course - Waukee's own public course, 9 holes, par 34.
Fox Creek Park
18 acres with a free splash pad, tennis court, 4 pickleball courts & playgrounds - 522 NE Westgate Dr.
Iowa's big summer
Outdoors guides: trails & bike paths · Raccoon River Valley Trail · Triumph Park · parks · golf
Rainy Days & Nights Out
When the heat or the storms roll in - or the kids are finally in bed.
Make a night of it
Exile Brewing's second-ever location is opening inside Kettlestone Social - the taproom scene here is only getting bigger.
Get active indoors
Kettlestone Social's pickleball courts and duckpin bowling will be the go-to once it opens in 2027. For now, The Palms Theatres & IMAX covers movie nights right in town.
Clubs & leagues
- Waukee Public Library - adult & teen book clubs, programs
- Waukee Parks & Rec adult programs - pickleball, leagues & facility rentals
Run a club we should list? Tell us →
Indoors & night-out guides: the movie theater · a night out · Kettlestone
The Housing Market
A quick honesty note: Waukee sits in Dallas County, not Polk - Dallas County's assessor doesn't publish a per-sale "existing home just closed" feed the way Polk County's does for Ankeny & Johnston. So the market stats below are Redfin/Zillow aggregates, while the lot-sales figures are real, self-pulled county records (see note below).
Lot & new-construction land sales (self-pulled, real records)
Straight from the Dallas County Assessor's public "Urban Residential Lots" sales file - this tracks new subdivision lot sales (land, mostly pre-construction), not resale of existing homes, but it's real and it shows exactly where the growth is platting.
- 58 Waukee lot-sale transactions year-to-date 2026 (through the July 9 recording date), totaling $13.73M, median $119,900 per transaction. 24 of the 58 are multi-lot bulk sales to builders, so per-transaction ≠ per-lot.
- Recent examples: 12 lots at 3345 Paradise Ln for $984,000 ($82,000/lot); 8 parcels on NW MacArthur Lane for $608,000 ($76,000/lot); 2 lots on NW Atlas Lane for $202,000 ($101,000/lot)
- Where it's platting fastest right now: NW Creekside Dr and NW Sproul Dr (5 transactions each), then Fieldstone Dr and NW Georgetown Dr (4 each)
Just closed & building
April 2026's building-permit report: 30 new single-family homes and 10 new townhomes among 196 total permits worth $41.1M - see Town Hall for the full breakdown.
Housing & moving guides: moving to Waukee · neighborhoods · cost of living · Kettlestone
Beyond Waukee - Pile in the Car
Some of the best nights out aren't at a Waukee address. You've got a car - here's the metro and the easy day trips, with rough drive times from town.
Big days out
Worth planning a whole day or evening around:
Outdoors around the metro
Beyond the lakes north of town (see Outdoors), these are the metro's signature green spaces:
Free in Des Moines
No ticket needed - great when you just want to wander:
Eat & drink worth the drive
When you want more than Waukee's own (excellent) lineup:
Worth a Saturday - day trips
A little farther, but easy round-trips and a true change of scenery:
Make a weekend of it - 2 to 4 hours away
Pack a bag. Within a half-day's drive: a world-class zoo, Mississippi river towns, Iowa's lake country, and a baseball field in a cornfield.
The full rundown - with what to do and who each trip is best for - is in our day trips & weekend getaways guide →
Drive times are rough door-to-door estimates from central Waukee - add a little for downtown parking or game-day traffic. Got a favorite spot we're missing? Recommend it →
Nearby guides: things to do in Waukee · trails & bike paths · Triumph Park
Where Waukee Eats
Where we'd send you first: a starting lineup of local favorites in town (mid-2026).
By cuisine - a starting lineup
Pizza & Italian - Taste of New York Pizza, Scorno's Pizza & Pasta
Steak & date night - Rube's Steakhouse, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Breakfast & brunch - Littleleaf Luncheonette, The Breakfast Club (Kettlestone Central)
Burgers - Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer, Wayback Burgers (first Iowa location)
Mexican - Panchero's Mexican Grill
Raw bar & seafood - Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster
Taprooms & pub grub - Barn Town Brewing, Gastro Grub & Pub, The Kee Bar & Grill, 85 Bar, Great White Buffalo
The full rundown: best restaurants in Waukee →
The caffeine index
- The Coffeesmith (4.7★) - the independent local favorite, off Alice's Rd at 770 SE Alice's Rd
- The Breakfast Club - breakfast, brunch & coffee daily at Kettlestone Central (2285 Grand Prairie Pkwy #180)
The full local coffee scene, ranked drive-thru to sit-down: the best coffee in Waukee →
New spot opening? Tell us → - we run a "new this month" feature.
New & coming soon
Deals around town
Always worth a look - current standing deals (we refresh these weekly):
Happy hour in Waukee - Central Standard Craft Beer & Burgers, 1222 SE University Ave, is listed at weekdays 3-6pm ($5 5 Cities beers, $4 well drinks & house wine), with $10 pizzas on Thursdays. Central Standard doesn't publish it on its own site, so call 515-987-0095 if you're driving over for it.
Happy hour just over the line - Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in West Des Moines (440 S 68th St, about 10 minutes east) runs its FIREBAR and patio happy hour Monday through Friday, 2-6pm, per Firebirds' own site. There is no Waukee Firebirds, so this one is a short drive.
Kids eat free - Pizza Ranch Waukee, 448 SE University Ave, does a free kid's buffet with each adult buffet at regular price. Pizza Ranch lists Kids Eat Free as a Tuesday deal and says hours vary by location, so confirm the night with the store.
We dropped a few deals this week that we couldn't confirm at the source, including the Rube's and DQ kids offers. If you know one is still running, tell us and we'll put it back.
Got a deal or happy hour we should list? Add it here → - and owners, your specials run free.
Food guides: what should we eat tonight? · best restaurants · pizza · breakfast & brunch · coffee
Schools & Learning
Waukee is a school town - one of the fastest-growing districts in Iowa, and a big reason families move here.
School's back. Monday, Aug 24 is the first day of the 2026-27 year for TK through grade 12 across the Waukee Community School District. Aug 24 and 25 are kindergarten transition days. Preschool holds its open house Thursday, Aug 27 and starts Monday, Aug 31.
Weekly lunch menus and the full 2026-27 calendar (early dismissals, no-school days, picture days): waukeeschools.org → · boundaries & buildings: our schools guide · first-week checklist: back to school.
The district keeps opening buildings to keep pace - two comprehensive high schools plus separate ninth-grade schools - with more planned across Kettlestone and the west-side subdivisions.
- Free meals for any child 18 & under - no sign-up, no income check
- Sites & times: district's Nutrition Services page
- Or call 211 (or 1-866-3-HUNGRY) or use the federal Summer Meals Site Finder
Beyond K-12
- DMACC and other Des Moines-area colleges are a short drive across the metro for two-year, transfer & career-training programs
- Waukee Public Library (950 S Warrior Ln) runs year-round programming - book clubs, teen & children's programs, and adult classes
Support for every learner
Waukee schools back students from preschool through 12th grade with a full Student Services team:
- Special education - individualized IEPs & specially designed instruction
- 504 plans, talented-and-gifted, at-risk support, ESOL for multilingual families
- Special Education Service Delivery Plan written in the open, public comment taken each year
- Questions: the district's Student Services office, via waukeeschools.org
Out in the community, the free Miracle League (see Families) gives kids with special needs their own accessible ball field at Triumph Park - everyone plays, every game.
Warriors vs. Wolves
Waukee's crosstown rivalry: Waukee High (Warriors), the original school with a Spartan-style mascot adopted in 2016, and Waukee Northwest (Wolves), which opened in 2021 in a $103M building. Both are large schools in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League), Iowa's deepest conference, and regular state contenders across the major sports.
The Warriors are a longtime boys-golf and boys-swimming power; the young Wolves have piled up state titles fast in softball, girls' and boys' soccer, volleyball and girls' track. The head-to-head games - a 31-28 football finish in the fall of 2025, plus head-to-head softball, basketball & more - are the tickets to have now that the town runs two comprehensive high schools.
For the weekly game scoreboard - scores, playoff runs and standings - see the Sports section → Schedules & results live at Waukee CSD, Northwest Wolves Activities and on Bound.
School guides: schools & boundaries · high school sports · the library
New in Waukee
Every business newly registered in town, freshest first - straight from the state's public record. This list fills with Waukee's latest registrations once the weekly refresh runs; browse the full State of Iowa business database anytime at sos.iowa.gov.
We love featuring businesses started by Waukee grads and lifelong locals. Own one - or know one? Tell us your story → and we'll spotlight it here.
Now hiring
A weekly snapshot of real openings in and around Waukee - pulled from public job listings, with the national trucking-board spam filtered out. Tap any role to see pay and apply.
Swim Lesson Instructor | Waukee Family YMCA - YMCA of Greater Des MoinesApply → Assistant Manager - Panchero's Mexican GrillApply → Sub Shuttle Driver - Waukee Community School DistrictApply → Warehouse Technician - Access SystemsApply → Educator's Aide - Afternoon Support - Sonnet MontessoriApply → Amazon Package Delivery Driver - Earn $15.50 - $26.50/hr - Amazon FlexApply → Merchandiser / Auditor Position Available - Waukee IA - CCMIApply → Operations Manager - Fleet Farm CareersApply → Container haulingdriver - Valley ExpressApply → Customer - Food Service - Second Shift - Kwik Trip IncApply → CMA/LPN - Waukee Med Park - Pulmonology - UnityPoint HealthApply → Waiter/Waitress - IHOPApply → Teller Waukee - Wells Fargo BankApply →Business guides: jobs & largest employers · cost of living
Sales, Stands & Markets
Bargain-hunting, fresh sweet corn, taco trucks, and the weekend treasure hunt.
This weekend's garage sales
Pulled fresh from the public sale maps - we refresh this list weekly in season:
No sales posted for Waukee this weekend on the live maps - check back closer to the date, or browse the links below.
See the full live map (and post your own) at gsalr.com or GarageSaleFinder - and check the local Waukee buy/sell/swap groups on Facebook, where a lot of sales and finds post first.
Farmers market & farm stands
The Waukee Farmers Market is the anchor - Wednesdays 4-7 p.m., June through September in the downtown Triangle, with local produce, prepared foods, crafts and live music. Heads up: downtown street construction may shift the location for August & September, so check WaukeeDowntown.com first.
For roadside sweet corn, melons and produce around Dallas County in season, the state keeps a licensed farm-stand directory.
Food trucks
Waukee doesn't run a single standing truck night, so the trucks travel to the crowds: the Waukee Farmers Market (Wednesdays, downtown Triangle) draws prepared-food and dessert vendors, and the Waukee Arts Festival each July at Centennial Park brings a big lineup of food and beer trucks alongside the artists and live music.
Track who's parked where around the metro on StreetFoodFinder. Running a truck? Tell us → and we'll feature it.
Market guide: the Waukee Farmers Market
Recommend a spot
This whole thing is better with you in it. Know a great restaurant, a hidden gem, a deal, a can't-miss event or garage sale - or run a local business yourself? Send it our way. The best picks land in the Brief, and the spotlight's always free.
Recommend a spot →Prefer email? Just send it to [email protected].