Ankeny YMCA Road Races, Carly Rae Jepsen and Train in Concert: Plan Your Weekend in Ankeny

There’s plenty to do in Ankeny this weekend, and if you want to travel into Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

We at Patch want to help you plan your weekend, so here are some highlights we picked out for the weekend of Aug. 16, 2013.

Ankeny

The Big 5-Oh!

When: Fri - Sat 7:30 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m.

Where: Ankeny Community Theater, 1932 SW 3rd St.

Admission: Adults $15; Sr. Citizens $12; Youth $10

This just might have been the worse week in George Thomas' life and to top it all off, he turns 50 on Saturday! Through these trying days, George will discover the wonders of family, the responsibilities of parenthood, and the results of his latest physical.

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Ankeny Farmers Market

When: Saturday, Aug. 3. 8 a.m. to noon.
Where: Uptown Ankeny
Admission: Free

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Ankeny YMCA Family Road Races

When: Aug. 17, 8 a.m.

Where: Ankeny Family YMCA, 1102 N. Ankeny Blvd.

Admission: Adults $25; Kids $15 (register by 8/16)

Central Iowa

Iowa State Fair

Where: Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines

See a full list of events, sorted by day, on the fair's website.

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2013 Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Division 2 Playoffs

When: Aug. 16-18

Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines

Buy Tickets

The inaugural 2013 Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Division 2 Playoffs will be hosted by the Des Moines Derby Dames at Hy-Vee Hall August 16-18. The top two finishers will advance to the WFTDA Championships in November to play for the first ever Division 2 Championship title. For the love of flat track. Be there.

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Free Flicks: "Spaceballs"

When: Aug. 17, 9 p.m.

Where: Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines

Admission: Free

Free Flicks is a summer-long series of outdoor movie showings throughout the Des Moines area parks and facilities. This year at Hoyt Sherman Place we are screening "Spaceballs." This 1987 comedy stars Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, and Bill Pullman.

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One Hill of a Run 5k

When: Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Fees: $25 early registration (through August 16)
$30 late registration on race day (August 17)

Race (or walk!) up and down some of Des Moines's steepest hills while winding through the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood.

For more information and to register for the 5k, please visit OneHillOfARun.com.

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Iowa Improv Fest

When: Aug. 16-17, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Stoner Theatre, Des Moines

Buy Tickets

Comedy XPeriment, Des Moines’ favorite improv group, again hosts the annual Iowa Improv Festival (IIF). In its fourth year, the IIF features four regional improvisation troupes (Comics In Action, Comedy Xperiment, 88 Improv & Half-Masted) highlighting their particular skills and interpretation of the art of improvisation.

The Iowa Improv Festival strives to bring a variety of improvisation formats to Central Iowa. Held over two nights, the IIF features a 25-minute set from each troupe, along with a free-form jam at the end of each show.

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Des Moines Restaurant Week

When: Aug. 16-25, times and location vary.

Admission: $25 per person for one three-course dinner or two lunches 

Catch Greater Des Moines' talented chefs in action. Special fixed-priced menus. Delectable cuisine. One week (two weekends!) of guilt-free dining. Savor the sweet creations. The local flavors. The delicious aromas. Des Moines Restaurant Week awaits. 

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Train In Concert

When: Aug. 16, 8 p.m.

Where: Iowa State Fairgrounds

Admission: $39. Buy Tickets

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Carly Rae Jepsen in Concert

When: Aug. 17, 8 p.m.
Where: Iowa State Fairgrounds
Admission: $49. Buy Tickets

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Hula Hooping in the Park

When: Aug. 17-24, Noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Grays Lake Park, Des Moines
Admission: Free

Get free hula hooping lessons weekly through Aug. 24. Hoops will be available or you can bring your own. For more information, visit the group on Facebook.  

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Allan Jackson and Gary Allen

When: Aug. 18, 8 p.m.
Where: Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines
Admission: $39. Buy Tickets