The Grimes Brief is building the most useful local reference for Grimes, Iowa, one page at a time. Here is the full library so far, grouped by what you are trying to figure out. Curious who is behind this? About the Brief.

Food and drink

What to eat tonight →

Can't decide? Pick a mood, get the answer.

Grimes restaurants →

The full guide, with addresses.

Coffee →

The local roaster and the drive-thrus.

Breakfast →

Where to eat in the morning.

Pizza →

Pizza night, sorted.

Ice cream and dessert →

The Grimes dessert trio.

Mexican food →

El Huapango, Hacienda Vieja, and Chipotle.

A night out →

The Main Street bars.

Living in Grimes

Moving to Grimes →

Schools, commute, cost, and the growth story.

Schools (DCG) →

The Dallas Center-Grimes district, building by building.

School lunch →

DCG menus and prices.

DCG 2026-27 school calendar →

Every no-school day, early out, conference, and break, printable.

Cost of living →

Home prices, income, and taxes, with real numbers.

Property taxes →

How the bill works, and the county split.

Sales tax →

7 percent, and how it breaks down.

Neighborhoods →

The subdivisions shaping the town.

Apartments →

Renting in an ownership-heavy town.

Hotels →

Where to stay in and near Grimes.

Daycare →

Licensed childcare centers.

Senior living →

Kennybrook Village and the care continuum.

Is Grimes a good place to live? →

Rankings and honest tradeoffs.

Grimes history →

From railroad town to fastest-growing city.

ZIP code and county →

50111, Polk and Dallas.

Grimes almanac →

The town by the numbers.

Outdoors and recreation

Things to do in Grimes →

The full rundown.

Outdoors hub →

Every way to get outside, in one place.

Parks →

Every city park, with amenities.

Trails →

City paths, and the big loop trail nearby.

Golf →

Beaver Creek, 27 public holes in town.

Disc golf →

Free 18 holes at Glenstone MultiGolf.

Pickleball →

Public courts at Lions Park and the South Complex.

Sports complexes →

The Hy-Vee Multiplex and more.

Fishing →

Stocked ponds and Big Creek Lake.

Camping →

Cutty's and Big Creek State Park.

Pools and swimming →

The splash pad, and nearby pools.

Dog parks →

The nearest off-leash options.

Farmers market →

Saturdays at Heritage Park.

With kids →

Splash pad, MultiGolf, library, ice cream.

Day trips →

Lakes, a theme park, and the city.

City services and getting around

Utilities →

Electric, gas, water, internet.

Water →

The city runs it; how to connect.

Trash and recycling →

Who picks up, and on what day.

DMV →

License and vehicle registration.

Public library →

Hours and location.

Urgent care →

Clinics in town and nearest ERs.

Public transit →

DART no longer serves Grimes.

Snow ordinance →

Parking rules when it snows.

Police and crime records →

Grimes uses the Polk County Sheriff.

Pets →

Vets, licensing, and the shelter.

Commute to Des Moines →

About 16 miles, 20 minutes.

Finders and tools

Activity finder →

Filter every local idea by mood, or let it decide.

Grimes trivia →

Test your local knowledge.

All finders and tools →

The interactive tools in one place.

Seasonal and annual events

Annual events calendar →

Governor's Days, the market, trick-or-treat, and more.

Fireworks →

Governor's Days and the Fourth of July.

Halloween →

Trick-or-treat hours, trunk-or-treats and haunted houses near town.

Pumpkin patches →

The nearest patches and orchards.

Holiday lights →

The Grimes celebration and Jolly Holiday Lights.

Back to school →

DCG dates, registration, and supplies.

Winter →

Sledding, skiing, and getting through it.

Severe weather →

Sirens and how to get alerts.

Local life

Movie theaters →

None in town; the nearest options.

Live music →

Local bars and Vibrant Music Hall.

Mustangs sports →

Following DCG athletics.

Mustangs football →

Class 4A Friday nights.

New businesses →

Every new Grimes registration, by category.

Elections

Voter guide hub →

Nonpartisan: how to vote, your ballot, who represents you.

How to vote →

Registration, dates, and your polling place.

Your 2026 ballot →

Split by Polk and Dallas county.

Who represents you →

City hall to Congress.

Sponsored

HeartlandAncestry

Your Grimes ancestors are in the record. Search 26.9M+ documented ancestors, free.