The Hub - Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce

FREE & CHEAP
Things To Do In Grinnell
1. Volunteer at PALS (Poweshiek Animal League
Shelter). You'll get to play with all the animals while
taking care of them. www.helppalsanimals.com or
641-236-4288. FREE
2. Check out the Civil War exhibit at Faulconer Gallery
on the Grinnell College campus. Attend the opening
reception on August 31 for free appetizers. www.
grinnell.edu/faulconergallery or 641-269-4660. FREE
3. Relax over your lunch break with Yoga in the Gallery
at Grinnell College’s Faulconer Gallery, 12:15-12:50pm
on Mondays & Thursdays, Sept 6-Oct 11. FREE
4. Explore Grinnell’s history at the Grinnell Historical
Museum, 1125 Broad St. Be sure to check out the
desk of J.B. Grinnell, a founder of our community.
Open Tues-Sun 2-4pm through Labor Day, 2-4pm on
weekends Sept-May. www.grinnellhistoricalmuseum.
org or 641-236-7827. FREE
5. Take a Sunday drive to Lynnville to tour the Wagaman
Mill. The mill was constructed in 1848 and has been
used as a saw mill, carding mill, flour mill, feed mill and
as a generating station for electricity. Open Sundays,
2-4pm through the end of September. FREE
6. Grab a camera and head downtown with a few
friends for a photo shoot. All the gorgeous flowers and
old brick buildings make for great backdrops. FREE
7. Visit the art gallery at the Grinnell Arts Center,
926 Broad St. It’s open Mon-Fri 2:30 to 5:30pm and
Saturdays 9-noon. www.grinnellarts.org or 641-236-
3203. FREE
8. Claim a patch of sidewalk downtown for a good
view of the Grinnell-Newburg Homecoming Parade
on Sept 20 at 5pm. If you’re lucky, you’ll be showered
with candy. FREE
9. Curl up with a good book at the Drake Community
Library, 930 Park St. FREE
10. Take an afternoon stroll on the one-mile trail
around Arbor Lake—it’s especially beautiful once the
leaves begin to change colors.
11. Feeling energetic? Visit one of Grinnell’s parks and
test your skills on the monkey bars. Don’t leave without
swinging and going down the slide. FREE
12. Go for a bike ride on the Grinnell Area Recreational
Trail. You can take the trail all the way out to Rock Creek
State Park, so pack a picnic and make a day of it. FREE
13. Visit the Grinnell Railway Express, a model railroad
museum. Located at the corner of Third Ave. and Park
St. Call 641-236-0968 to schedule a tour. While you’re
there, take a look at the mural on the north wall. FREE
14. Admire the stained glass and architecture of
Merchants National Bank, on the corner of Fourth Ave.
and Broad St. Built as a bank in 1914 by Louis Sullivan,
the building now houses the Grinnell Area Chamber of
Commerce. Open for tours Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 10-4, Sun
1-4. FREE
15. Take advantage of Grinnell College's Public Events
Series. This fall includes a comedy show, orchestra
concert, Haitian Troubador music, bluegrass and jazz.
Tickets are free but must be picked up the week of
event. Events listed on the pg 15 calendar. 641-269-
4444. FREE
16. Devour French toast, sausage and scrambled
eggs at the annual Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast on Sept
29, 6-11am at the Grinnell Airport. Advance adult
tickets are $6 from Grinnell Chamber, Optimist Club
members, Lowry Flying Service, Wes Finch Auto Plaza
and Community 1st Credit Union. CHEAP
Free & Cheap Things to Do
17. Bring a couple bucks to the Farmers Market for a
tasty treat and some fresh greens. Sets up at Central
Park Thursdays 3-6pm and Saturdays 10-noon. CHEAP
18. Chanel your inner artist and paint your own pottery
in the lower level of Marketplace on Main, 912 Main St.
Just purchase a clay figure and paint away. They’ll fire
it in the kiln for you and you can pick it up later. CHEAP
19. Spend the afternoon at a $5 matinee at the Strand
Theatre, 921 Main St. Get there a few minutes early
to check out the mini-museum of artifacts from the
museum’s past (it was built in 1916). CHEAP
20. Jump on the Big Orange Pillow and shoot the Corn
Cannon at Uncle Bill's Farm & Carroll's Pumpkin Farm.
www.carrollspumpkinfarm.com or 641-236-7043. $6
weekday admission. CHEAP
21. Buy a roll of bubble wrap from Total Choice
Shipping & Printing, 800 Fourth Ave, and use it to
make obnoxious crackling noises. CHEAP
22. Play a round of disc golf at Miller Park-Lake
Nyanzaa. It's free if you already have a disc, if not you
can buy one at Bikes to You. FREE
23. Grab your tennis raquet or basketball and head to
Ahrens Park for a game. FREE
24. Polish your massage-therapy skills during free
classes through the Grinnell Arts Center. Saturday
mornings in September, www.grinnellarts.org or 641-
236-3203. FREE
Have something to add to our list? Email your
suggestions to chamber@getintogrinnell.com and
they may be published in our next issue!
www.getintogrinnell.com I GET INTO GRINNELL Page 5