Around Des Moines

If you celebrate Halloween as the gateway to the Christmas holidays, the Salvation Army resale shop on Euclid opposite Park Fair Mall has winter holiday decorations set out. On the other hand, if your idea of the holiday season is to hide away until January, this is going to be your last weekend without carols in the air. Your activity selections include the arts, politics, and general outdoor enjoyments.

Nine local artists, collectively known as Paintpushers, will have an opening at the Fitch Gallery on Saturday, October 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (The Fitch is at 304 15th Street.) The show continues Monday through next Saturday.

The Wild Rose Independent Film Festival runs from Thursday, October 25 through Sunday, October 28 at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe (4545 Fleur Drive). Films will be screened on Thursday and Friday evenings and all day on Saturday. On Sunday, a documentary about participants in live action role playing (LARP) will be shown. Other highlights include a Saturday workshop by Lew Hunter on filmmaking, a workshop on documentary filmmaking, and a talk by Steve Schott, a producer of The Final Season, at the Award Ceremony.

If musical theater is your entertainment preference, Camelot is now in a short run at the Civic Center (221 Walnut Street) through October 28. There will be two performances on both Saturday and Sunday with evening shows only on Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday, October 27, a gathering at Nollen Plaza (3rd and Locust) at 4:00 p.m. and a symbolic procession of caskets to the Capitol West Plaza will be held as Des Moines’ groups participate in an International Day of Peace to End the War. A candlelight ceremony at the Capitol at 6:30 will end the event. I apologize to readers for not being able to cover the arrival in Des Moines of the traveling 9/11 exhibit earlier this week. I know many Iowans want to pay respect to the people who died as a result of the attacks at the World Trade Center as well as to the numerous soldiers who have given their lives in Iraq. We also cannot forget the sacrifices given during service in Afghanistan.

The Republican Party’s annual Reagan dinner will be held at Hy-Vee Hall on Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. You can chat with your fellow diners about the AMOS issues conference being held earlier in the day, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, at Waveland Hall at Plymouth Congregational Church (42nd at Ingersoll).

This is the last Sunday to ride DART buses for free and the last weekend to ride free when you board with your bicycle. Leaves are still colorful and the weekend forecast is for mostly sunny skies and cool temperatures. Beggar’s Night, the Des Moines version of Halloween trick and treating, will be held on Tuesday, October 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Have you carved your pumpkins and decoracted your yard?.

Guest Writer: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.