Daily Digest

Sunday, Oct. 29 at 8 a.m. Run for the Schools, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, Iowa City

Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. Run the Woods, Earlham, $30-45

Saturday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. Woodpecker Six, Linn County Pinicon Ridge Park, Central City, $55-65

Thursday, Nov. 23 at 9 a.m. Turkey Trot 5K, Greene Square Park, Cedar Rapids, Free-$60

Thursday Nov. 23 at 9 a.m. Turkey Trot, Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, $12-164

Sunday Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. 3K

Winter Beer Run x Confluence Brewing, Confluence Brewing Company, Des Moines, $35-100

Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Ugly Christmas Sweater Run/Walk, Nevada, $10

Saturday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.

Wellmark YMCA Red Flannel Run, Downtown Des Moines, $35-45

Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m.

Coldest Night of the Year Fun Run & Walk, Principal Park, Des Moines

Music Festivals

Friday-Sunday, June 30-July 2. Iowa City Jazz Festival, Downtown Iowa City, Free

Saturday, July 1 at 1 p.m. Soundcheck Fest, Captain Roy’s, Des Moines, Free

Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8. 80/35 Music Festival, Downtown Des Moines, $55250

Saturday, July 8 at 11 a.m. North Liberty Blues & BBQ, Centennial Park, Free

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 4-6. Hinterland Music Festival, Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater, Saint Charles, $100-1,500

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 25-27. World Food & Music Festival, Western Gateway Park, Des Moines, Free

Friday-Saturday, Sept. 15-16. Blues Fest, Le Claire Park, Davenport, $27-57

TBA: Sept.-Oct. Witching Hour Festival, Downtown Iowa City, TBA

Iowa, driving to monthly practices with Coach Beck in Zimmerman, Minnesota, and to competitions in the Deep South in the heat of summer.

Hunter doesn’t take this support for granted. “If they didn’t [drive me], I might not have the opportunity to [compete] and wouldn’t have as many friends around the archery community as I do.”

Being a high schooler is all about balance, but Hunter admits his focus “is pretty much all archery” right now. He has no idea what he’ll study in college, but he knows he wants to shoot on a college archery team somewhere like Texas A&M; his dad would love to see him earn a full-ride scholarship.

Hunter said he’d like to coach someday, “showing young people how to not struggle with what I struggled with just getting into archery.”

“Archery is pretty much for everybody and you can have any setup,” he added, recommending first-time archers visit Plum Creek Archery in Dyersville, Iowa. “They’ll help you set up a bow and they’ll even tell you how to fix your form or your release or something.”

If you’re down to practice, practice, practice, making countless miniscule adjustments on a long road towards precision, competitive archery may be for you.

“It’s [very] challenging, and it’s really rewarding when you shoot really well or get an achievement,” Hunter said.

In a touch of serendipity, the 2023 JOAD Target Nationals, hosted by USA Archery, will take place in Des Moines, July 12-16. Hunter hopes to attend the largest indoor archery competition in the world, the Vegas Shoot in February 2024, which attracts around 4,000 archers of all kinds from around the world to shoot for cash prizes up to $50,000. The Telleens are also considering a trip to France so Hunter can compete in a world cup tournament.

Hunter and his family can’t help but dream about seeing him shoot for an Olympic gold medal someday, even if the odds are stacked against him.

“While the 2028 Olympics in L.A. is a real goal, they currently only involve recurve bows,” Lynn explained. “Hunter shoots a compound. We are hopeful that the Olympic Committee will add compound bow competitions by then. If so, Hunter will be 19 at the time. So, it’s still a bit of a pipe dream at this point—but a pretty cool one for a young kid from northeast Iowa who only recently discovered the sport.”

“I think it’d be really cool,” Hunter added, “the opportunity to shoot in front of the whole world.”

Beer Festivals

Saturday June 3 at 1 p.m. Iowa Craft Brew Festival, Lauridsen Amphitheater, Des Moines, $45

Friday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Sips in the City, Smash Park, West Des Moines, $50-60

Friday, Sept. 15. BrewNost, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Rapids, $85-135

Saturday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. Northside Oktoberfest, Northside Iowa City, $10-85

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Oktoberfest Amana, The Amana Colonies, Free

Jaunary 2024. Brrfest, Coralville, $50-65

Cultural/Community

Friday-Sunday, June 2-4. Iowa Arts Festival, Downtown Iowa City, Free

Tuesdays, June 6-Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Music on the Move, Various Venues, Iowa City, Free

Friday, June 9 at 5 p.m. Bike-in Beats Outdoor Concert and Fundraiser, Iowa City Bike Library, Free

Fridays, June 9 to Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Friday Night Concert Series, Ped Mall, Iowa City, Free

Wednesday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m. Latino Film Festival’s LGBTQ Night, State Historical Museum, Des Moines, Free