By Hola Iowa
Parkers follows Des Moines East Side residents who turn their yards into parking spaces during the Iowa State Fair. Screenings are scheduled for July 24 and 25.
Des Moines, Iowa – A new documentary follows the families and neighbors who turn lawns, driveways and other private spaces into parking lots during the Iowa State Fair.
Parkers, directed by Des Moines native Shawn Hicks, focuses on a long-running East Side tradition that helps absorb thousands of vehicles outside the fairgrounds while creating a temporary source of income for nearby households.
Most of the documentary was filmed during the 2025 Iowa State Fair. Hicks grew up on Des Moines’ East Side and developed the project from childhood memories of families organizing yard parking during the fair’s busiest days.
Screenings are scheduled for July 24 and 25
Public screenings of Parkers are scheduled for Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, at Fleur Cinema in Des Moines.
Tickets cost $50. The Friday screening begins at 7 p.m. at Fleur Cinema, located at 4545 Fleur Drive.
The film is also being submitted to festivals as its producers pursue broader distribution.
Screening information and ticket details are available through the Parkers website.
Yard parking helps handle thousands of fair vehicles
About 25,000 vehicles arrive at the Iowa State Fair each day, while the fairgrounds can accommodate approximately 15,000. The gap leaves as many as 10,000 vehicles looking for parking in surrounding neighborhoods.
Residents near the fairgrounds often charge drivers to park on lawns, in driveways or in other spaces close to the entrances. Prices vary based on distance, demand and vehicle size.
For some households, the money earned during the fair helps cover property taxes, home repairs, school expenses or other bills. The work also involves placing signs, directing vehicles and coordinating spaces throughout the day.
The documentary also captures disputes over blocked driveways, property boundaries and competition for customers, along with the relationships that form between neighbors and repeat visitors.
The 2026 Iowa State Fair begins Aug. 13
The Iowa State Fair will run from Aug. 13 through Aug. 23, 2026, at the fairgrounds in Des Moines.
Official parking will be available in Lots A, B and C off University Avenue for $10 per vehicle. A free Blue Line shuttle will carry visitors from those lots to the admission gates.
A new free park-and-ride service will operate from Southridge Mall. Buses will run continuously from 8 a.m. to midnight, with service from the fairgrounds ending at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.
DART will continue operating park-and-ride service from the Center Street parking garage and the Iowa State Capitol. Round-trip fares cost $3 for riders ages 10 and older, $1 for children ages 6 through 10 and are free for children age 5 and younger.
Related: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue to perform at the Iowa State Fair
The fairgrounds are located at 3000 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines. Parking and transportation details remain available through the Iowa State Fair’s official website.
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