The greater Iowa City area is powering through the summer with plenty of events in the coming days, anchored by the grand return of a North Liberty favorite as well as opportunities to discover something new.
Here are five events to check out this weekend in the Iowa City corridor:
TGIF with Winterland
Friday: Chill out this Friday with Summer of the Arts Friday Night Concert Series, featuring Winterland. The free concert is set for 6:30 p.m., Friday, July 10, featuring covers of the Grateful Dead’s iconic sound from 1969 to the late ’70s, serving up a dose of good vibes.
Blues & BBQ is back and better than ever
Saturday: North Liberty’s summer tradition, Blues & BBQ, makes its grand return to Centennial Park on Saturday, July 11. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy a day filled with free family fun, featuring inflatables and kids’ activities, barbecue and other food vendors, and cold craft beer. The highlight of the Blues & BBQ is, of course, the music, featuring local acts like The Beaker Brothers and Kevin Burt. The Main Squeeze will headline and take the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Catch a film under the summer skies at FilmScene in the Park
Saturday: FilmScene in the Park returns at 8:45 p.m., Saturday, July, 11, with a screening of the cult classic romance film “Pride & Prejudice” at Chauncey Swan Park. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions, including beer and wine, will be available 30 minutes before the film begins.
Laugh out loud with Yesandia at the James Theater
Saturday: Cedar Rapids-based Yesandia will bring its college-aged improv troupe to James Theater for a night of comedy. Performers from eight colleges and eight states, as well as Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, will treat audiences to a night of exclusive improvisation. Tickets for the event are $15, with the show starting at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 11.
Discover your next indie read at Sidekick Coffee and Books
Sunday: Head to Sidekick Coffee and Books for the Self Published Book Fair, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, July 12. The fair supports local authors across a wide range of genres, from children’s to adult fiction and non-fiction.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: From blues to BBQ, 5 things to do this weekend in the Iowa City area
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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By Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
