Iowa City is jam-packed with activity this week, anchored by annual Juneteenth celebrations and the always colorful Pride Festival and its popular parade. There are plenty of other things happening as well.
Here are six events to check out this weekend:
Honor history and community at Iowa City’s 2025 Juneteenth celebration
Thursday: On Juneteenth, celebrate the holiday with the Black Voices Project. The event, “Reckoning: Reclaiming the Past, Remembering Black Voices, Reshaping the Future,” will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. at South District Market. The day’s activities include free food, live music from local black artists, a fashion show, a family fun zone, and other community events.
Celebrate cultural creativity at the Back to Our Roots fashion show
Friday: The Summer of the Arts and The Wright House of Fashion are teaming up for “Back to Our Roots,” a free fashion show that celebrates “culture, heritage, and creative expression through fashion and art.” The fashion show, hosted by Tayshauna McGee, will begin at 6:30 p.m., featuring spoken word from C?ue, followed by live music from Leradee and the Positives until 9 p.m.
Enjoy seasonal summer splendor at The Iowa City Farmers’ Market
Saturday: The Iowa City Farmers’ Market will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp. Browse dozens of local vendors selling local produce, meats, specialty foods, handcrafted artisanal items, and small business wares. Folk collective Mike Maas and Carlis Faurot will perform live.
Catch a classic comedy under the stars with FilmScene
Saturday: FilmScene in the Park returns at 8:30 p.m. at Chauncey Swan Park with a screening of “Clue.” Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions, including beer and wine, will be available 30 minutes before the start of the film.
Take in movie magic at the Iowa City Municipal Airport
Saturday: Saturday marks the second installment of the Summer of the Arts’ new festival, Drive-In Movies at the Hangar at the Iowa City Municipal Airport. A showing of the cult classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will screen 30 minutes after sundown, around 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.
Ride the scenic trails on Big Rove’s 36-mile bike adventure
Saturday: Big Grove Brewery’s annual bike ride, Big Rove, returns on Saturday, June 21. The ride tours the scenic trails of eastern Iowa from Cedar Rapids or Iowa City to Solon, with stops at three Big Grove locations, for a total of 36 miles.
Riders can begin in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, with a mid-point stop in Solon. Riders can register online with tickets costing $67.10.
Plastic Relations will play at the Iowa City after-party.
Big Rove will have a rolling start from 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 21.
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, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Six things to check out in Iowa City include Juneteenth events and other Pride Fest faves
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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