Your May 8-10 guide to Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, Marion, Coralville, Swisher, and nearby.

Bands, kites, markets, and a corridor weekend

Friday, May 8, 2026

Subject: Eastern Iowa Daily: Kites, jazz, vintage finds, and a full weekend slate
Preheader: Your May 8-10 guide to Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, Marion, Coralville, Swisher, and nearby.

Good morning, Eastern Iowa. The weekend is doing a little bit of everything: free outdoor music, a sky full of kites, vintage treasure hunting, new work on local stages, and Mother's Day tables worth reserving.

Featured

Events

Let The Weekend Take Flight

Fields of Flight Kite Festival takes over Bloomsbury Farm near Cedar Rapids on Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

  • Up and Away: Bring your own kite or just watch the field fill with color at the farm, located at 3260 69th St in Atkins.
  • Make It A Day: The ticketed event pairs the kite show with more than 30 farm attractions, making it an easy family outing if the weather cooperates.

Music

Free Tunes In Two Downtowns

Friday night has a choose-your-own-soundtrack feel, with Bear Cat Hot Club opening Iowa City's Friday Night Concert Series and Dogs on Skis kicking off NewBo City Market's Rock the Block season.

  • Iowa City Swing: Bear Cat Hot Club plays Hot Club jazz at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage on the Ped Mall from 6:30-8:00 PM. Admission is free.
  • Cedar Rapids Groove: Rock the Block runs 6:00-8:00 PM at NewBo City Market's Bankers Trust Stage. Admission is free, with food and drinks available from the market.

Shopping

Vintage Passport Weekend

Vintage Market Days of Eastern Iowa returns to Hawkeye Downs Expo Center in Cedar Rapids from Friday-Sunday, May 8-10.

  • Treasure Route: Expect an indoor/outdoor market built around vintage finds, antiques, handmade goods, jewelry, home decor, seasonal plantings, and food.
  • Hours To Know: Friday and Saturday run 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Sunday runs 10:00 AM-3:00 PM, and children 12 and under get in free.

Family

Big Trucks, Open Gym, Small-Town Easy

North Liberty has two low-pressure ways to get out this weekend: Free Gym Night on Friday and Remarkable Rigs on Saturday.

  • Friday Runaround: Free Gym Night is set for 6:00-9:00 PM at the North Liberty Community Center, with basketball available in Jones Gym.
  • Saturday Street Scene: Remarkable Rigs rolls onto Cherry Street between Front and Main streets from 10:00 AM-noon, showing off the public works vehicles that keep the city moving.

Arts

New Work, Big Laughs, And One Last Farewell

The stages are busy from Iowa City to Coralville, with Dance Graduate Concert, Iowa New Play Festival, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Little Feat all landing on the weekend calendar.

  • Campus Current: The Dance Graduate Concert is free at Space Place Theater on Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM, and Iowa New Play Festival includes free readings plus $5 general-admission productions.
  • Curtain Calls: The Drowsy Chaperone plays Coralville Center for the Performing Arts Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, plus Sunday at 2:00 PM, while Little Feat brings The Last Farewell Tour to The Englert on Friday at 7:30 PM with tickets listed at $35-$125.

Eastern Iowa Daily Picks

In other news...

  • Battle Ready: Crock-Pot Battle of the Bands brings local artists to United Action for Youth in downtown Iowa City tonight, May 8, at 5:00 PM. Admission is free.
  • Market Morning: Iowa City Farmers Market is back Saturday from 7:30 AM-noon around Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp. Admission is free.
  • Northside Season: Northside Saturday Nights starts Saturday with Strum Drum from 6:00-8:00 PM at Northside Outside. Admission is free.
  • Bird Brain, Best Way: Migratory Bird and Arbor Day lands at Thomas Park in Marion on Saturday from noon-3:00 PM with guided bird hikes, displays, speakers, and a live raptor presentation. Admission is free.
  • Dream Night: Dream City Sessions brings The Boys of Shade of Blue, Anthony Hendricks, Zion's Stars, and a DJ set to Dream City IA on Saturday from 6:00-10:00 PM. Admission is free.
  • Ridge Notes: Ryne Doughty plays Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher on Saturday from 6:00-9:00 PM; price is not listed on the source page.
  • Laugh Track: Lady Franklyn Improv Show hits Willow Creek Theatre in Iowa City on Saturday from 7:30-9:00 PM. Tickets are $10.
  • Sunday Strings: Jake Shimabukuro plays The Englert on Sunday at 7:30 PM with Andrew Hoyt opening. Tickets are listed at $20-$35.
  • Mom Table: Mother's Day Brunch Buffet runs Sunday from 10:00 AM-1:30 PM at Twelve01 Kitchen & Tap in Coralville, with adult pricing listed at $34.95.
  • Rooftop Bloom: Mother's Day Brunch & Market at The Heights Rooftop in Iowa City has seatings Sunday at 10:00 AM, noon, and 2:00 PM; price is not listed on the source page.
  • Sweet Deal: Sundae Sundays at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City runs Sunday from 11:00 AM-10:00 PM, with a free scoop for kids 12 and under.
  • Sticker Shock, But Good: Johnson County's "I Voted" Sticker Contest is accepting free entries from county residents and Johnson County college students through July 1.

Weekend Roundup

Friday, May 8

Saturday, May 9

Sunday, May 10