Jazz, markets, llamas, and a moonlit weekend

Friday, May 29, 2026

Good morning, Eastern Iowa. Friday is doing the thing: a Marion festival lights up for the whole weekend, student jazz takes the Ped Mall, Solon throws a library-lawn bash, Cedar Rapids stacks art and live music, and the rest of the weekend brings markets, museum making, llamas, and one very cinematic night in North Liberty.

Featured

Festival

St. Joseph Fun Days Turns Marion Into A Weekend Stop

St. Joseph Fun Days St. Joseph Fun Days runs Friday through Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, with the kind of festival mix that can carry a full weekend: carnival energy, live music, food, games, a 5K, and a beer tent.

When: Friday 4:00-11:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM-11:00 PM, and Sunday 11:30 AM-6:00 PM.
Why go: Free gate admission and free parking make this an easy family-and-neighborhood anchor.

Music

Student Jazz Gets The Ped Mall Stage

Summer of the Arts calendar Summer of the Arts brings Clear Creek Amana and City High jazz ensembles downtown Friday from 6:30-9:00 PM, putting two school bands right in the center of Iowa City foot traffic.

Where: Ped Mall Stage, 210 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City; the listed rain location is Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp.
Bring: A low-key dinner plan and a little room for horn-section swagger.

Family

Solon Kicks Off Summer Reading With A Lawn Party

Solon Public Library summer reading page Solon Public Library starts summer reading Friday at 6:00 PM with a bigger-than-usual lawn party tied to the building’s 25th anniversary.

For kids: Expect an inflatable obstacle course, toddler bounce house, giant yard games, mural painting, and reading-log pickup.
For grownups: Local groups will be tabling, which makes it a community catch-up disguised as a summer-reading launch.

Block Party

NewBo Starts The Weekend With Betty Calling

NewBo Rock the Block Rock the Block brings Betty Calling to NewBo City Market Friday from 6:00-8:00 PM, keeping the weekly summer format beautifully simple: live music, lawn chairs, and first-come space.

Where: Bankers Trust Stage at NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St. SE in Cedar Rapids.
Nearby: CSPS also has the CR Pride Art Show opening reception at 5:30 PM and Davina and the Vagabonds at 8:00 PM.

Big Night Out

John Williams Takes Over The North Liberty Lawn

Hy-Vee Amphitheater at Centennial Park Saturday’s A Night at the Movies pairs Orchestra Iowa with John Williams favorites at the Hy-Vee Amphitheater, with gates, concessions, parking, and family activities opening at 6:00 PM before the 7:30 PM show.

Bring: A blanket or lawn chair; the venue notes seating is not provided.
Mood: Think Jurassic Park, Star Wars, E.T., Indiana Jones, Hogwarts, and a whole lawn of movie-score goosebumps.

Eastern Daily Picks

St. Joseph Fun Days: Marion’s parish-and-neighborhood festival opens with carnival rides, games, food, music, and a weekend runway. at St. Joseph Catholic Church and grounds, Marion, Friday, May 29-Sunday, May 31, Friday 4:00-11:00 PM.
Friday Night Concert Series: Clear Creek Amana and City High Jazz: Two student jazz ensembles get the downtown spotlight for a free early-evening set. at Ped Mall Stage, Iowa City, Friday, May 29, 6:30-9:00 PM.
Summer Reading Kick-Off Party: A library-lawn birthday bash with bounce-house energy, yard games, mural painting, and reading-log pickup. at Solon Public Library lawn, Solon, Friday, May 29, 6:00 PM.
Friday Night Music: Beaker Brothers: Jam-band classics roll through the vineyard with Allmans, Santana, Clapton, Little Feat, CCR, and more in the mix. at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher, Friday, May 29, 6:00-9:00 PM.
Rock the Block featuring Betty Calling: NewBo’s weekly outdoor concert gives Friday a lawn-chair-friendly Cedar Rapids landing spot. at NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids, Friday, May 29, 6:00-8:00 PM.
CR Pride Art Show opening reception: The Queer Joy exhibit opens with a public reception before running through June 28. at CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids, Friday, May 29, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Davina and the Vagabonds: Davina Sowers brings blues, jazz, vintage pop, and full-stage charisma to the CSPS Performance Hall. at CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids, Friday, May 29, 8:00 PM.
Public Observing Night: Weather permitting, the UI Physics and Astronomy crew opens the roof for a telescope tour of the night sky. at Van Allen Observatory, Iowa City, Friday, May 29, 8:00-9:00 PM.
Movie Night Under the Stars: Happy Gilmore: The driving range becomes an outdoor theater for the golf comedy that knows exactly where it belongs. at Brown Deer Golf Club, Coralville, Friday, May 29, 8:45-10:30 PM.

Weekend Roundup

St. Joseph Fun Days: A three-day festival stack of carnival rides, games, live music, food, a beer tent, raffle, and 5K fun. at St. Joseph Catholic Church and grounds, Marion, Friday, May 29-Sunday, May 31, Times vary by day.
Iowa City Farmers Market: The Saturday market fills the ramp and nearby streets with produce, prepared goods, and local morning momentum. at Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, Iowa City, Saturday, May 30, 7:30 AM-noon.
Stanley Family Day: A free museum day with tours, artmaking, refreshments, and take-home puppet kits. at Stanley Museum of Art, Iowa City, Saturday, May 30, 10:00 AM-4:30 PM.
Puttin’ Around Downtown: A mini-golf crawl sends teams through downtown bars and restaurants, one themed hole at a time. at Downtown Iowa City, Saturday, May 30, 2:00-8:00 PM.
A Night at the Movies with Orchestra Iowa: John Williams film music gets the outdoor-orchestra treatment with family activities before showtime. at Hy-Vee Amphitheater, North Liberty, Saturday, May 30, Gates 6:00 PM; show 7:30 PM.
Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market: The 21st season opens with entertainment, food, and a downtown footprint built for serious wandering. at Downtown Cedar Rapids, Saturday, May 30, 7:30 AM-noon.
Marion Farmers Market at Willowood Park: A neighborhood-scale Saturday market with produce, baked goods, flowers, honey, crafts, and more. at Willowood Park, Marion, Saturday, May 30, 8:00-11:00 AM.
Bird Banding at the Barn: Watch Dr. Neil Bernstein band and release birds while explaining the science up close. at Indian Creek Nature Center BARN, Cedar Rapids, Saturday, May 30, 8:00-11:00 AM.
Iowa Women’s Festival: Performances, yoga, author energy, and a vendor lineup led by women-owned businesses and artists. at NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids, Saturday, May 30, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM.
Spring Sip & Shop at Cedar Ridge: The vineyard turns into an open-air market and dance-floor setup with vendors, food, cocktails, and a DJ. at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher, Saturday, May 30, 5:00-9:00 PM.
Sunday Bingo: Free bingo cards, prizes, and a no-registration Sunday anchor for the market crowd. at NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids, Sunday, May 31, 12:00-1:30 PM.
Hike with Llamas at Prairie Patch Farm: A guided prairie-and-woodland hike with llamas, creek crossings, and just enough incline to feel earned. at Prairie Patch Farm, Cedar Rapids area, Sunday, May 31, 12:00-1:00 PM.
Family Nature Experience: A hands-on naturalist program that may mean pond dipping, insect netting, fossil digging, or a family hike. at Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids, Sunday, May 31, 1:00-2:00 PM.
Full Moon Hike: A guided night walk through prairie and woodland trails under the full moon. at Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids, Sunday, May 31, 8:30-9:30 PM.
Sunday Music: Beggars Bargain: A folk/Americana Sunday set built around singer-songwriter storytelling and rootsy harmonies. at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher, Sunday, May 31, 1:00-4:00 PM.

Note: All times are local to the event listing unless a source notes otherwise. Event details come from the linked source pages.