Events are plentiful in Eastern Iowa

The Pork Tornadoes carry out for a dwell crowd through the Blocktoberfest occasion in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, September 16, 2022. The band performed a number of cowl songs together with “Shut Up and Dance” by Stroll the Moon and “Fact Hurts” by Lizzo. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

For individuals who say there’s nothing to do in our Japanese Iowa communities, they will look no additional than final weekend as a rebuttal. There was barely a uninteresting second.

There was the BewNost fundraiser for the Nationwide Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. The primary ever Blocktoberfest rocked downtown Cedar Rapids. The final Cedar Rapids farmers market of the season was held, together with the Crunch Berry Run to fund public artwork, though each had been abbreviated by dangerous climate. Thunderstorms additionally compelled the cancellation of Brucemorechestra, which was set to as soon as once more carry Orchestra Iowa to the garden of Brucemore.

And, after all, there was the Nevada at Iowa evening soccer sport, which was reworked right into a surreal, festive marathon by repeated thunderstorm delays. Among the many late evening Kinnick Stadium gate crashers was a marriage occasion and at the least one canine. It was a memorable evening, and morning, for followers who caught it out via your entire seven-hour saga.

So, sure, the climate didn’t cooperate. However final weekend reveals the varied array of occasions which have grown within the area and supply residents many leisure choices.

Specifically, the success of occasions drawing individuals to downtown Cedar Rapids at evening, together with the August Market After Darkish and live shows on the McGrath Amphitheatre, present there’s an urge for food for night occasions. They’re a shot within the arm for a downtown district looking for to adapt to the brand new actuality of fewer employees occupying downtown places of work through the day.

We assist the complete slate of occasions. And we hope to see an increasing checklist of night occasions. Continued success in drawing individuals downtown can function a spring board for investments in leisure venues that may carry residents downtown nightly, such because the First and First West mission. Core neighborhoods together with downtown, Kingston Village, New Bohemia and the Czech Village already supply nice leisure choices, with new occasions and venues enhancing these’ neighborhoods’ energy to attract residents and guests.

There’s a lot to do in our area. Fall brings one other full slate of occasions. We urge you to test them out.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com