The Local Hub

The Nutcracker
2025-12-06 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-07 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | The Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
The Englert Theatre and Nolte Academy are proud to present Iowa City’s annual production of The Nutcracker. This holiday classic comes to life with performances by dancers from Nolte Academy and features a live orchestra conducted by Carey Bostian. The ballet showcases exquisite costuming, enchanting sets, and captivating choreography under the direction of Nolte Ballet Director and Nutcracker Artistic Director, Loren Williams.

Holiday Lights at the Lake - Walk Through Event
2025-12-07 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-12-17 17:30 - 20:30 | West Overlook Campground, 4053 West Overlook RD NE, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Join us in celebrating the holiday season at Holiday Lights at the Lake!
Holidaylightsatthelake.com

Immerse yourself in the enchanting light displays, stroll among the trees, and soak in the festive ambiance. We invite you to walk the event route, offering families and friends a memorable journey through a dazzling wonderland of lights and music. Our goal is to unite the community by creating cherished experiences for families and friends for years to come.

Enjoy music throughout the campground, cozy up at fire-pit warming stations, and explore our goodwill donation concessions.
Gates open at 5:30pm and close at 8:30pm. The average time to walk the full loop once is about 25-30 minutes and you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish! Well behaved dogs are welcome. Tickets are $5.00 per person (2 years old and under enter free). Cash, Credit, and Eventbrite vouchers are accepted at the gate. Free Parking is available in the West Overlook Day Use Parking Lot.

All entrance fees support The Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County, while proceeds from concessions benefit Friends of the Coralville Lake.

Tractor Wagon Rides sponsored by Hills Bank
2025-12-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Iowa City, 315 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
There is no better way to take in the sights and sounds of the holiday season than with a Tractor Wagon Ride through downtown. Enjoy a FREE whimsical ride in a decorated wagon pulled by a classic tractor from Bass Farms.

Rides run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis, departing every 15 minutes. Hop on outside of Hills Bank, located at the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets. Riders will receive a candy cane and can cozy up with a blanket for a festive ride around the city.

The Englert Ball
2025-12-20 20:00 - 23:30 | The Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
The Englert Ball is back by popular demand! Enjoy live performances by James Tutson & The Rollback and Dan Padley & friends. We’ll have specialty drinks, light snacks + dessert, surprise grab bags, silent auction, and late-night pizza. Let’s celebrate art in style with our music community!

All proceeds from the evening will support our annual year-end fundraiser, helping to sustain local arts for many years to come.

Sponsored by: Ulysses Modern, Hands Jewelers, Underground Printing and Willow & Stock

Ticket Options:
$240 – Duo Package:Includes two tickets, two Neon Level Memberships, and access to the Pre-Ball Lounge Gathering featuring music by Dan Padley playing songs from Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, charcuterie boards from New Pioneer Co-op, and an Englert Ball toast.

$130 – Full Price Ticket:Includes performances by James Tutson + The Rollback, light snacks + dessert, surprise grab bags, silent auction, and late-night pizza, and an Annual Neon Level Membership.

$50 – Under 30 / Student Ticket:Includes performances by James Tutson + The Rollback, light snacks + dessert, surprise grab bags, silent auction, and late-night pizza, and an Annual Neon Level Membership.

$65 – Friends of the Englert (Our Members):for our current members! Includes performances by James Tutson & The Rollback, light snacks & dessert, surprise grab bags, silent auction, and late-night pizza
Need the ticket link? Please email us at membership@englert.org and Sarah or Paige will get back to you ASAP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Holiday Lights at the Lake! Walk Through Event
2025-12-28 17:30 - 20:30 | West Overlook Campground, 4053 West Overlook RD NE, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
HAPPY 5th Birthday, Holiday Lights at the Lake!

Join us in celebrating Holiday Lights at the Lake’s 5th Birthday with complimentary cake at the walk through entrance! (While supplies last). holidaylightsatthelake.com

Immerse yourself in the enchanting light displays, stroll among the trees, and soak in the festive ambiance. We invite you to walk the event route, offering families and friends a memorable journey through a dazzling wonderland of lights and music. Our goal is to unite the community by creating cherished experiences for families and friends for years to come.

Enjoy music throughout the campground, cozy up at fire-pit warming stations, and explore our goodwill donation concessions.
Gates open at 5:30pm and close at 8:30pm. The average time to walk the full loop once is about 25-30 minutes and you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish! Well behaved dogs are welcome. Tickets are $5.00 per person (2 years old and under enter free). Cash, Credit, and Eventbrite vouchers are accepted at the gate. Free Parking is available in the West Overlook Day Use Parking Lot.

All entrance fees support The Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County, while proceeds from concessions benefit Friends of the Coralville Lake

The Moth MainStage
2026-02-26 19:30 - 22:00 | The Englert Theatre, 221 E Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Englert PresentsThe MothSponsored by: Iowa Public Radio

On-Sale ScheduleMember Presale: Begins Wednesday, September 10 @ 10 AM CTPublic On-Sale: Friday, September 12 @ 10:00 AM CT

Show DescriptionThe Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience, a two-act show —featuring a musical act— where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes. Experience true stories live as they’re recorded for future episodes of The Moth Podcast and Moth Radio Hour.

The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes. As an organization, it celebrates the ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of the human experience. This curated live event features five storytellers who share true stories on an array of topics, creating an experience that is intimate, inspiring, captivating, theatrical, and enlightening. The Moth is a nonprofit dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. For 25 years, The Moth has presented over 40,000 true personal stories, told live, without notes, to standing-room-only audiences and virtually around the globe. Renowned for showcasing a broad range of human experiences, The Moth produces approximately 600 live and virtual shows each year and has an ongoing presence in 28 cities worldwide. Additionally, The Moth runs storytelling workshops for high school students, teachers, adults and advocates from around the world through its Education, Community and Global Programs, and MothWorks, which uses the essential elements of Moth storytelling as an empathetic communication tool.
