Pumpkin Smash
2025-11-01 10:00 - 18:00 UTC | Colony Acres, 1150 S. Front St., North Liberty, Iowa, 52317, United States
Don’t toss those pumpkins, smash them! Join us for one of the most exciting days of the season as we send pumpkins flying, crashing, and splattering in every way imaginable. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect grand finale to fall!

HOURS: Saturday ONLY 10 AM – 6 PM

Disco Ball
2025-11-01 19:00 - 23:00 UTC | First Avenue Club, 1550 S. 1st Ave, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Get your groove on at our 2nd Annual Disco Ball!

Join us on Saturday, November 1st from 7-11 PM at First Avenue Club (1550 S. 1st Avenue, Iowa City) for a night of non-stop dancing with a focus on the legendary sounds of Motown.
Put on your dancing shoes and break out those groovy disco costumes – get ready to boogie down at Iowa City’s most anticipated dance party of the year! Your $25 ticket gets you in the door, includes one free beer/wine/soda, dancing, the best music of the disco era and more! Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the night.

Make someone’s night extra special by dedicating a disco or Motown song to a friend, family member, or fellow dancer! With a $20 donation (or more), choose from classic hits like “Super Freak,” “Let’s Get It On,” “Brick House,” and more. DJ Doctor E will give your dedication a shout-out when your song is played! Submit Your Disco Dedication HERE – https://bit.ly/3KWDW9z –

Want a sneak peek? Check out the Disco Dedications Playlist on our Spotify channel — curated by Eric Johnson, Development Director at Summer of the Arts! Listen here: Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3X61W3WxSbq0pZ2l46Lkz2…

Strike a pose at our disco-themed selfie station and share your memories with #SOTAIC. This event is 21+ only and the mirror ball is waiting to shine on you as we celebrate with classic hits, disco lights, and pure dancing joy. Come as you are and leave with memories that’ll last forever – this is THE party you don’t want to miss!

Press Presents: Iowa City Rocks!
2025-11-03 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Press Coffee, 1120 N. Dodge St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52245, United States
Join us on the first Monday of every month for rock painting!

Started by friend of the shop, Joy MacVey, and Press’s own Hannah, the Iowa City Rocks! Facebook group came about during the pandemic as a way to spread good vibes through the community with color and kind words.

Simply: paint a rock, seal it with resin to protect your masterpiece from the elements, and then place it out in the world for someone to find. On the bottom of each rock is a label directing the finder to post a photo of it to the Iowa City Rocks group and then keep it or rehide it.

We have a collection of supplies you may need but encourage donations of any of the following items:-monetary donations to purchase more supplies.-rocks (please clean/dry them)-acrylic paint-stickers-resin

English as a Second Language
2025-11-03 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-11-10 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-11-17 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | North Liberty Library, 520 W. Cherry St, North Liberty, Iowa, 52317, United States
Are you looking to improve your English in a relaxed and supportive environment? Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, our ESL class is here to help you on your language journey.

What to Expect:• Casual Atmosphere: Enjoy learning in a low-key, friendly setting.• Interactive Sessions: Practice speaking, listening, and understanding English through engaging activities.• Supportive Community: Connect with others who are also learning English and share your experiences.

Conversations host, Alice, graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, IL in 2015, and then spent two years teaching English in Ukraine.
Come and join us at the library for a fun and educational experience!

Afterschool Studio
2025-11-06 15:30 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | The Iowa Children’s Museum, 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, Coralville, Iowa, 52241, United States
Join us on the first Thursday of each month for Afterschool Studio—special activities designed for elementary-aged kids and their families. Each session features a new hands-on challenge that blends science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Our museum educators will guide kids as they tinker, build, and create—while families learn and explore together.

No registration required; just stop by the museum and dive into the theme of the month!

Upcoming themes include:
October 2 – Lights and Shadows ExplorationNovember 6 – All Things TechDecember 4 – Make and Give: Light Up Card

Life-Size Candyland
2025-11-07 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | North Liberty Library, 520 W. Cherry St, North Liberty, Iowa, 52317, United States
Have you ever played a game so big that you were the pieces? You are invited to experience our first ever, life-sized version of Candyland! Pass through the Peppermint Forest and over the Gumdrop Mountains in a race to King Kandy’s castle!

Stop by the transformed Gerdin Conference Center for candy and fun. Open to kids of all ages and their families/friends. The game board will be open Friday 11/7 from 5-7pm and Saturday 11/8 from 2-4pm.

Contact Kayla or Zoe at the North Liberty Library with questions.

Beyond the Plate
2025-11-13 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Field Day Brewing Co, 925 Liberty Way, North Liberty, Iowa, 52317, United States
Lunch with with Robin Springer Letting Go of Outdated Beliefs About Money
Thursday, November 1311:00 – Arrival and order lunch11:15 – Cara Flynn will introduce speakerPresentation followed by Q&A

Beyond the Plate is a monthly lunch series hosted by Cara Flynn, designed to spark meaningful conversations over great food. Each month features a new guest speaker exploring topics that inspire curiosity and growth—like relationships, wellness, mindfulness, personal empowerment, and more. Come hungry for connection, community, and fresh ideas that go far beyond what’s on your plate.

Robin Springer takes a heart based approach to all her endeavors. As The Chief Energy Officer of Robin Springer Consulting, she’s on a mission to help business owners achieve their dreams by releasing the fear of money. As the Chief Fun Officer of Robinia Presents, she facilitates events designed to help people connect with themselves, each other and the Divine in order to live as their most authentic selves.

Community Bingo @ The Black Rose
2025-11-14 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Black Rose, 116 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join us for a relaxed evening of laughs, friendly competition, and community connection at 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑩𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒐 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, hosted by Main Street West Branch! This exciting event series is designed to bring people together at local eateries, raise funds to support downtown revitalization projects, and provide an all-ages activity that the whole community can enjoy.

This all-ages event will take place at The Black Rose where guests can enjoy dinner, drinks and shopping to support one of our newest downtown businesses!

Here’s how it works:• $1 per card, per round – sold in packs of 5 or 10.• Cash prizes for the first winner of each round (up to $50 or half the pot)• Prize table picks for the second winner of each round.• We’ll play 10 rounds (approx. 2 hours)• Cash or Venmo only• Daubers available for purchase ($2/each)

Please note: Seats and tables cannot be saved before 5:00 PM when card sales begin.
Bingo Nights have rotated to different downtown restaurants each quarter, giving attendees the opportunity to experience and support all our local favorites. It’s the perfect way to connect with neighbors, enjoy great food, and make a difference in our downtown community.

Come early, grab your favorite drink or menu item, and settle in for a fun, relaxed evening of Bingo in this warm & cozy atmosphere!
Prize rules and details at: mainstreetwestbranch.org/bingo

Twilight Thrift
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | South District Market, 947 US-6, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Browse curated secondhand fashion and unique finds under the evening lights at South of 6’s newest pop-up market: Twilight Thrift.
Come enjoy an evening of shopping, food, drinks, and live music while supporting local resellers and makers. Whether you’re hunting for statement pieces, vintage gems, or just looking for a fun night out — this is the place to be.

November 14 Live music + good vibes Food & drinks available on site Thrift + resale vendors

Learn & Play: Spirit Island
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge, 119 2nd Street, Suite 300, Coralville, IA, 52241, United States
Island Spirits join forces using elemental powers to defend their home from invaders.

Looking for your next favorite game or to learn a game with others? Join local game guru, Scott Lewis, as their table welcomes anyone looking for a new gaming experience – with the benefit of having a knowledgeable guide to help you enjoy the game to the fullest, it’s sure to be a good time!

Game: Spirit Island

“Spirit Island is a complex and thematic co-operative game about defending your island home from colonizing Invaders. Players are different spirits of the land, each with its own unique elemental powers. Every turn, players simultaneously choose which of their power cards to play, paying energy to do so. Using combinations of power cards that match a spirit’s elemental affinities can grant free bonus effects. Faster powers take effect immediately, before the Invaders spread and ravage, but other magics are slower, requiring forethought and planning to use effectively. In the Spirit phase, spirits gain energy, and choose how / whether to Grow: to reclaim used power cards, to seek new power, or to spread their presence into new areas of the island.

The Invaders expand across the island map in a semi-predictable fashion. Each turn they explore into some lands (portions of the island); the next turn, they build in those lands, forming towns and cities. The turn after that, they ravage there, bringing blight to the land and attacking any native islanders present. The islanders fight back against the Invaders when attacked, and lend the spirits some other aid, but may not always do so exactly as you’d hoped. Some Powers work through the islanders, helping them, for example, to drive out the Invaders or clean the land of blight.”

Whether you’re looking to just get an overview, have a rundown of the rules, play a few rounds, or experience a full game, Scott will provide guidance and encouragement as players try out this new game together.

Holiday Market
2025-11-15 08:00 - 13:00 UTC | Robert A Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Shop our annual holiday markets for unique handmade gifts while supporting local farmers and artisans! Enjoy a wide variety of seasonal products and food. Free entry; vendors located in the 1st floor gym and 2nd floor social hall.
Saturdays, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Robert A. Lee Rec CenteR

Downtown Holiday Kid’s Market
2025-11-15 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-16 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-17 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-18 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-19 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-20 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-21 10:30 - 15:00, 2025-11-22 10:30 - 15:00 UTC and 1 more date | Downtown Iowa City, 315 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
November 15th – November 26th Shopping Appointments
The Downtown Holiday Kid’s Market Sponsored by GreenState Credit Union gives kids the joy of shopping for everyone on their holiday list – with the help from Santa’s helpers! Children learn to give thoughtfully, stick to a budget, and experience the magic of finding local treasures all on their own.

Parents, grandparents, or guardians will complete a quick form listing who the children are shopping for, along with their budget. Santa’s helpers then guide the kids through the market to choose and wrap gifts in secret.

How it works:
– Check in at the Holiday Pop-up Market in Black Hawk Mini Park. We recommend parking in Dubuque Street Ramp or Tower Place and Parking Ramp.– Parents/guardians complete a quick form listing who the child is shopping for and each person’s budget.– Santa’s helpers guide the kids through the market to choose and wrap gifts in secret.– Parents can enjoy a coffee or explore downtown while their child/children shop!– After 40 minutes, children will have their gifts purchased and wrapped – ready for the holidays.

Gift details: Items range from $5-$75 and include options for parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and more. All products are sourced from local Iowa City shops. Stores are reimbursed for all items sold.

Shopping Time: Each family (more than one child are welcome per shift) will have about 40 minutes to complete their shopping and gift wrapping. During this time, parents are welcome to go grab coffee or explore the downtown shops.

Gaymers Gathering
2025-11-15 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Press Coffee, 1120 N. Dodge St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52245, United States
Come out and enjoy an afternoon of gaming and conversation with other LGBTQ+ gaymers, hosted by Press Coffee & Diversions! Choose from a wide selection of games and build community with new and familiar faces at Gaymers Gathering, every third Saturday of the month from 2-5PM.

Diversions will have 40+ games to choose from, and will offer a ‘hosted table’ for folks who might arrive solo, gaymers who want to try a new game, or people looking for new social connections. Grab a name tag, pick out your (first) game, and enjoy — it’s as easy as that! Press Coffee is an accessible gathering space for all who want to join, and they’ll be serving up irresistible drinks and snacks.

All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend, whether you are looking to game or not. You can bring your own game or choose as many as you’d like from Diversions’ game library! Gaymers Gathering happens monthly at Press Coffee on the third Saturday — please confirm dates and times, as holidays and extenuating circumstances may cause changes to the schedule.

About Gaymers Gathering:Diversions hosts Gaymers Gatherings with the goal of building community and creating a safer, inclusive, and intentional space for the LGBTQ and gaming communities. We encourage you to stop by and roll some dice, puzzle over some pieces, embark on a quest, or just come to chat! As a Queer-owned business, Diversions is proud to offer these events for our community to enjoy.

PUZZLEPALOOZA! + Farewell to Backpocket
2025-11-17 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Backpocket Brewery, 903 Quarry Rd., Coralville, Iowa, 52241, United States
It’s a series and a venue finale — this is the last Puzzlepalooza of 2025 and the final Puzzlepalooza at Backpocket!

Come and experience the hottest jigsaw puzzle competition in Iowa, from the creative minds of The Rook Room. Join Diversions on November 17th at Backpocket Brewing for an evening of speed-puzzling, befuddling sabotages, and team bonding. Fastest team wins bragging rights and gifts cards from

Check-in begins at 6:00 PM and the competition begins promptly at 6:30 PM. Registration is $50 per team (up to 4 players) and includes the puzzle, which is yours to keep. Only one registration is required per team, but space is limited. Gather your puzzler pals and join us for this thrilling Puzzlepalooza event!

For those who haven’t ‘paloozed before: teams of (up to) four face off in a race to be the first to complete their 500-piece puzzle. Sound easy? Don’t be deceived — the competition is stiff and we throw in just a little twist: the opportunity to sabotage the other teams.

Arrive early and fuel up with delicious food from Backpocket’s menu, stay hydrated with their extensive drink selection (including no/low alcohol!), and stick around after the event for a Sugar Bottom Bakery cookie or other celebratory snack!

Trivia & Music BINGO
2025-11-18 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Vue Rooftop, 328 S Clinton St Suite A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
EAT, DRINK, AND TEASE YOUR BRAIN : Rally your team to win prizes each month!

Music Bingo: Every 1st TuesdayTrivia Night: Every 3rd Tuesday

Shallow Sea Game Demo
2025-11-19 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge, 119 2nd Street, Suite 300, Coralville, IA, 52241, United States
In Shallow Sea, a multi-layered puzzle board game inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, players create their own vivid ocean landscapes by strategically arranging an array of marine life, colorful fish, and corals. Unlike typical puzzle games in which pieces merely stack up, the elements in Shallow Sea can activate, deactivate, and even move, creating exciting combos and thought-provoking dilemmas that keep you on your toes.

On your turn, choose tiles showing fish, coral, or sea life, and place them on an empty space on your board. When fish surround a coral of the same color, you flip over the completed coral, which becomes a home for fish. Choose which fish will inhabit the coral, keeping the puzzle and ecosystem cards in mind. Use seashells to lure fish and move them, ideally completing multiple coral at once if you build them strategically.

Invite other creatures to enrich your ocean, trying to match the distinct scoring requirements of the ecosystem cards in order to score the most points.
#shallowsea2025

Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz
2025-11-19 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Vue Rooftop, 328 S Clinton St Suite A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
HAWK TALK Every Wednesday During Hawkeye Football Season​

Join Vue Rooftop Wednesdays at 6:30 for the live 90-minute radio show: Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz, hosted by Gary Dolphin, the radio voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Vue Rooftop kitchen and bar will be available during every show. You’re welcome to order dinner during your visit, grab a drink, and/or enjoy the stunning views of Iowa City from the patio!

Hawk Talk Upcoming Dates: November 19NO HAWK TALK 11/26

Press Presents: Jenn Patterson
2025-11-20 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Press Coffee, 1120 N. Dodge St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52245, United States
Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 5-7pm, for Jenn’s artist reception!Carousel of Oddities: Black and White Images from The House on the RockA Remix of Wonder and Weird by Jenn Patterson

Creating this series felt like sifting through a fever dream with no clear beginning or end. The title Carousel of Oddities nods to the uncanny, but this work is not solely about darkness. It’s about the tension between delight and discomfort, nostalgia and absurdity.
It’s about the human impulse to collect, to curate, to create meaning from chaos. The House on the Rock is a monument to that impulse—exuberant, obsessive, and strangely moving.

I didn’t set out to capture everything. Instead, I walked slowly. I looked for quiet gestures in loud rooms: the tilt of a mannequin’s head, the way light fell on a forgotten display, the symmetry in clutter. I let instinct guide me—toward what felt emotionally charged, visually strange, or unexpectedly tender. Some scenes were eerie. Others were oddly joyful. Many were both.

These photographs are not meant to explain the House—they’re meant to evoke it. To offer glimpses into a world where fantasy and decay (and dust!) coexist. Each image was chosen not for shock, but for resonance. Together, they form a visual poem about collection, illusion, and the strange beauty of spaces built to astonish.

A NOTE ON EDITING:
All photos were taken using my iPhone 16 Pro. Editing is where the photograph becomes mine, where I coax out the mood, the memory, the moment that made me pause. After shooting, I sit with each image and listen to what it’s trying to say. Using Adobe tools, I make changes—not to perfect the photo, but to shape its emotional tone. A deepened shadow adds mystery. A softened highlight evokes nostalgia. Sometimes I crop to isolate a gesture or capture an emotion. Sometimes I shift contrast to make the quiet parts speak louder. Sometimes I do all of these and sometimes I do very little.
I don’t edit to correct reality—I edit to curate it. Especially with a subject like House on the Rock, where visual chaos is part of the charm, editing helps me find clarity in the clutter. It’s how I pause the noise and guide the viewer toward the story I felt in that moment.
For me, editing is instinctive and meditative. It’s the final layer of storytelling—where my point-of-view infiltrates reality.

Pink Friday in West Branch
2025-11-21 10:00 - 18:00 UTC | Main Street West Branch, 127 W. Main Street, West Branch, Iowa, 52358, United States
Pink Friday has nationally grown to become an annual event held each November with one mission… #SUPPORTSMALLFIRST before black Friday & before the big guys.
Main Street West Branch is proud to join the Pink Friday Movement and we invite you to do the same by shopping our small businesses on Friday, November 21st.

‘It’s the Season Downtown - Festive Fridays
2025-11-21 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | Downtown Iowa City, 315 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, United States
Celebrate the season with Festive Fridays—a new weekly holiday tradition in Downtown! From November 21 to December 19, enjoy carols, shopping, family-friendly fun, and special events like the Gingerbread House Competition and Living Windows.
Hop on the Holly Trolley, running every Friday from 5-8 p.m., and visit a new store or restaurant each week. Downtown shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues are encouraged to stay open until 8 p.m. to join in the festivities.

FRIDAY, NOV 21 – ‘TIS THE SEASON KICKOFF– Gift tag decorating with IC Press Co-op in the Pop-up Shops– Holiday Kids’ Market Open Hours– Wilson’s Orchard selling hot cider and apple cider donuts– Window Display Contest– Carolers and live outdoor performances (Featuring a sneak peek of The Nutcracker by Nolte Dance Academy)

FRIDAY, NOV 28 – FESTIVE IN FLEECE– Ugly sweater night for families visiting town– Festive drink specials at local bars and restaurants

FRIDAY, DEC 5 – COCOA & KERNELS – FilmScene serves up popcorn at the Pop-up Shops while promoting their holiday classics series– ICDD will provide complimentary cocoa at the Pop-up Shops

FRIDAY, DEC 12 – GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITIONS– Gingerbread house competitions at Poindexter (tickets COMING SOON!)

FRIDAY, DEC 19 – LIVING WINDOWS – Festive Fridays ends with a magical evening of living window displays!– Businesses will bring their windows to life with living displays
