Events for Friday, August 7th, 2026.

Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉

Welcome to Cedar Rapids Daily, your quick guide to everything happening across Eastern Iowa! In today's episode for Friday, August 7, we're highlighting a full day of festivals, family fun, live music, outdoor adventures, and community events. Featured events include the opening of the St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival, Rock the Block at NewBo City Market, the Moonlit Movie Series at Lowe Park, Dear Evan Hansen at Theatre Cedar Rapids, Melissa Tormene at Brucemore, the Kovačica Art Workshop, Putts & Pours, and Fresh Air Fridays. Whether you're looking for free family activities, local festivals, live entertainment, or a fun way to kick off the weekend, Cedar Rapids Daily helps you discover the best events happening across Eastern Iowa—in five minutes or less.

A big shoutout to our sponsors, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust for helping make Cedar Rapids Daily possible and supporting all the amazing things happening in our community.

☀️ Cedar Rapids Daily | Friday, August 7

🌤️ Forecast

A slight chance of storms arrives late today with a high of 85° and a low of 64°. It's a warm summer Friday packed with outdoor adventures, family fun, live music, art, wellness activities, and community festivals.

🌟 Today's Highlights

🎡 St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival Opens
🎸 Rock the Block at NewBo City Market
🎬 Moonlit Movie Series at Lowe Park
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen
🎶 Betty Calling Summer Concert
🎨 Kovačica Art Workshop
⛳ Putts & Pours at Mini Pines
🎵 Melissa Tormene at Brucemore
🎷 Live Music Across Eastern Iowa
🌿 Fresh Air Fridays

🌿 Health & Wellness

💪 GeriFit

🕗 8:00–8:45 a.m. & 1:00–1:45 p.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
💲 FREE
Improve strength, balance and mobility with this popular fitness class for adults 60+.

🥾 Mini Explorer Hiking Club

🕥 10:30–11:30 a.m.
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center
💲 $5 adults ($3 members), children free
Family-friendly hike for young explorers.

🌸 Baby & Me Summer Series

🕚 11:00 a.m.–Noon
📍 Toula Yoga
💲 $20 drop-in or series pricing
Gentle postpartum yoga, baby bonding and community.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Kids

🐟 Fish & Float Fridays

🕘 9:00 a.m.–Noon
📍 Ushers Ferry Historic Village
Kids spend the morning kayaking and fishing.

🐉 Sea Serpent Craft

🕘 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
💲 FREE
Create your own paper chain sea serpent.

📖 Baby & Toddler Story Time

🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Ladd Library
Stories, songs and playtime for little ones.

🌳 Fresh Air Fridays

🕙 10:00–11:30 a.m.
📍 Pinicon Ridge Park
💲 FREE
Nature activities and story time with Linn County Conservation.

🩸 Community Blood Drive

🕙 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Donate blood and help save lives.

📚 Your Library at Daniels Park

🕦 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Daniels Park
Books, games, storytime and the Mobile Technology Lab.

🎒 Back to School Rally

🕔 5:00 p.m.
📍 Hawkeye Downs
Free school supplies, backpacks, family activities and resources for foster and adoptive families.

🎬 Moonlit Movie Series

🕖 7:00 p.m. (movie at dusk)
📍 Lowe Park
💲 FREE
Inflatables, food trucks, glitter tattoos and an outdoor movie.

📚 Libraries, Learning & Community

🧩 Puzzle Lovers

🕘 9:00–10:00 a.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Trade puzzles and discover your next challenge.

☕ Coffee & Kolach

🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Virtual monthly cultural program.

✍️ Community Writers Circle

🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Creative writing group for adults.

🃏 Friday Afternoon Magic

🕝 2:30–4:30 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon play.

💻 Computer Basics for English Learners

🕒 3:00–4:30 p.m.
📍 Ladd Library
Beginner computer skills and internet basics.

🎨 Arts, Museums & Culture

🪟 Gallery Talk: Grant Wood's Memorial Window

🕚 11:00–11:30 a.m.
📍 Veterans Memorial Building
💲 FREE
Learn about Grant Wood's iconic stained-glass masterpiece.

🎨 Guided Tour: Slovak Naïve Painting

🕒 3:00–4:00 p.m.
📍 National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Explore the UNESCO-recognized Kovačica painting tradition.

🖌️ Kovačica Naïve Art Workshop

🕓 4:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Create your own folk-art inspired masterpiece.

🖼️ Free Summer Admission

Museum Hours
📍 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
💲 FREE
Explore sixteen galleries at no cost all summer long.

🎭 Theatre & Live Entertainment

🎭 Dear Evan Hansen

📍 Theatre Cedar Rapids
Tony Award-winning musical continues its run.

🎤 A Night with Melissa Tormene

🕢 7:30–10:00 p.m.
📍 Brucemore
Enjoy an evening of music and laughter from Cedar Rapids native Melissa Tormene.

🎶 Live Music

🎸 Rock the Block

🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 NewBo City Market
💲 FREE
Featuring The Lily Schloss Band.

🎵 Pop-Up Acts in the Artway

🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Uptown Marion
💲 FREE
Enjoy live music by Sugar & Spice.

🎤 Betty Calling

🕕 6:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 Guthridge Park
Free summer concert.

🎶 D-Lew Friday Night Live

🕖 7:00–10:00 p.m.
📍 North Point
Classic hits and forgotten favorites.

🎸 Dare'n & Dawn Acoustic

🕖 7:00–10:00 p.m.
📍 Sag Wagon
Live acoustic favorites.

🎹 Joe Demerath Live

🕘 9:00 a.m.–Noon
📍 The Red Frog
Live country music from an Iowa favorite.

🎉 Festivals & Community Events

🌽 St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival

🕔 Begins at 5:00 p.m.
📍 St. Jude Catholic Church
Fresh sweet corn, carnival rides, bingo, live entertainment, food and family fun all weekend.

⛳ Putts & Pours

🕔 5:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 Mini Pines
Mini golf, brewery tastings, appetizers and music.

🍻 Fish Fry Friday

🕓 4:00–9:30 p.m.
📍 Whiskey River Grill
All-you-can-eat fish fry.

🎨 Classes & Workshops

🧶 Cork N Canvas Knitting Class

🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Sisters Books & Nooks
Learn beginner knitting while supporting two local businesses.

🌙 Nightlife

🎧 RnB Night

🕘 9:00 p.m.–Midnight
📍 The Ideal Theater & Bar
Dance to your favorite '90s and 2000s R&B hits.

Special Thanks

A big shoutout to our sponsor: Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust.

With five convenient locations across the greater Cedar Rapids area and yes, the best cookies on the planet, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust is a place where relationships and service truly matter. From personal to business banking, CRBT is here to support you every step of the way. Come meet the People you can bank on at crbt.bank. Member FDIC

Thank you for being part of the Cedar Rapids Daily community. We can’t wait to see you at these events! Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring.

Warm regards,

The Cedar Rapids Daily Team

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