Events for Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Hey there, Cedar Rapids community!
Happy New Year! We’re excited to help you start 2026 with a bang. Here’s your guide to everything happening around town on Thursday, January 1st, 2026. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, family fun, or a tasty brunch, we’ve got you covered!
🌤️ Weather Forecast
Partly cloudy with a high of 23°F and a low of 17°F.
🏞️ OUTDOOR & FITNESS EVENTS
Friends of CR Parks Foundation “First Day Hike”
🕙 10:00–11:30 a.m.
📍 Bever Park (Old MacDonald’s Farm Trailhead)
Kick off the new year with a guided winter hike, followed by warm beverages, community time, and a chance to win Hawkeye men’s basketball tickets.
First Day Hike – Palisades-Kepler State Park
🕛 12:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 Palisades-Kepler State Park Lodge
A free, all-ages guided hike celebrating the new year, with hot drinks and refreshments afterward; pets welcome on leash.
1st Day of the Year Hike, Walk, Run
🕐 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Pleasant Creek Recreation Area
Start the year moving with a casual hike, walk, or run, plus complimentary hot chocolate and park information.
👨👩👧👦 FAMILY & KIDS ACTIVITIES
New Year’s Day Opening
🕤 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 The Shell – Little Sports Tots Indoor Play Space
Indoor play fun for kids on New Year’s Day, with walk-ins welcome.
Family Bingo
🕔 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 The Pines Pizza & Pub
Family-friendly bingo night with prizes and plenty of fun to start the new year.
🍹 FOOD, DRINK & SOCIAL EVENTS
National Bloody Mary Day Celebration
🕖 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 350 First
Celebrate with a customizable Bloody Mary bar, specialty drinks, food pairings, and New Year’s Day drink specials.
White Elephant Tailgators Gift Exchange
🕑 2:00 p.m.
📍 Otis’ Tailgators Sports Bar
A lively white elephant gift exchange featuring laughs, surprises, and festive drinks—bring a wrapped gift to join in.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Happy New Year 2026 Sammy’s East Side Jam
🕕 6:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 Sammy’s Lounge
Ring in the new year with live music featuring The Mandela Effect in a celebratory East Side jam session.
🎮 GAMES & HOBBIES
Pokémon Night – Free Play & Trade
🕔 5:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 Turtle Power Games (Lindale Mall)
Weekly Pokémon meetup for casual and competitive players to battle, trade, and connect with fellow trainers.
Special Thanks
A big shoutout to our sponsors, Gutschmidt Properties and Jean’s Team with CMG Home Loans.
Employee-owned and tenant-focused, Gutschmidt Properties creates sustainable spaces that make a real community impact. From studios and sleeping rooms in their historic Smyth House, to both their old and new homes as part of the Rainbow Road project just off I‑380, or flexible commercial space at Averill House in downtown Cedar Rapids, they may have just the place for you. Every house has a story—write yours in one of their homes. Learn more at gutschmidtproperties.com.
Whether it’s your first house, an investment property, or your dream home, Jean’s Team with CMG Home Loans makes mortgage lending a home run. With competitive rates, great turnaround times, and programs for buyers, sellers, and those looking to refinance, Jean’s Team is ready to step up to the plate for you and make getting a home loan feel like pitching a perfect game, every time. Learn more at cmghomeloans.com/mysite/jean-sellnau. CMG Mortgage, Inc., CMG Home Loans, and CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, as well as Jean Sellnau, NMLS# 6180, is an equal housing lender.
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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