Events for Thursday, July 16th, 2026.

Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉

Today on Cedar Rapids Daily, we're featuring another packed summer day across Eastern Iowa with family activities, wellness events, community gatherings, and live entertainment. Explore hands-on STEM experiences at Collins Aerospace Community STEM Day, enjoy story times, art projects, engineering challenges, and outdoor library programs, or stay active with yoga, stretching, and Meet Me at the Market. You'll also find local markets, museum programs, book clubs, live music, water ski shows, trivia nights, and community events happening throughout the area. Whether you're looking to learn, create, connect, or simply enjoy a summer evening, there's something for everyone today.

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 | Thursday, July 16

Forecast: Partly cloudy with a high of 93° and a low of 72°. Another hot summer day is ahead across Eastern Iowa, so remember to stay hydrated while enjoying today's lineup of family activities, wellness classes, live music, markets, and community events.

🌿 Health & Wellness

🧘 Morning Stretch

⏰ 8:00–9:00 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
💲 Free
Start your morning with gentle stretching and yoga-inspired movement designed for all mobility levels.

🧘 Metta Yoga – Gentle

⏰ 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
💲 $15 drop-in
Enjoy a peaceful beginner-friendly yoga class focused on strength, flexibility, and relaxation.

🪑 Metta Yoga – Chair

⏰ 10:45–11:45 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
💲 $15 drop-in
A gentle chair yoga session designed for all abilities.

🪑 55+ Chair Yoga

⏰ 1:30–2:30 p.m.
📍 Bridge Senior Center
💲 Free
Improve flexibility, balance, and mobility in this beginner-friendly chair yoga class.

🪑 Chair Yoga

⏰ 1:30–2:15 p.m.
📍 First Presbyterian Church
💲 Free
A welcoming yoga class for older adults and anyone seeking a gentle practice.

🚶 Meet Me at the Market

⏰ 5:30–7:15 p.m.
📍 NewBo City Market
💲 Free
Choose from guided walks, runs, bike rides, dance fitness, or yoga during one of Cedar Rapids' favorite weekly wellness events.

🧘 Practice & Presence

⏰ 5:30–6:45 p.m.
📍 Rootspace Wellness
💲 See organizer
A men's-centered yoga and breathwork class designed to build strength, mobility, and mindfulness.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Kids

🔬 Collins Aerospace Community STEM Day

⏰ 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
📍 Collins Aerospace C Avenue Campus
💲 Free
Explore dozens of hands-on STEM activities, food trucks, live music, and interactive exhibits.

🎨 Picasso in the Park

⏰ 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Greene Square Park
💲 Free
Kids can paint, create crafts, and take home their own artistic masterpiece.

🐄 Barnyard Boogie

⏰ 10:00–10:45 a.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
💲 Free
A fun-filled music and movement program for little ones.

📚 Preschool Story Time

⏰ 10:00–11:00 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
💲 Free
Stories, songs, and crafts designed especially for preschoolers.

📖 Early Learning Story Time

⏰ 10:00–10:30 a.m.
📍 Ladd Library
💲 Free
Children ages 2–5 can enjoy stories, songs, bubbles, and parachute play.

📚 Your Library at Cleveland Park

⏰ 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Cleveland Park
💲 Free
Books, games, story time, and the Mobile Technology Lab bring library fun outdoors.

🏗️ Build It! Challenge

⏰ 2:00–2:30 p.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
💲 Free
A hands-on engineering challenge using everyday materials.

✈️ Paper Plane Exploration

⏰ 6:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
💲 Free
Experiment with creative paper airplane designs and test which ones fly the best.

📖 Read to Dogs

⏰ 6:30–7:15 p.m.
📍 Ladd Library
💲 Free
Emerging readers can practice reading aloud with certified therapy dogs.

🥷 Ninja Gym Open Gym

⏰ 4:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 Line Drive Sports Complex
💲 Registration required
Kids can run, climb, jump, and balance through a fun ninja obstacle course.

🎨 Arts & Creativity

🧵 Embroidery Guild Monthly Meeting

⏰ 9:30–11:00 a.m.
📍 Christ Episcopal Church
💲 Free
Learn embroidery techniques and finishing skills in a welcoming group.

🖼️ Free Summer Admission

⏰ 12:15–8:00 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
💲 Free
Enjoy one of Iowa's premier art museums at no cost all summer long.

🏺 Wheel Boot Camp

⏰ 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio
💲 $60
Young artists ages 8–15 can learn pottery wheel fundamentals over two days.

📖 Art Lovers Book Club

⏰ 4:00–5:00 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
💲 Free
Discuss Thunderclap by Laura Cumming while exploring art history.

✂️ Cats & Crafts: Bag Charms

⏰ 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 The Glittering Pear (Marion)
💲 $10
Create a custom bag charm while supporting Unleashed Animal Rescue.

💼 Learning & Community

💻 Searching & Applying for Reliable Jobs Online

⏰ 2:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Ladd Library
💲 Free
Learn effective job search strategies and how to avoid online scams.

🗣️ English Practice Conversation Group

⏰ 4:00–5:00 p.m.
📍 Ladd Library
💲 Free
Practice conversational English in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

🎲 Dungeons & Dragons

⏰ 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
💲 Free
Adult adventurers are invited to join an ongoing D&D campaign.

📚 Hiawatha Comic Book Club

⏰ 7:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
💲 Free
Share your favorite comics and connect with fellow fans.

🌽 Markets & Community

🚜 Food Truck Thursday

⏰ 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
📍 Shuttleworth & Ingersoll
Enjoy lunch from a rotating lineup of local food trucks while supporting Freedom Festival.

🥬 Farm Stand Thursdays

⏰ 4:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 Cultivate Hope Urban Farm
Shop fresh local produce while supporting sustainable agriculture in Cedar Rapids.

🐎 McGrath Bronco Takeover

⏰ 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 McGrath Ford
💲 Free
Check out custom and classic Broncos, enjoy free food, music, and family-friendly activities.

🌳 Summer in the Square

⏰ 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Greene Square Park
💲 Free
Relax downtown with live music, food, and a laid-back summer atmosphere.

🎵 Live Music & Entertainment

🎷 Marion Big Band Summer Concert

⏰ 7:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Marion City Square Park
💲 Free
Enjoy an evening of timeless big band classics.

🌊 Five Seasons Water Ski Show

⏰ 7:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Ellis Park
💲 Free
This week's "Disco Fever" themed performance promises exciting jumps, tricks, and entertainment.

🎤 Sip & Tunes

⏰ 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Kingston's Steakhouse
Enjoy local singer-songwriters during happy hour on the patio.

🎸 Ice Cream and The Cones

⏰ 7:00 p.m.
📍 Scores on 33rd
Enjoy an evening of live music, food, and drinks.

🎤 Karaoke Night

⏰ 8:00 p.m.–Midnight
📍 Buchona's Sports Bar & Grill
Sing your favorite songs and enjoy drink specials all evening.

🤠 The Drive-Ins

⏰ 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 VFW Post 788
Buck Hollow brings country music and dancing for a fun summer evening.

🧠 Games & Trivia

🧩 Scrabble Club

⏰ 1:00–4:00 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Challenge your vocabulary with fellow word game enthusiasts.

🧠 Twilight Trivia Night

⏰ 6:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 Sisters Books & Nooks
Test your knowledge of the Twilight books, movies, and lore.

🎯 Think & Drink Game Night

⏰ 7:00 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Entertainment
Free team trivia with prizes and house cash up for grabs.

🍺 Thirsty Thursday Trivia

⏰ 7:30–9:00 p.m.
📍 House Divided Brewery (Ely)
Grab your friends for an evening of trivia and brewery prizes.

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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