Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉
It’s Veterans Day, with plenty of ways to honor and support those who served! 🇺🇸 Attend the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building, enjoy one of several free veterans’ breakfasts and meals, or stop by local appreciation events. 🐦 Explore Project FeederWatch at Indian Creek Nature Center, take the kids on a winter wildlife adventure, or get creative at a Japanese bookbinding workshop. 🎲 Wrap up the day with trivia, chess, Dungeons & Dragons, or half-price bowling and games at Spare Time.
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
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Your guide to what’s happening around Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa — in five minutes or less!
🌤️ FORECAST
Slight chance of showers with a high of 57° and a low of 35°.
⭐ TOP 10 WEDNESDAY HIGHLIGHTS
🇺🇸 Veterans Day Program at the Veterans Memorial Building
🥞 Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast at Metro Harley-Davidson
🍳 Free Veterans Day Breakfast at Hy-Vee
🍽️ Veterans Day Lunch at The Pedaler's Fork
🎖️ Veterans Appreciation Day at CRUSH Recovery Community Center
⛳ Veterans Appreciation Golf Day at Dick's House of Sport
🐦 Project FeederWatch at Indian Creek Nature Center
🌲 Preschool Trail Trekkers: Wild Animals in Winter
🎨 Hardcover Japanese Stab Binding Workshop
🧠 Veterans Day Generations of America Trivia at Nick's Bar & Grill
🇺🇸 VETERANS DAY EVENTS & APPRECIATION
🎖️ Veterans Day Program at the Veterans Memorial Building
🕘 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m.
📍 Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 💲 Free
Stop by the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Cedar Rapids to honor local veterans and explore gallery displays. The traditional service includes Presentation of the Colors, a guest speaker, a volley salute and more. Open to the public. Downtown parking is free on Veterans Day.
🥞 Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast
🕕 6–10 a.m.
📍 Metro Harley-Davidson, 2415 Westdale Dr. SW
Veterans and their families eat FREE! Free-will donations from others benefit HERO (Healing at English River Outfitters), supporting veterans.
🍳 Hy-Vee Veterans Day Breakfast
🕕 6–10 a.m.
📍 Hy-Vee locations
Veterans and active-duty military personnel receive a FREE breakfast and 15% off groceries on November 11. Online orders can use promo code VETS2026.
⛳ Veterans Appreciation Golf Day
🕙 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Dick's House of Sport
Celebrate veterans with a day of golf, food and appreciation. Includes free 15-minute golf lessons and complimentary lunch from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Veterans Day special: buy one lesson, get one free.
🍽️ Veterans Day Lunch Special
🕚 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 The Pedaler's Fork
Veterans can enjoy lunch and a Coke product on the house. Wednesday specials include half-off appetizers and $4 Tito's.
🍻 Veterans Day at Big Grove
🕚 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
📍 Big Grove Brewery
Veterans, active-duty service members and Gold Star families can enjoy a complimentary meal from a featured menu. Big Grove is also hosting an American Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Blood drive appointments: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results...
❤️ Veterans Appreciation Day
🕚 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 CRUSH Recovery Community Center, 1260 2nd Ave. SE
A community gathering honoring veterans, featuring lunch, community resource tables and a special testimony from Retired Staff Sergeant Chad Neuleib. Veterans, families and community partners are welcome.
🌿 NATURE, HEALTH & WELLNESS
🐦 Project FeederWatch
🕙 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–3 p.m.
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center | 💲 Free
Help count birds as part of this winter-long citizen science project. Drop in for a few minutes or stay awhile in the Bird Room. All skill levels are welcome.
🌲 Preschool Trail Trekkers: Wild Animals in Winter
🕙 10–11 a.m.
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center | 💲 $5 preschoolers ages 3–5; free for ages 2 and under; $5 adults
Bring your preschooler for a seasonal outdoor adventure exploring hibernation, migration and animal adaptations. Meet at the Penningroth Barn. Dress for outdoor activities. Registration deadline is 24 hours before the program.
More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/educa.../trail-trekkers/
☯️ Tai Chi for Older Adults
🕐 1–2 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
Learn and practice gentle Tai Chi movements in this 12-week series with Bryan Bruner of Heritage Area Agency on Aging. Skills build throughout the series.
☯️ Qigong
🕠 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Cherry Building
Try this gentle practice combining slow movement, breathing and focused awareness to encourage relaxation, balance and well-being. All experience levels welcome.
💃 DCC Dance Party
🕠 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 The MAC – Midwest Athletic Club
Join Amanda and Megan for a high-energy Dance Club Cardio party with upbeat music and fun moves. All fitness levels welcome. Bring a friend for free! Enroll through the MAC Fit app or online.
🧘 Soundness with Sayde Yoga
🕕 6–7 p.m.
📍 Illuminations Cedar Rapids | 💲 $15
An all-levels group yoga therapy session emphasizing breath, movement and mind-body connection. Bring a mat if you have one; supplies are available. Registration required.
🔔 Sound Bath
🕕 6 p.m.
📍 ReAlive Metaphysical Shop | 💲 $20
Enjoy a meditative, immersive experience with holistic instruments and soothing sound waves. Bring a yoga mat or pillow if you'd like to lie down.
🕯️ Death Cafe: Reflections of Mortality and Meaning
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Lion Bridge Brewing Company
An informal, welcoming conversation about end-of-life experiences, mortality and meaning, led by Kimberly Jaeger-Arjes, certified death doula and grief caregiver.
👶 FAMILY & KIDS
📖 Baby & Toddler Story Time at the Downtown Library
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to age three, followed by 45 minutes of playtime.
🎨 Family-Centered Soul Care: Creative Arts Grief Support Group
🕠 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center | 💲 Free; dinner and supplies included
Children and the adults who support them are invited to explore grief through creative expression. This month's activity is watercolor bookmark making. Registration required by noon one week in advance.
📚 CAREER, EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
💼 Goodwill Career Services: World of Work (WOW) Workshop
🕥 10:45 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
Learn essential skills and strategies for success in today's job market. Attend three sessions to receive a $25 gift card from Goodwill of the Heartland.
📝 Craft Your Perfect Resume
🕧 12:30–3:30 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
Discover strategies to structure your resume, highlight your skills and showcase your achievements for the job you're applying for.
📖 Virtual Author Talk: Paul Vigna
🕐 1–2 p.m.
📍 Online through Marion Public Library
Join veteran journalist and author Paul Vigna for a conversation about The Almightier: How Money Became God, Greed Became Virtue, and Debt Became Sin. Registration required; this is a virtual event with no in-person component.
🀄 Mahjong
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Join others for open play of American mahjong.
☕ Memory Cafe
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia
A welcoming gathering for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Enjoy discussion, education and activities while connecting with others. Registration required.
🎲 GAMES, CLUBS & ENTERTAINMENT
🐉 Dungeons & Dragons
🕟 4:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
Join a weekly adventure! Handbooks and dice are provided. New players can arrive 30 minutes early for character creation and tutorials. All ages and experience levels welcome.
♟️ Cedar Rapids Chess Club
🕠 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Cedar Rapids Public Library
Learn chess, improve your game or teach others. Open to all ages. More information at chessiniowa.org.
🧠 Weekly Free Trivia at NewBo City Market
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 NewBo City Market | 💲 Free
Test your knowledge, compete for prizes and have fun with Trivia Mafia. Wednesday trivia is sponsored by Collins Aerospace.
🎮 Modern Wednesdays
🕕 6–10 p.m.
📍 First Turn Games
Join the weekly Modern format gaming night.
🧠 Veterans Day – Generations of America Trivia Night
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Nick's Bar & Grill
Celebrate Veterans Day with trivia spanning generations, from the Greatest Generation to Gen Z. Bring friends, family and veterans for questions across multiple categories.
🎨 ARTS & CRAFTS
📚 Hardcover Japanese Stab Binding Workshop
🕕 6–8:30 p.m.
📍 Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
Learn the art of Japanese stab binding with local artist Missa Coffman of Tree of Liminality. Create your own hardcover book from scratch. All materials provided; no experience necessary.
Register: https://app.amilia.com/.../eastern.../api/Activity/Detail...
🎨 EichenPaint: “Wilderness”
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 EichenPaint Studio, 1010 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids | 💲 $30 per painter
Paint a 12-by-16-inch canvas with step-by-step instruction. All materials included, and no experience is needed. Bring your own beer or wine, or grab local food nearby. All ages welcome with an adult.
🎳 SPECIALS & ENTERTAINMENT
🎳 Half Off Wednesdays
🕚 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Cedar Rapids
Enjoy 50% off Game Zone games, open bowling and laser tag all day. Some exclusions apply.
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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