Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉
There’s no shortage of things to do around Eastern Iowa this Thursday! 🎭 Catch Mean Girls Jr. or Annie Jr., enjoy live music from Dan Hubbard and Jon Pardi, or take in Jazz at Kirkwood. 🎨 Get creative with an encaustic painting class or artist reception, and learn to build the perfect charcuterie board. 🌿 Take time for wellness with yoga or a mind-body reset, explore local parks planning at a community open house, or enjoy trivia, bingo, and board games. 🎶 From storytelling to comedy, there’s something for everyone!
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, November 12, 2026
Your guide to what’s happening around Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa — in five minutes or less!
🌤️ FORECAST
Mostly cloudy with a high of 45° and a low of 29°.
⭐ TOP 10 THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS
🎸 Dan Hubbard at The Ideal Theater & Bar
🎤 Jon Pardi: Gamblin’ Man Tour at Alliant Energy PowerHouse
🎭 Mean Girls Jr. at Harding Middle School
🎭 Annie Jr. at Franklin Middle School
🎷 Jazz @ Kirkwood at Ballantyne Auditorium
🎨 Artist Reception: In Good Company at Kirkwood
🍽️ Self-Care Studio: All Things Charcuterie at The Hangry Lady
😂 Jeff Allen at Classic Event Center
🎶 Songs from the Soul at Campbell Steele Gallery
🧠 Recalibrate: A Mind-Body Reset at Prairiewoods
🌿 HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS
💪 Morning Stretch
🕗 8–9 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
Paula is back with Thursday morning group exercise incorporating yoga elements that can be adapted to any mobility level. Bring your own yoga mat if possible.
🧘 Metta Yoga – Gentle
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Enjoy gentle, beginner-friendly yoga in a peaceful setting, connecting movement with breath while building strength, flexibility and relaxation. Cost: $15 per class, or punch-card options are available.
🧠 Recalibrate: A Mind-Body Reset for the Season Ahead
🕠 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Take 90 minutes to pause, breathe and prepare for the busy season ahead with science-based nervous-system practices, mindful drawing, reflection and tools for navigating stress with greater ease. Registration required.
🚴 Chain Reaction: Exercises for Better Biking for Women
🕕 5:45–8 p.m. | Doors open at 5:45; exercise begins at 6 p.m.
📍 Chair Reaction Bike Hub
A certified personal trainer will lead a workout and share strength-training exercises to support biking, balance and longevity. Social hour follows. Free event for femme, trans, women and nonbinary community members ages 16+ or with a guardian.
🍑 Booty Builder Bootcamp
🕕 6–7 p.m.
📍 iGYM Blairs Ferry
Join Trainer Mia for a challenging posterior workout using the gym’s new Booty Builder equipment. Free for members; guests are welcome. Sign up by emailing mhatcher@igymia.com. Spots are limited.
👨👩👧👦 FAMILY & KIDS
📚 Music & Movement Story Time
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Busse Library
A fun-filled story time for toddlers and preschoolers, featuring music and movement.
📚 Preschool Story Time
🕙 10–11 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
Enjoy stories, songs and a craft! Intended for children ages 3–5, but younger siblings are welcome.
🎬 Tween & Teen Movie Days
🕒 3–5 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
Enjoy an age-appropriate movie and snacks provided by the library. Just bring yourself!
🎨 Teen Hang: Dungeons and Doodles
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
Dream up an original fantasy character and bring it to life through art during an evening of creativity, imagination and snacks. Free for area teens ages 13–18.
🎭 Mean Girls Jr.
🕡 6:30–8 p.m.
📍 Harding Middle School Auditorium
The Harding Drama Department presents a fearless musical about chasing popularity and staying true to yourself. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
🎭 Annie Jr.
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Franklin Middle School
The Franklin Drama Department presents its fall musical, featuring lively dance numbers and favorite songs in this heartwarming story about hope and finding home. Tickets: $5; children ages 5 and under are free.
🐦 NATURE & OUTDOORS
🐦 Project FeederWatch
🕙 10 a.m.–noon
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center
Take part in a winter-long citizen science project by counting birds in the Nature Center’s Bird Room. Your observations help scientists track bird populations and trends across North America. All skill levels are welcome. Free; registration is encouraged but not required.
📚 LIBRARY, EDUCATION & CAREER
📖 Next Chapter: The Reading Circle – Book Club
🕐 1–2:30 p.m.
📍 Northwest Recreation Center
Join a relaxed, self-guided book club where conversation and connection come first. The group chooses a new book each month, with discussion questions and light refreshments provided.
💻 Virtual Author Talk: Chef Pyet DeSpain
🕐 1–2 p.m.
📍 Online through Marion Public Library
Join award-winning chef Pyet DeSpain for a culinary journey through her debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking. Registration is required, and a viewing link will be provided.
🔤 Scrabble Club
🕐 1–4 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Calling all word wizards! Join fellow Scrabble lovers for a friendly afternoon of vocabulary challenges and letter games.
📱 55+ Tech Advice – Black Friday Tech Buyer’s Guide
🕜 1:30–3 p.m.
📍 Bridge Senior Center
CJ Flynn of Technically Easier shares practical advice for navigating holiday tech sales, spotting genuine deals and choosing laptops, tablets and phones without overspending.
💼 How to Impress at Your Job Interview
🕑 2–3 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
Practice common interview questions, sharpen your impromptu conversation skills and learn the unwritten rules of interviewing. Participants earn a $10 Goodwill voucher toward an interview-ready outfit.
🗣️ English Practice Conversation Group
🕓 4–5:30 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
A welcoming space for adults to practice speaking English, build confidence and connect through guided conversations and fun activities. This is an informal group, not a traditional class.
🌿 Men Exploring Faith
🕓 4–5 p.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Join a small group of reflective men for honest conversation about the transformations that can happen as we age. Meets the second and fourth Thursdays. Online participation is available by request. Free-will offering accepted.
🎨 ARTS, CRAFTS & CULTURE
🧵 Threading the Needle: Fiber Art in Iowa
🕛 Noon–8 p.m.
📍 Grant Wood Studio
Explore an all-Iowa juried exhibition celebrating the rich history, creativity and technical skill of fiber and textile artists. The exhibition runs through January 17, 2027.
🧶 Daytime Knit Wits
🕐 1–3 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
Bring your knitting or crochet project and enjoy an afternoon of crafting and fellowship with fellow fiber-art enthusiasts.
🎨 Artist Reception: “In Good Company”
🕞 3:30–5 p.m.
📍 Iowa Hall Art Gallery, Kirkwood Community College
Celebrate artists from the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio at this free public reception featuring refreshments. The exhibition runs November 2–December 4.
🛠️ MakerSpace Open Hours
🕓 4–7 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
Explore the library’s creative technology, including 3D printers, Cricut machines, sublimation printing and heat presses. Open to all ages; visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
🎨 Second Thursday Art Chat
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Tree of Liminality
Artists and creatives are invited to bring works in progress, share ideas, get feedback and connect with others. All creative disciplines are welcome. Pay what you can; $5 suggested donation.
🖌️ Encaustics: Painting with Wax
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
Explore the ancient art of encaustic painting with Cedar Rapids artist Michelle Fischer. Learn how warm beeswax and colorful pigments are layered and fused with heat to create rich textures and luminous artwork. Cost: $35; registration required.
🤝 COMMUNITY, SUPPORT & CONNECTION
💛 Grief Share Support
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Calvary Baptist Church
A confidential 13-week support series for those grieving the loss of a spouse, offering guided discussion and resources to help navigate the emotional, spiritual, physical and financial challenges of grief.
🏙️ City of Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan Open House
🕟 4:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
Share your thoughts on the future of Cedar Rapids parks, trails, recreation facilities, natural areas and programs. The City is gathering community input to help shape a long-range plan for the next 10–15 years.
🍽️ FOOD & DRINK
🌿 Seasoned Together: A Community Herb & Spice Club
🕕 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
The club meets on the second Thursday of each month. This November, learn to make prosciutto and pesto pinwheels.
🧀 Self-Care Studio: All Things Charcuterie with The Hangry Lady
🕡 6:30–8 p.m.
📍 The Hangry Lady, 1101 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids
Learn the art of creating a beautiful and delicious charcuterie board, including flavor pairings, ingredient selection, color theory and presentation. All materials are provided. Cost: $69; advance registration required.
🎤 LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
🎸 Dan Hubbard
🕖 Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.
📍 The Ideal Theater & Bar
Bloomington, Illinois singer-songwriter Dan Hubbard makes his first Cedar Rapids appearance, bringing two decades of songwriting and his latest album, Vol. 1: Letting Go. An intimate evening of honest Midwestern songwriting. All ages. Tickets: $16 plus fees in advance; $23 plus fees day of show.
🎤 History Happy Hour – Acoustic Jack
🕓 Doors open at 4 p.m.
📍 The History Center
Unwind with live acoustic music, local drinks and after-hours access to the galleries while exploring Linn County history. Admission: $10 for the general public; free for History Center members. Cash bar.
🎶 Palomino
🕠 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 VFW
Enjoy an evening of country music and dancing with Palomino. Open to the public. Cover: $10; food and drinks available for purchase.
🎷 Jazz @ Kirkwood – Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble
🕢 7:30–9:30 p.m. | Doors open at 7 p.m.
📍 Ballantyne Auditorium, Kirkwood Community College
Enjoy the Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Chris Navarrete, along with the Kirkwood Faculty and CR Jazz Combo. One ticket provides admission to both Thursday and Friday performances. Tickets available in advance or at the door; free for Kirkwood students, faculty and staff.
🎼 Songs from the Soul – Live at Campbell Steele
🕖 7 p.m. | Social hour begins at 6 p.m.
📍 Campbell Steele Gallery & Venue
Songs from the Soul returns for a special performance featuring favorites from musical theatre, opera, jazz and more. Arrive early for wine and food from Chef Lakota’s kitchen. Tickets available through Campbell Steele.
🎤 Tellersbridge Open Mic Storytelling – Cedar Rapids
🕖 7–9 p.m.
📍 Parlor City Pub & Eatery
Enjoy an evening of real stories and community connections. Whether you're a seasoned storyteller, first-time performer or simply love listening, everyone is welcome. Free admission.
🎤 Jon Pardi: Gamblin’ Man Tour
🕖 7–10 p.m.
📍 Alliant Energy PowerHouse
Country star Jon Pardi brings his high-energy live show to Cedar Rapids, featuring his signature modern honky-tonk sound and songs from his latest album, HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD.
🎷 Jazz @ Kirkwood – Two-Night Ticket Reminder
🕢 Friday’s CR Big Band performance is also included with Thursday’s ticket. The Friday show begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.
😂 Jeff Allen
🕡 6:30 p.m.
📍 Classic Event Center, Cedar Rapids
Comedian Jeff Allen brings his clean stand-up and dry perspective on marriage, family life and growing older to Cedar Rapids.
🎲 GAMES, CLUBS & NIGHTLIFE
🐈 Purrs & Plays Board Game Night
🕓 4–6 p.m.
📍 Familiar Cat Café
Enjoy board games and two hours in the cat lounge, with a drink included. Ages 14+, limited to 10 participants. Cost: $35. Reserve your spot online.
🎬 “Mockingjay, Part 2” Movie Showing
🕔 5–7:30 p.m.
📍 Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library – Downtown
Continue the library’s fall Hunger Games movie series with the final original film, rated PG-13. The series concludes Saturday, November 14, with Hunger Games-themed activities and crafts.
🎳 Bingo – Public Invited
🕕 6–9 p.m. | Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
📍 El Kahir Shrine
Join the weekly Thursday bingo night. Open to the public ages 12 and up. Entry packet: $6; food and beverages available for purchase.
🎲 Game Night with Think & Drink Entertainment
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Entertainment, Cedar Rapids
Gather a team of up to eight for a free-to-play game night with the chance to win house cash and prizes. Arrive early to get a table.
🎵 2000s Name That Tune
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Spare Time, Cedar Rapids
Test your knowledge of the best—and worst—music of the 2000s, from blink-182 and Drake to Soulja Boy and Creed. Free to play, all ages, with house cash prizes.
🎳 Strikes & Slices
🕘 9–11 p.m.
📍 Spare Time, Cedar Rapids
Enjoy two hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rental and unlimited cheese or pepperoni pizza slices for $10.99 per person.
🏈 Cup Night
🕗 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
📍 Raging Ryno’s
A laid-back Thursday night gathering for music, food, socializing and watching NFL football.
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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