Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉
It’s Friday the 13th, but there’s nothing spooky about all the fun happening around Eastern Iowa! 🎄 Kick off the holiday season at Festival of Trees, shop the Shop & Play Holiday Market, or catch a performance of Mary Poppins, Annie Jr., or Mean Girls Jr. 🎸 Enjoy live music from Zepparella, Burlington Street Bluegrass Band, Deb Talen and Wes Shirley, and more. 🎨 Get creative with a glass art workshop, explore a new gallery exhibition, or check out the Fall Cohort Pitch Competition. From local theater and holiday shopping to community gatherings and Friday night entertainment, there’s plenty to fill your day and evening!
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, November 13, 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 41° and a low of 21°.
⭐ TOP 10 FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
🎄 Festival of Trees at the DoubleTree Convention Complex
🎭 Mary Poppins at Theatre Cedar Rapids
🎸 Zepparella at The Olympic South Side Theater
🎤 Burlington Street Bluegrass Band at Opus Concert Café
🎶 Deb Talen & Wes Shirley at the CR Songwriters Series
🎭 SPT Theatre: Rock, Paper, Scissors at CSPS Hall
🎨 Friday Night Out Glass Wine Stopper & Cheese Tray
🛍️ Shop & Play Holiday Market at Brewed Imagination
🚀 Fall Cohort Pitch Competition at Lion Bridge Brewing Company
🎭 Mean Girls Jr. at Harding Middle School
🌿 HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS
💪 Geri-Fit
🕗 8–8:45 a.m. and 1–1:45 p.m.
📍 Ely Public Library
A free strength and wellness class for adults ages 60 and over, designed to improve strength, balance, flexibility and mobility while helping address arthritic conditions and prevent osteoporosis.
👨👩👧👦 FAMILY & KIDS
📚 Early Learning Story Time at Busse Branch
🕤 9:30–10 a.m.
📍 Busse Library
A fun-filled story time for children ages 2–5 featuring stories, songs, movement and bubbles.
🎌 Teen Anime Club
🕞 3:30–4:30 p.m.
📍 Busse Library
Watch the beginning of Dungeon People, rated TV-14, about a master thief who unexpectedly receives a job offer from a dungeon's caretaker. Start with a craft or activity before the episode begins at 4 p.m.
🐉 Dungeons and Dragons
🕕 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Tweens and teens are invited to adventure together in this tabletop role-playing game.
🎭 Mary Poppins
🕢 7:30 p.m.
📍 Theatre Cedar Rapids
Step into a world of whimsy with this beloved Disney classic, featuring unforgettable music, spectacular dance numbers and a little holiday magic. The production runs November 13–December 20, with festive treats, merchandise and photo opportunities. Tickets are available through Theatre Cedar Rapids.
🎭 Annie Jr.
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Franklin Middle School
The Franklin Drama Department presents its fall musical, featuring memorable songs, lively dance numbers and a heartwarming story about hope and finding home. Tickets: $5; children ages 5 and under are free.
🎭 Mean Girls Jr.
🕡 6:30 p.m.
📍 Harding Middle School Auditorium
The Harding Drama Department takes on this fearless musical about popularity and being true to yourself. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
🎄 Festival of Trees 2026 – Senior Day
🕘 9–11 a.m.
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex
Kick off this holiday tradition with beautifully decorated trees, holiday vendors, crafts and entertainment. Friday's schedule includes Senior Day from 9–11 a.m. and Sensory Day from noon–2 p.m. The festival continues Saturday and Sunday, November 14–15, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tree auction proceeds benefit Central Furniture Rescue, and product-drive donations go to HACAP.
📚 LIBRARY, EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
🀄 Mahjong
🕙 10 a.m.–noon
📍 Busse Branch Library, 1845 Sandberg Lane SW, Cedar Rapids
Join others for open play of American Mahjong. Free.
📖 Community Writers Circle
🕐 1–2 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Join the library's adult writing group for an opportunity to write, share and connect with fellow writers.
📱 Technology Help Table
🕧 12:30–1:30 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
Get hands-on help from an AT&T staff member with phones, iPads, tablets, settings, apps and general device questions. Bring passwords for accounts if possible. Assistance may be limited to approximately 10 minutes per person.
📚 Friends of the Library November Book Sale
🕓 4–5 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
The Friday sale is for Friends members. Proceeds support the Friends of the Marion Public Library and library programming. The sale continues Saturday and Sunday, with a bake sale on Saturday. Donate a personal hygiene item and receive a free book; donations support the library pantry.
☕ November Connections and Caffeine
🕖 7:15–8:15 a.m.
📍 I'll Meet You There Bookstore & Coffee Shop, 62 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids
Start your morning with PWN for coffee, conversation and connections. Meet someone new and build relationships with local professionals.
🚀 Fall Cohort Pitch Competition
🕟 4:30–7 p.m.
📍 Lion Bridge Brewing Company, 59 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids
Watch the Fall Iowa Startup Accelerator cohort pitch their ideas in a high-energy competition. Doors open at 4:30 for networking and food, pitches begin at 5:15, and winners are announced around 6:30. Free and open to the public, with pizza, salad and breadsticks provided.
💛 Safe Place Foundation: Recovered with Purpose Gala
🕠 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Rapids
Join the Safe Place Foundation for an evening of connection, storytelling and community in support of recovery. The program includes dinner, remarks from foundation leadership and a keynote story of hope from former resident Zachary Melsha.
🩸 Give Blood. Give Hope. Blood Drive at the Library
🕙 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Give back this November by rolling up your sleeve and donating blood at the library.
🎨 ARTS, CRAFTS & CULTURE
🎨 Afternoon Art
🕒 3–4 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
Drop in on the second floor for a creative afternoon with arts and crafts supplies provided.
🧵 Chaos Bead Embroidery
🕔 5 p.m.
📍 Make/Believe CR
Create your own colorful, eclectic design by embroidering beads, buttons, gems and other materials onto fabric. Cost: $5.
🖼️ Gallery Opening: Remains of the Day
🕔 5–7 p.m.
📍 CSPS Hall, Main Gallery, second floor
Celebrate the opening of Remains of the Day, an exhibition by artist Lauren Manninen. Inspired by weather, erosion and the changing world, her paintings reflect natural forces over time. Free admission.
🍷 Friday Night Out: Glass Wine Stopper & Cheese Tray
🕡 6:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio
Create a glass cracker tray and matching wine stopper while learning warm-glass techniques. No experience is necessary, and finished pieces will be kiln-fired. Ages 21+. BYOB. Cost: $75 per person; advance registration required. Closed-toe shoes and leg-covering clothing are required.
🎤 LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
🎸 Zepparella
🕗 Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.
📍 The Olympic South Side Theater
Hear the Led Zeppelin catalog reimagined by this all-female band, known for its powerful musicianship and high-energy performances. This is Zepparella's first Cedar Rapids show. All ages. Tickets from $30.10.
🎻 Burlington Street Bluegrass Band
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Opus Concert Café
The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band takes the show on the road for an evening at this Cedar Rapids listening room. Tickets available through Orchestra Iowa.
🎷 Jazz @ Kirkwood – CR Big Band
🕢 7:30–9:30 p.m. | Doors open at 7 p.m.
📍 Ballantyne Auditorium, Kirkwood Community College
Enjoy the CR Big Band, directed by Blake Shaw. One ticket provides admission to both Thursday's Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble performance and Friday's show. Tickets available in advance or at the door; free for Kirkwood students, faculty and staff.
🎶 Deb Talen & Wes Shirley – CR Songwriters Series
🕢 Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 7:30 p.m.
📍 Breathing Room Yoga
Enjoy an intimate evening where songwriters and their stories take center stage. Featuring Deb Talen and Wes Shirley. All ages. Standing room and seating available. Bring your own drinks. Tickets: $15, available online or at the door.
🎸 Evan Stocks Friday the 13th
🕖 7–10 p.m.
📍 Old Neighborhood Pub
Keep Friday the 13th a little creepy with the Evan Stock Band and a night of live music.
🎤 Rhapsody Spirits and Provisions
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Rhapsody, Downtown Cedar Rapids
Enjoy an evening of live entertainment at this downtown Cedar Rapids venue.
🎤 Sugar and Spice Trio
🕗 8–11 p.m.
📍 Otis' Tailgators Sports Bar
Join the Sugar and Spice Trio for a Friday night of live music at one of their favorite spots.
🎸 Westwood
🕗 8 p.m.–midnight
📍 North Point
Cedar Rapids dance and pop band Westwood returns to North Point with a high-energy cover set spanning pop, rock, hip-hop and country favorites.
🎭 THEATER & PERFORMING ARTS
🎭 SPT Theatre: Rock, Paper, Scissors
🕗 8–10 p.m.
📍 CSPS Hall
Enjoy an evening of original comedy sketches written and performed by a group of local writers and performers, mixed with live rock and roll, music, poetry and more. A uniquely Eastern Iowa night of entertainment.
🏘️ Our Town
🕓 4 p.m.
📍 Xavier High School
Experience this timeless American classic celebrating everyday life, relationships and the moments we often take for granted. Performances are November 13 and 14. Reserved seats: $8, including service fees.
🛍️ SHOPPING & MARKETS
🛍️ Shop & Play Holiday Market
🕓 4–8 p.m.
📍 Brewed Imagination, Marion
Shop local vendors and discover unique holiday gifts while the kids enjoy the play area. Admission to shop is free, with play admission available separately. Additional market dates include November 20 and December 18.
📚 November Book Sale 2026
🕓 4–5 p.m. Friday (Friends members only)
📍 Marion Public Library
Support the Friends of the Marion Public Library at the November book sale. Saturday's sale runs 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday's runs 1–5 p.m. Donate a personal hygiene item for a free book. A bake sale will be held Saturday.
🖋️ Neon Dragon Tattoo Friday the 13th Slasher Flash Sale
🕚 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
📍 Neon Dragon Tattoo
Celebrate Friday the 13th with a horror-movie-themed tattoo flash sale. Designs are first come, first served.
🍔 FOOD & DRINK
🍔 El Kahir Basket Night
🕠 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 El Kahir Shrine
Choose a hamburger, cheeseburger or tenderloin basket for just $10. Each basket includes French fries and condiments. Beverages are available for purchase from the full bar.
🏈 College Football at The Yard
🕕 6 p.m.
📍 The Yard, Kingston Yard
Catch college football games on the ImOn Stage screen throughout the season. Stop by one of the Kingston Yard restaurants for food and drinks while watching the games.
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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