Events for Thursday, October 1st
Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉
There’s plenty happening around Eastern Iowa today! 🍂 Start your Thursday with Morning Stretch, yoga, storytimes, Together in Song, and the Beethoven Club, then explore local food, library programs, crafting, and community support. 📚🌿 Tonight is packed with First Thursday in NewBo, including new art exhibits, receptions, a creature drawing workshop, and the Holiday Art Sale, plus Power of Pink, the Brucemore Nooks and Crannies Tour, Prairie Table’s Peak Fall Dinner, Dungeons & Dragons, trivia, and live entertainment.
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.
Featured Events
The 9th Annual Beers in the Barnyard
Cedar Rapids Park Foundation
Thursday, October 8th
Old MacDonald’s Farm, Bever Park, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Beers in the Barnyard is the Cedar Rapids Park Foundation’s signature fundraising event featuring beers from local breweries, wine, and NA beverages as well as dinner from food truck favorites, a stellar silent auction, plus fun games and prizes. Ticket sales have been extended through the end of this week, so purchase yours today at CRParkFoundation.org.
Want to have your event included in our new featured events segment for thousands of local residents to hear? Visit CedarRapidsDaily.com/Submit to learn more.
☀️ CEDAR RAPIDS DAILY
Thursday, October 1, 2026
🌧️ FORECAST
Rain with a high of 71° and a low of 63°.
🌟 THURSDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
🌧️ Morning Stretch
🧘 Day of Self Renewal
🎶 Together in Song Chorus
💗 Power of Pink
🎨 First Thursday in NewBo
🏠 Nooks and Crannies Tour
🎭 Curtains Up – Season 29 Opener
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons
📖 Veronica Roth Author Talk
🍂 Prairie Table: Peak Fall Dinner
🌿 HEALTH, WELLNESS & SELF-CARE
🧘 Morning Stretch
🕗 8–9 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library | 💲 Free
Paula is back with Morning Stretch! This group exercise incorporates elements of yoga and can be adapted to any mobility level. Bring your own yoga mat if possible.
🧘 Metta Yoga – Gentle
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods | 💲 $15 single class
Gentle, beginner-friendly hatha yoga combining movement and breath. Walk-ins are welcome.
🪑 Metta Yoga – Chair
🕥 10:45–11:45 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods | 💲 $15 single class
Gentle chair yoga for beginners and people of all fitness levels and abilities.
🌸 Day of Self Renewal
🕣 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
📍 Prairiewoods | 💲 $115 with private guest room / $100 without
A full day of renewal for mind, body and spirit featuring meditation, lunch, a private room option and a choice of two services including massage, reflexology, healing touch, spiritual direction, qigong, yoga or chair yoga.
👶 KIDS, FAMILIES & STORYTIME
🎵 Music & Movement Story Time
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Busse Library | 💲 Free
A fun story time focused on making music and exploring movement, designed for toddlers and preschoolers.
📖 Preschool Story Time
🕙 10–11 a.m.
📍 Ely Public Library | 💲 Free
Listen to stories, sing songs and make a craft. Designed for ages 3–5, with younger siblings welcome.
🎶 Symphony Kids Music Program
🕥 10:30–11 a.m.
📍 Marion Public Library | 💲 Free
A music literacy program from Orchestra Iowa featuring rhythm, rhyme and activities that help young children build early literacy skills through music.
❤️ CAREGIVERS, SUPPORT & COMMUNITY
🎶 Together in Song Chorus
🕤 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia
A welcoming, low-pressure chorus for people living with chronic conditions, care partners and volunteer singers. All skill levels are welcome. The group meets Thursdays through Oct. 29.
❤️ Caring for Parents with Chronic Conditions
🕙 10–11:30 a.m.
📍 DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia
A supportive learning group for adult children who are caregivers or supporting a caregiver of a parent with a chronic condition. Topics include stress, communication and finding balance.
🕑 GriefShare Support
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Calvary Baptist Church
A 13-week series for people grieving the loss of a spouse. The confidential group uses videos and a workbook to explore the emotional, spiritual, physical and financial challenges of grief.
👥 Building Community with Jono Bacon
🕟 4:30–6 p.m.
📍 DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia
A community conversation featuring Jono Bacon, who will present virtually to an in-person audience about what makes a successful community and how people can join, engage with and help shape one.
💗 Power of Pink
🕠 5:30–8 p.m.
📍 Hall-Perrine Cancer Center | 💲 Free
A family-friendly event kicking off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with music, refreshments, free pink energy-saving light bulbs and pink frosting. The program begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by an illumination ceremony and laser light show. Wear pink or an Especially for You race shirt.
❤️ Caregiver Support Group
🕕 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library | 💲 Free
A supportive space for caregivers of people living with memory loss to share stories, ask questions and learn from monthly topics and guest speakers.
📚 BOOKS, LEARNING & LIBRARY PROGRAMS
📖 Beethoven Club Monthly Program
🕙 10–11:30 a.m.
📍 Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
The 2026–27 theme is “Musical Influencers.” This month's program focuses on “The Ultimate Music Influencer – J.S. Bach,” with performances featuring flute and piano, string ensembles, piano and cello.
🔤 Scrabble Club
🕐 1–4 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library | 💲 Free
Challenge your vocabulary and enjoy friendly competition with fellow Scrabble players.
🧶 Daytime Knit Wits
🕐 1–3 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library | 💲 Free
Bring your knitting or crochet project and enjoy an afternoon of crafting and fellowship.
🔎 While Others Sleep Mystery Book Club
🕑 2–3 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library | 💲 Free
Mystery lovers gather on the first Thursday of each month to discuss books and share their love of the genre.
💼 Searching & Applying for Reliable Jobs Online
🕑 2–3 p.m.
📍 Busse Library | 💲 Free
Learn about reliable online job-search resources, how to avoid scams and why monitoring your online presence matters.
🛠️ MakerSpace Open Hours
🕑 2–5 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library | 💲 Free
Explore the library's MakerSpace, including 3D printers, Cricut machines, a sublimation printer, heat presses and more. Open to all ages; patrons under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
📖 Virtual Author Talk: Veronica Roth
🕕 6–7 p.m.
📍 Online | 💲 Free
Join #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth for a virtual conversation celebrating the legacy of the Divergent series and discussing her upcoming novel, The Sixth Faction. Registration required.
🧠 Courage, Choice, and What Comes Next
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Online | 💲 Free
Join an online conversation with bestselling author Veronica Roth.
🎃 Spooky Library Trivia
🕕 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library | 💲 Free
A little mystery, a little competition and a whole lot of fun!
🌱 COMMUNITY & LOCAL FOOD
🥕 Farm Stand Thursdays
🕓 4–7 p.m.
📍 Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW
Shop fresh, locally grown produce, pick up your CSA share and support Cultivate Hope and a more connected, sustainable Cedar Rapids.
🍂 Prairie Table: Peak Fall Dinner
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 Prairiewoods | 💲 $75
Enjoy a seasonal dinner celebrating the flavors of peak fall, featuring local and regional ingredients, including produce grown or foraged at Prairiewoods. Dinner and a seasonal beverage are included.
🎨 FIRST THURSDAY IN NEWBO
🖼️ First Thursday in NewBo
🕔 Evening events throughout the NewBohemia neighborhood | 💲 Free
Explore new art exhibits throughout the neighborhood, including The Cherry Building, CSPS Hall and Tree of Liminality.
🎨 The Cherry Building – Conversations in Art
🕔 5–7 p.m.
📍 The Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE
View work from 27 local artists in a variety of mediums during the Schwartzkopf Gallery's “Conversations in Art” exhibit. Artist reception runs from 5–7 p.m.
🏺 Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio – Holiday Art Sale
🕠 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Chadima Gallery, The Cherry Building
Kick off the holiday season with handmade artwork created by local artists during the Holiday Art Sale opening reception.
🖤 Kinheart Studio – Bardo!
🕔 5–7 p.m.
📍 The Cherry Building, Suite 221
Explore a new exhibition featuring 34 local artists reflecting on death, dying and grief.
🧟 First Thursday Art Happening – Creature Drawing Workshop
🕕 6–9 p.m.
📍 Tree of Liminality, 1301 3rd St. SE | 💲 Free
Create a creature for the upcoming Some Assembly Required Exquisite Corpse exhibition. All ages and skill levels are welcome, with templates and supplies provided.
🖼️ Gallery Opening: Finding Form Anew – A Voice in Emergence
🕔 5–6:30 p.m.
📍 CSPS Hall | 💲 Free
Opening reception for artist Kaos Kris. The exhibition explores resilience, rebuilding and the emergence of a new artistic voice through CNC-carved wood, resin and layered dimensional forms.
🏛️ HISTORY & SPECIAL TOURS
🏠 Nooks and Crannies Tour
🕠 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Brucemore | 💲 $18 adult / $10 student
Explore rarely seen rooms and hidden details throughout the Brucemore mansion, including special access to areas normally off-limits to visitors. Brucemore supporters receive a $5 discount per ticket.
🐉 GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons at the Library
🕔 5–8 p.m.
📍 Hiawatha Public Library
Join an adult Dungeons & Dragons campaign held on the first and third Thursday of each month.
🎯 Game Night with Think & Drink Entertainment
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Cedar Rapids | 💲 Free
Play games with up to eight people per team and compete for house cash and prizes. Get there early to grab a table.
🗣️ Survey Says: A Friendly Feud Bar Game
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Cedar Rapids | 💲 Free
Team up for a “Family Feud”-style game where players try to guess the most popular answers. Teams can have up to eight people.
🎳 Strikes & Slices
🕘 9–11 p.m.
📍 Spare Time Cedar Rapids | 💲 $10.99
Enjoy two hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rental and unlimited cheese or pepperoni pizza slices.
🎭 PERFORMING ARTS
🎤 Curtains Up – Season 29 Opener
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Cedar Ridge Distillery
Celebrate the opening of the 29th season with a Sondheim-centric program featuring the Smith Young Artists of Papagayo and the fall touring children's opera. Includes a silent auction, wood-fired pizza buffet and wine.
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
Upload Media Group and its partners are not responsible for any issues, errors, or misunderstandings that may arise from the use of AI - assisted content.
