Events for Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th, 2026.

Hey there, Cedar Rapids! 🎉

Fall fun is in full swing across Eastern Iowa this weekend! 🍂 Saturday brings the Falliday Market, Iowa Fall Festival, Bass Family Farms, bird banding, free museum admission, and the American Discovery Trail relay welcome events. 🎃🌿 Families can enjoy Try Hockey for Free, a special storytime with author Charlotte Gunnufson, and the Walk for Apraxia, while art lovers can explore new exhibits and creative workshops. 🎨 On Sunday, take part in the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer, shop the Hiawatha Farmers Market, or enjoy an omelet breakfast at El Kahir Shrine. 🍳 The weekend also features mindfulness and yoga, pumpkin painting, fire cider making, Sunday bingo, 1776 at CSPS Hall, Swan Lake at the Paramount, and plenty of fall festival fun.

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

Saturday & Sunday, October 3–4, 2026

🌤️ WEEKEND FORECAST

Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high of 67° and a low of 51°.
Sunday: Mostly sunny with a high of 69° and a low of 42°.

🍂 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

☀️ Saturday, October 3

🐦 Bird Banding at the Barn
🍂 Falliday Market
🎗️ Walk for Apraxia
🌳 Trees Forever Tree Adoption
🎃 Fall Festival at Bass Family Farms
🌽 Iowa Fall Festival
🎨 Paper Marbling Workshop
🎶 BE BRave Recovery Music Festival
🎩 Lucy Darling: Simply Darling
🎸 Jared Benson with Drew Fry

☀️ Sunday, October 4

🎀 Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer
🍳 El Kahir Shrine’s Omelet Breakfast
🧘 Sunday Morning Hatha Yoga
🎃 Paint Your Forever Pumpkin!
📚 Coffee, Crafting, and Like Glass with Jen Ferguson
🎲 Sunday Bingo at NewBo City Market
🧘 The Practice of Being Here
📜 How Iowans Celebrated the Centennial and Bicentennial
🦢 Swan Lake with Live Orchestra
🎃 Fire Cider Workshop at ABC Acres

🌿 NATURE, OUTDOORS & COMMUNITY

🐦 Bird Banding at the Barn
🕣 8:30–11:30 a.m.
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center | 💲 Free
Watch an ornithologist net, band and release birds while learning about the banding process and getting an up-close look at local birds. Families are welcome; weather permitting.

🌳 Trees Forever Tree Adoption
🕘 9–11 a.m.
📍 Collins Aerospace Parking Lot | 💲 Free event
Cedar Rapids residents can purchase high-quality native trees for $25 each, with up to five trees per resident, and help restore Iowa’s tree canopy.

🚴 American Discovery Trail 250 Relay Welcome Events
🕑 2 p.m.–evening
📍 Sag Wagon, Greene Square and Mount Trashmore | 💲 Free
Join or cheer on the coast-to-coast relay as it travels from Waterloo to Cedar Rapids. An informal welcome begins at Sag Wagon at 2 p.m., followed by a city welcome and family activities at Greene Square at 4 p.m. A Sunday sendoff is planned for 8 a.m. at Mount Trashmore.

🎪 FALL FESTIVALS & MARKETS

🎃 Falliday Market
🕘 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center | 💲 Free
Shop the fifth annual holiday market featuring handcrafted décor, seasonal treats, greenery, produce and unique gifts.

🍁 Fall Festival at Bass Family Farms
🕙 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
📍 Bass Farms
Enjoy a weekend hayrack ride, pumpkin picking, specialty foods, apple butter, mums, gourds and seasonal decorations. No admission is required to browse the store or pick pumpkins.

🌽 Iowa Fall Festival
🕙 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
📍 Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins | 💲 Admission varies
Explore the giant corn maze, pick pumpkins and flowers, enjoy fall treats and discover dozens of family-friendly attractions. The festival runs through October 31.

🏛️ MUSEUMS, HISTORY & EXHIBITS

🎓 Free First Saturday for Students
🕤 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | 💲 Free for students
Students from preschool through college can explore the museum’s exhibits for free. College students should bring a current school ID.

🖼️ Free First Saturdays at the AAMI
🕙 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 African American Museum of Iowa | 💲 Free
Enjoy free admission to the museum on the first Saturday of each month.

🧵 Threading the Needle: Fiber Art in Iowa
🕙 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Grant Wood Studio
Explore an all-Iowa juried exhibition celebrating the history, creativity and technical skill of fiber and textile artists. On view October 3 through January 17, 2027.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY & KIDS

👻 “School Spirits” Story Time with Author Charlotte Gunnufson
🕤 9:30–10:30 a.m.
📍 Busse Library
Meet author Charlotte Gunnufson for a reading of School Spirits, followed by a themed craft and scavenger hunt. Geared toward school-aged children, but all ages are welcome.

🏒 Try Hockey for Free
🕛 12–1 p.m.
📍 ImOn Ice Arena | 💲 Free
Kids ages 4–11 can hit the ice, learn the basics and give hockey a try. No experience necessary.

🎗️ 2026 Walk for Apraxia
🕤 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Cherry Hill Park | 💲 Free registration
Celebrate children with apraxia of speech and connect with families and supporters. The walk raises awareness and funds programs supporting education, advocacy and research.

🎨 ARTS, CRAFTS & CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

🎨 Paper Marbling Workshop with Connie Sherman
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Tree of Liminality
Learn the centuries-old technique of floating paint on water, create patterns and transfer your designs onto paper to take home.

🖌️ Artist Forum
🕑 2–5 p.m.
📍 DKW Art Gallery & Studios
Artists of all ages and skill levels are invited to gather, create, share ideas, ask questions and connect. No membership or experience required.

🎨 EichenPaint: “Glow North”
🕕 6–8 p.m.
📍 EichenPaint Studio, NewBohemia | 💲 $30
Paint a glowing northern-inspired scene on a 12-by-16-inch canvas. All supplies and step-by-step instruction are included; all ages are welcome.

❤️ HEALTH, WELLNESS & CAUSES

🎀 Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer
🕗 8–11 a.m. Sunday
📍 Hall-Perrine Cancer Center
The 36th annual race offers a 5K run, 5K walk and one-mile family fun walk to support breast and gynecological cancer screenings for people in need.

🎶 4th Annual BE BRave Recovery Music Festival
🕓 4–9 p.m.
📍 NewBo City Market Amphitheater | 💲 Freewill donation
Enjoy a family-friendly, substance-free music festival celebrating recovery, featuring ALL IN EVENTS, 7ARK and the return of REDEMPTION.

🏅 SPORTS & SPECIAL EVENTS

🤼 Rosie’s Rumble — Preseason Event
🕗 8 p.m.
📍 Alliant Energy PowerHouse
The AAU Rosie’s Rumble preseason wrestling event comes to Cedar Rapids.

🔭 Cedar Amateur Astronomers Public Night
🕢 7:30–10 p.m.
📍 Eastern Iowa Observatory & Learning Center
Jacob Payne presents a discussion about neutron stars.

🎭 LIVE ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC

🇺🇸 RTC Theatre: 1776
🕢 7:30–9:30 p.m.
📍 CSPS Hall
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the Broadway musical bringing the people and events behind the Declaration of Independence to life.

🎩 Lucy Darling: Simply Darling
🕖 7 p.m.
📍 Paramount Theatre
Award-winning performer Carisa Hendrix brings her charming, sharp-witted character Lucy Darling to the stage for an evening of magic, comedy and variety, joined by musical improviser TJ Shanoff.

🤠 Jared Benson with Drew Fry
🕗 8–11 p.m. | Doors 7 p.m.
📍 The Ideal Theater & Bar | 💲 $16 + fees | All ages
Iowa country-rock singer-songwriter Jared Benson brings his full band to Cedar Rapids, with an acoustic opening set from Drew Fry.

🌙 Spare Time After Dark
🕙 10 p.m.–midnight
📍 Spare Time Cedar Rapids | 💲 $15.99 per person
Enjoy two hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rental, music and a light show during this late-night weekend party.

🍁 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

🌿 HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS

🧘 Sunday Morning Hatha Yoga
🕘 9–10 a.m.
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Enjoy a gentle, all-levels yoga class focused on breath, mobility and mindful movement. Registration is preferred but not required.

🧘 The Practice of Being Here: An Introduction to Mindfulness
🕐 1–2:30 p.m.
📍 Indian Creek Nature Center | 💲 $12; members receive $2 off | Registration required
Join mindfulness instructor Stacey Tagoni for a 90-minute introduction to mindfulness and stress reduction through discussion, guided practice and conversation.

🕯️ The Power of Silence: October Silent Directed Retreat
🕓 Begins Sunday, October 4; continues through October 25
📍 Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center | 💲 $625
A weeklong silent retreat experience with spiritual direction, lodging, meals and optional reflective activities. The listed retreat period extends through October 25; registration and availability details should be confirmed with Prairiewoods.

🎀 COMMUNITY, FUNDRAISERS & SUPPORT

🎗️ Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer
🕗 8–11 a.m.
📍 Hall-Perrine Cancer Center
Take part in the 36th annual 5K run, 5K walk or one-mile family fun walk supporting breast-care and gynecological cancer screening services for people in need.

🚴 American Discovery Trail 250 Relay Sendoff
🕗 8 a.m.
📍 Mount Trashmore | 💲 Free
Cheer on or join the American Discovery Trail relay as it continues from Cedar Rapids toward West Branch. Participation is free; organizers request registration.

🍳 FOOD & DRINK

🍳 El Kahir Shrine’s Omelet Breakfast
🕣 8:30 a.m.–noon
📍 El Kahir Shrine | 💲 $12
Enjoy made-to-order omelets, breakfast potatoes, pancakes, toast, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee. Bloody Marys and mimosas are available for an additional charge.

🎃 Fire Cider Workshop at ABC Acres
🕑 2–4:30 p.m.
📍 ABC Acres | 💲 $50
Learn to make a spicy, tangy fire cider tonic with instructor Kelly Stucker of Rose Ranch Apothecary and take your creation home.

🎨 ARTS, CRAFTS & BOOKS

🎃 Paint Your Forever Pumpkin!
🕙 10 a.m.–noon
📍 NewBo City Market
Decorate a handcrafted wooden pumpkin with paints and supplies to create a lasting Halloween decoration.

📚 Coffee, Crafting, and Like Glass with Author Jen Ferguson
🕛 Noon–2 p.m.
📍 Craft’d
Meet award-winning author Jen Ferguson and celebrate her novel Like Glass. Create a faux stained-glass craft while hearing about the book and the author’s experiences in Chamonix. Tickets include a signed book and craft supplies; the program begins at 1 p.m.

🎨 Mercury Diner & Drinks: Spooky Graveyard
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Mercury Diner & Drinks | 💲 $35 | Ages 18+
Paint a spooky graveyard scene on a 16-by-20-inch canvas with Cork N Canvas Iowa. Supplies are included; food and drinks are available for an additional cost.

🍂 FALL FESTIVALS & MARKETS

🌽 Iowa Fall Festival
🕙 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
📍 Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins | 💲 Admission varies
Spend the day among pumpkins, flowers, a giant corn maze, photo opportunities, fall treats and family attractions.

🎃 Fall Festival at Bass Family Farms
🕙 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
📍 Bass Farms
Pick pumpkins, enjoy weekend hayrack rides and shop for seasonal treats, mums, gourds and fall decorations. No admission is required to browse or pick pumpkins.

🥕 2026 Hiawatha Farmers Market
🕙 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 Guthridge Park
Shop farm-fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items and ready-to-eat favorites at this weekly Sunday market.

📚 HISTORY, LEARNING & LIBRARY EVENTS

📜 How Iowans Celebrated the Centennial and Bicentennial
🕑 2–2:30 p.m.
📍 Marion Public Library
The History Center explores how Linn County celebrated the nation’s 100th and 200th anniversaries as part of The Big Marion Read.

🎲 Sunday Bingo at NewBo City Market
🕛 Noon–1:30 p.m.
📍 NewBo City Market | 💲 Free
Play bingo, enjoy the community atmosphere and compete for prizes. Cards are provided; outside food and beverages are not allowed.

🎭 PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

🇺🇸 RTC Theatre: 1776
🕝 2:30–4:30 p.m.
📍 CSPS Hall
See the musical about the founding of the United States and the people behind the Declaration of Independence.

🦢 Swan Lake by International Ballet Stars with Live Orchestra
🕕 6–10 p.m.
📍 Paramount Theatre
World Ballet Company presents the timeless ballet with 50 international dancers, more than 150 hand-sewn costumes, elaborate sets and a live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s score. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

👑 Miss Cornfed Comedy Queen Pageant
🕕 6 p.m.
📍 Basix
Watch performers compete in Iowa’s comedy pageant system for drag entertainers. Check the event discussion for competition details.

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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