If you are looking for Cedar Rapids family events in the Spring, we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a round-up of this season’s need-to-know events! Looking for more events? Check out our Events Calendar! Do you know of an event we should add? Email us at info(at)cedarrapidsmomsblog.com!
Guide to Spring Family Events in the Cedar Rapids Area
CoderDojo (1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month, 1:00-3:00pm) CoderDojo is a free K-5 STEAM program by NewBoCo K-12 Education that encourages creativity, fosters entrepreneurship, and helps kids learn to code. Attendees are welcomed at 1 pm and everyone is given the details on what stations are available that day. This is an opportunity for kids to explore technology, coding, critical thinking at various entry levels. You can always expect several computer science options that range from Code.org’s Hour of Code to database development, web development, or custom projects to help kids learn a new skill. Stations may include a varitey of robotics, VR, app development, HTML, intro to coding, circuitry, engineering challenges and more! Parents, feel free to stay and learn along side your child! NewBoCo K-12 Education. Free
Music on the Move (Wednesdays, 9:15-10:00am, 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month @ 9:15-10am & 10:15-11am) Sing, play, listen, laugh, move, learn and bond with your baby through 4-year-old. Come and join us for 45 minutes of weekly music and play while we explore songs, instruments, games, rhythms, chants, movement, sign language, and a variety of musical styles. Children learn through play- especially play with YOU! We will have fun tickling our senses while playing with (learning!) music, language, motor, social, and pre-academic skills. Lisa’s expertise as a board-certified music therapist ensures that all children are welcome, regardless of developmental limitation. Please register so you have a space reserved for you! NEW LOCATION: Unity Center of Cedar Rapids. Cost: $12.50/class or $41/4-class punch card
It’s Maple Syrupin’ Time! (various dates and times in March) Bring the family for a maple syruping experience! Discover how easy it is to tap maple trees and make delicious maple syrup. This is a great family STEM science experience to learn about weather, tree physiology, and the chemistry of syrup making. Use the sugar maker’s tools to tap a tree, visit the Sugar House to learn how sap becomes syrup, and enjoy a taste of ICNC’s real maple syrup on ice cream. Programs are 60 minutes. Indian Creek Nature Center Barn. Fee: $4, ages 2 and under free
Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt (Saturdays, April 20-May 11) Judy Moody is off on a swashbuckling adventure to Ocracoke Island, a mysterious place packed with treasure hunts and pirate gold. Will she and her little brother Stink be able work as a team to win the coveted Pirate Challenge? Anchors away! Old Creamery Theatre. Tickets: $10.50
Cedar Rapids River Kings (March-June, various times) Come support Cedar Rapids’s Indoor Football League team. US Cellular Center. Tickets: $7-55
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (March-April, various times) Come support Cedar Rapids’s United States Hockey League team. Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Tickets: $12.75-$25
Cedar Rapids Kernels (April-August, various times) Come support Cedar Rapids’s Minor League Baseball team. Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tickets: $8-13, various promotions available
STEM Family Free Night (Last Friday of the month, 5:00-8:00pm) Help solve a unique Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math challenge in the STEM Studio focused on problem-based learning. Iowa Children’s Museum. Free
Free First Saturdays for Students (First Saturday of the month, 9:30am-4:00pm) Students of all ages (preschool through college) are invited to visit the NCSML’s exhibits for free on the first Saturday of each month. Visitors will also be able to take part in different themed activities and celebrations. College students must bring a current school ID card. March 2 we will be celebrating Women’s Month by learning about the Suffragette movement in Czechoslovakia through a scavenger hunt in the museum. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Free.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (May 3-22, various showings) Based on the beloved Disney animated feature and from the Oscar-winning team of Menken (The Little Mermaid) and Schwartz (Wicked) comes a lushly scored retelling of Victor Hugo’s epic story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a hero. Content Advisory: Family Friendly, though some themes and technical effects may be scary for young children. Please email angie.toomsen{at}theatrecr {dot}org with questions. Theatre Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $25+
Author Signing: K.M. Ryant Hutzel, Fenella and the Enchanted Forest (March 2, 10:30am-12:30pm) Join us as we welcome author K.M. Ryant Hutzel to M and M Bookstore. Children are curious – KM Ryant Hutzel offers books that are exciting to read with surprise endings! She grew up on a small family farm near Spillville, IA. Karen’s childhood memories and love of children made writing /publishing children’s books a natural choice. At this time, she has written / published “The Adventures of Chico the House Mouse” and “Macon the Monkey Goes to Kindergarten” and “Fenella and the Enchanted Forest”. M and M Books. Free, book extra
Superhero & Princess Skate (March 2, 1:30-5:00pm) Come ice skating and wear your favorite superhero or princess costume! CR Face Painting will be here from 2:00-4:00 pm! Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Cost: $8.00/skater (admission & skate rental)
Daddy Daughter Date Night (March 3, 6:00-8:00pm) Dads looking for something fun to do with your daughter? Bring her out to our Daddy Daughter Date Night! A evening full of fun! Admission includes entrance into our play adventure areas, $5 game card and a refillable drink cup! We will also have balloon twisting from Living Characters! Tickets can be purchased at the door the evening of the event! The Play Sation. Tickets: $12 (dads are free)
Kid’s Learn to Sew (March 4, 4:15-5:30pm) Drop your child off to our studio and let them explore the timeless craft of sewing. They will walk away with a finished project with every class. All supplies are covered in the fee, including use of our studio sewing machines. There is no age limit. Frond Shop + Studio. Cost: $29
Shamrock Shake Party (March 9, 9:30am-12:00pm) Join us on our Leprechaun Hunt while we will take the leap to find a leprechaun and his gold! Bring your kiddo to us for an awesome morning full of crafts, dance, fun & a rockin’ time. For ages 3-9. Can’t wait to see you there! Prestige Dance Studio. Tickets: $19
Community Cultural Celebration and Expo (March 9, 10:ooam-12:00pm) The third annual Community Cultural Celebration and Expo will be held at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Community organizations and cultural groups from across the area will come together to share what makes them unique and to increase awareness of the diversity we find around us. A variety of musical performances, special presentations, speakers, exhibitors, and more will take place throughout the day. There is no fee to attend and activities are family friendly. All are invited to join us for this special community celebration! Cedar Rapids Public Library, Downtown. Free
Pied Piper (March 9, 10:30-11:00am) Join Orchestra Iowa’s talented chamber ensembles as they introduce preschool-age children to the instruments of the orchestra! Focused on fun and learning, each program is 30 minutes. Advance registration is encouraged but same day attendance is possible. Marion Public Library. Free
Youth Karaoke Mic Drop March 2019 (March 9, 6:00-9:00pm) Join RHCR Theatre for a youth only fundraiser night. Open to grades 6th-12th grades. Admission includes: snacks, drink ticket, popcorn ticket (Little Ceaser’s Pizza, popcorn and pop will be available for sale). Swag Bag for those who pay ahead of time. BONUS: Bring a friend who is NOT part of the RHCR Family, and you both get your name put into a drawing for door prizes. RHCR Theatre. Tickets: $10-15
Kidcreate Grand Opening Open House (March 9, 10:00am-3:00pm) Please join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of our new kids art studio! This is a great opportunity to find out what Kidcreate is all about! You can sign up for free stuff, make a craft, play with some clay and draw on our mural wall. You can also learn all about our fall classes and register for your favorite ones before they fill up. FREE art activities during the open house, FREE prizes for the kids, Register to win FREE Art Parties, Camps, and Family Memberships, Coupons for 50% off Mommy’s Time Off Classes and $50 off Birthday Parties. Ages 18 months – 12 years. Kidcreate Srudio. Free, pre-registration required
Author Signing: Karla Manternach, Meena Meets her Match (March 9, 10:30am-12:30pm) Join us as we welcome Karla Manternach to M and M Bookstore. Light refreshments may be served. At Meena’s age, Karla was a smudgy kid in tube socks living in Anamosa, Iowa. When she was ten, she wrote her most ambitious piece yet: a ten-page story called The Berry Hunt That Went ALIEN. M and M Bookstore. Free, book extra
Workshop: Glass Bugs (March 9, 10:30am-12:0opm) Create a crawly creature from glass. We will even add the legs! Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $20/child
Ordinary Wizarding Level Family Trivia (March 10, 4:00-6:00pm) We are kicking off our Festival Which Must Not Be Named! This Trivia is designed especially for young wizardlings to enjoy with their families so questions will be at the Ordinary Wizarding Level. Come eat pizza, drink butterbeer (for adult wizards and wizardlings too) and celebrate all things Harry Potter! Trivia will start at 4:00pm. Teams are limited to 6 members or less. We cap Trivia at 20 teams. All registration fee proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids. Prizes will be given to the 1st and 2nd place teams so channel your inner Hermione to school everyone! The Quarter Barrel Arcade & Brewery. Cost: $5/team
Magical Painting Class (March 13, 6:00-8:00pm) Instructed by Vincent Van Goat. Muggles beware — this isn’t your typical painting class! Wizards and witches of all skill levels are invited to mix potions and cast spells with our paint ‘potions’ and ‘wand’ brushes to create this masterpiece to hang in your Great Hall or Common Area. This class is for all Houses so wear your colors with pride! Hang up your robes and put on our ‘invisibilty’ aprons to paint this whimsical piece of art of which shall not be named! Class size is limited so sign up today! The Quarter Barrel will be serving themed food & drink specials before and during the class for those who need extra encouragement. The Quarter Barrel Arcade & Brewery. Cost: $30
Paw Patrol joins Breakfast at the Market Grille (March 16, 8:00am-12:00pm) Come eat breakfast with Skye, Chase and Marshal. We will be featuring a knee high buffet for children. Hy-Vee, 5050 Edgewood Rd NE. Cost: $3/ages 6-12, free/5 and under with adult entree purchase
Kids Kitchen Takeover Class: St. Patrick’s Day Theme (March 16, 11:00am-12:00pm) Join Nicole, your Collins Road Hy-Vee Dietitian, for some fun in the kitchen~St. Patrick’s Day style. The class is designed for 3 to 8 year olds but kids of all ages are welcome. Adult supervision and registration is required. Collins Road Hy-Vee. Cost: $10/child
Shamrock! Creative Wellness Art Workshop (March 16, 1:00-2:30pm) Join us as we explore creative wellness through art and nature in a series of workshops and classes! This one is for all the wee ones who would like to paint their own flower pot, get their hands in the dirt and pot an Oxallis Triangularis, more commonly known as the Shamrock plant! Refreshments and snacks will be provided! All ages are welcome, you know your littles and what they will enjoy! Preregistration is a must to ensure enough supplies for all (rootsinbloom.marion{at}gmail{dot}com or 377-9312). Wear your St. Patty’s day best! DKW Gallery & Studios. Cost: $19/child, $28/2 children
SOLD OUT Fancy Nancy Tea Party (March 16, 2:00-4:00pm) Put on your best dress for our 2nd annual Fancy Nancy Tea Party! Butler Paul will teach you the ins and outs of being a proper lady during this most important of parties. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. (All children must be accompanied by an adult.). The Granger House Victorian Museum.
SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March 17, 1:00-2:00pm) 44th Annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick’s Day parade celebration in downtown Cedar Rapids. The post parade awards ceremony and celebration will be held at the East Bank venue & lounge located directly on the parade route. Downtown Cedar Rapids. Free
Spring Break: Blank Park Zoo (March 18,12:00-1:00pm) A Blank Park Zoo Outreach person will share about 60 minutes worth of information based around a theme and specific animals. They will bring out 4-5 animals to share and talk about. At the end they usually let the attendees touch them. Free spring break fun for the whole family! Fairfax Public Library. Free
Spring Break: Blank Park Zoo (March 18, 2:00-3:00pm) A Blank Park Zoo Outreach person will share about 60 minutes worth of information based around a theme and specific animals. They will bring out 4-5 animals to share and talk about. At the end they usually let the attendees touch them. Free spring break fun for the whole family! Ely Public Library. Free
Bears Week at Wickiup (March 18-22, various events) The idea for bear week came to us after receiving the rare gift of an antique polar bear rug. A full sized black bear mount, a black bear hide, a mounted brown bear and the polar bear rug will all be on display this week. Compare your height to a life sized rendition of bears. There will be life sized foot casts to size up as well. Make a bear craft when you visit. We can “bearly” contain our enthusiasm for this series of events we are affectionately calling “Bear Week!” Come visit us while you are on spring break, shake off your winter slumber, and shuffle over to the Wickiup Hill Learning Center Happy Room to see our display during normal building hours or when attending one of these programs. Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area. Free, but registration is required.
Spring Break Workshops (March 18-22, 10:00am-12:00pm) Plan a fun staycation for your kiddos! Drop them off in the studio for an ‘Extended 2 hour Workshops’ through the week of Spring Break. We will work with them to create a fun project with other kids. All school ages are welcome (ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult). A different topic each day: Dragons and Mythical creatures (March 18), Creative Clay Planter (March 19), Make your Favorite Animal (March 21), Fairy Home or Gnome Hut (March 22). Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $20/child
Pajama Storytime: Picassos’ Puppy (March 21 @ 6:30pm) We’ll read about Picasso’s dachshund Lump and make a silly doggie art project. It’s free for kids & their adult companions. Wear your PJ’s and bring a stuffed friend to cuddle with. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Free
Harry Potter Themed Escape Room (March 21-23, various times) Test your Harry Potter knowledge and race against the clock. You’ll have 30 minutes to find the charmed key that unlocks the wardrobe door. Be wary of Nargles & Cornish Pixies that might get in your way. For this challenge, registration is required. This program is open to teens and adults. Each team can have a maximum of 6 players. Please plan on arriving a few minutes before your scheduled time to check in with your group and to go over the rules. Hiawatha Public Library. Free
Workshop: Garden Gnomes (March 23, 10:30am-12:0opm and 2:00-3:30pm) You will make and personalize your own Garden Gnome in this class, just in time for Spring. Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $18/child
36th Annual Maple Syrup Festival (March 23-24) Help us celebrate the 36th anniversary of our signature event! Enjoy a taste of real, handcrafted maple syrup fresh from the tap, and stay for a weekend of family fun. The Maple Syrup Festival features syrup making demonstrations, a look at the action inside the Maple Sugar House, and live music while you enjoy a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast with real maple syrup handcrafted at the Nature Center. Buy tickets in advance and save! Tickets are good for either Saturday or Sunday and are also available the day of the event. Indian Creek Nature Center. Cost: $8-10/adult, $4-5/children (4-12), free/children (3 & under)
Dumbo Carnival (March 30 & 31, 10:00am-12:00pm) Join us for a FREE Dumbo Carnival Party to celebrate the opening of the re-imagined Disney family classic, Dumbo! Includes: Carnival Games, Fun Crafts, Prizes, Concession Samples and more! Marcus Theatres, Cedar Rapids. Free, movie admission sold separately
Kids Dream Winter Film Series: House With a Clock In Its Walls (March 30-31, 10:00am) Join us to view your favorite family flicks for just $3.00! Grab the family and head to your nearest participating Marcus Theatres® location! Wanna snag FREE tickets to the show? It’s easy – visit one of our participating agents at American Family Insurance, and you can receive two FREE tickets to your choice of this year’s titles! Marcus Theatres, CR. Cost: $3.oo, plus special discounts on popcorn and drinks.
Meet Vesta the Fox (March 31, 1:00-2:00pm) A little over a year ago a baby fox with a second chance at life was rescued by Linn County wildlife rehabilitator Amber Oldfield. Vesta and Amber will join us for an open-house style program. Learn about one-year-old Vesta’s story, as well as other animals native to Iowa, and about being a wildlife rehabilitator. This is a walk-in event. Indian Creek Nature Center. Free
3rd Annual Mother & Son Dance (March 31, 1:00-4:00pm) Do you ever sit back and watch your child/children enjoying themselves? Dancing, laughing, having the time of their lives, and them having absolutely no idea how much your heart is swelling with love just to see them happy? It is a complete joy. The Mother and Son Dance is exactly that, mother and son(s). This is your time. A rare occasion where you get some alone time to have an absolute blast, just you two, or three, four or…. you know what I’m getting at. This is one of those moments you don’t want to miss. Cedar Rapids Marriott. Tickets: $35/mom and son, $15/additional son (s)
El Kahir Shrine Circus (April 6-7, 2:00 and 6:00 pm performances). Doors open one hour prior to show time for the pre-show festivities including performer meet & greets, learn circus skills and animal rides! US Cellular Center. Tickets: $21-26
Preschool Trail Trekkers: Rabbits and Rodents (April 6, 10:00-11:00am) Find out interesting facts about these backyard creatures and what helps them survive in the wild. What makes their teeth so special? Act out the many ways a squirrel can use its tail. Registration encouraged. For preschoolers with adult. Indian Creek Nature Center. Free.
Kids Dream Winter Film Series: Sing (March 30-31, 10:00am) Join us to view your favorite family flicks for just $3.00! Grab the family and head to your nearest participating Marcus Theatres® location! Wanna snag FREE tickets to the show? It’s easy – visit one of our participating agents at American Family Insurance, and you can receive two FREE tickets to your choice of this year’s titles! Marcus Theatres, CR. Cost: $3.oo, plus special discounts on popcorn and drinks.
Harlem Globetrotters (April 12, 7:00 pm). Tickets: $22-97, Magic Pass available
8th Annual Nature Egg Hunt (April 13, 10:00am-12:00pm) Get ready for our annual outdoor egg hunt adventure! Challenge your youngsters to find 12 different colored eggs and then turn them in for prizes! Be ready to look high and low for eggs hidden in the tallgrass prairie, playscape, the woodland and along the savanna hiking trail. This is an easygoing egg hunt that you can start as soon as you arrive! Aimed at ages 3 and up. No pre-registration required. Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area. Cost: $3/child
Easter Egg Extravaganza 2019 (April 13, 10:00am-2:00pm) Come join us for our 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the farm! We will have 3 age groups again: 3 years and under, 4-6 years old, and 7-10 years old. We are also having a GENERAL ADMISSION FOR AGES 0-10 at 1:30 PM. In case you can’t make the earlier egg hunt times. In between the egg hunts enjoy teeter totters, sling shots (weather permitting), 18 hole mini-golf, giant jenga, giant connect 4, corn hole, GIANT Uno and the magician, Tim Stolba!! Take your picture with the Easter Bunny too! All paid participants will each receive a gift bag once they turn in their eggs. Make it a family event and spend the day with us! PARENT SUPERVISION REQUIRED, no charge for adults. Bass Farms. Cost: $7.25-8.50/child
Workshop: Glass Garden Stakes (April 13, 10:30am-12:0opm) Welcome spring by making a colorful glass Bird or Butterfly, we will then put it in the kiln and provide the wooden stake to put in your garden or flower bed. Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $20/child
Easter Egg Hunt (April 13, 11:00am-12:00pm) Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 13th. Bring your basket and hunt for hundreds of eggs for kids up to 10 years old. The hunt will start promptly at 11 a.m.! Noelridge Park. Free
Playtime Poppy: Jack and the Beanstalk (April 18-20, various showings) Join Playtime Poppy at Washington High School for Jack and the Beanstalk! Tickets are available 45 minutes prior to the performance. Auditorium doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. Playtime Poppy performances are typically one hour in length. Washington High School. Tickets: $5
Breakfast With the Easter Bunny 2019 (April 20, 9:00am-1:00pm) The Farm will be awakening from winter, refreshed and rejuvenated, and ready for you to come and have some Easter FUN and ADVENTURE! What Your Ticket Includes: a visit with and personal interaction with the Easter Bunny – pictures free to be taken by you, an Easter basket for each child, breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, mixed fresh fruit, cinnamon roll, orange juice, coffee, and milk), cookie decorating, coloring, and admission to the Farm. Reservations are required to enter event. We will have 4 separate time slots you will be able to choose from to create an even flow of people. You are welcome to play on the Farm before and/or after your time slot limitlessly- time slots are your breakfast reservation times. Bloomsbury Farm. Tickets: $17.95/adult, $15.95/ children 3-12, free/children 2 and younger
Hop to the Movies! (April 20, 9:00am) Join us the day before Easter, April 20, for a fun family event! Includes: Pictures with the Easter Bunny, Coloring & Craft Stations, Easter Egg Hunt, Peter Rabbit movie showing. Marcus Theathres, CR. Cost: $9.00
Old Fashioned Easter Eggs (April 20, 10:00-11:00am) Celebrate spring and help the Easter bunny! Decorate your own Easter eggs with natural dyes and other fun techniques. After the work is done, play games and enjoy other old fashioned Easter fun. Ages: 2+ years with Adult. Registration required. Ushers Ferry Historic Village. Cost: $9/resident, $10 non-resident
Pajama Storytime: Building a Bedtime Story (April 25 @ 6:30pm) We’ll explore our super-cool building and the art of architecture at tonight’s P.J.S.! Storytime and simple art project are free for kids & their adult companions. Wear your PJ’s and bring a stuffed friend to cuddle with. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Free
EAA Young Eagles Rally (April 27, 9:00am-12:00pm) Children ages 8-17 are welcome to attend, accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be required to sign permission before the flight. Experienced local pilots will then give give your young aspiring aviators the experience of a lifetime – their first airplane ride! Afterwards, a certificate is issued and the flight is entered into the “World’s Largest Logbook”. Marion Airport. Free
Workshop: Handprints for Mom (April 27, 10:30am-12:0opm and 2:00-3:30pm) In time for Mother’s Day, bring in your little one(s) and get their handprints on a bowl or platter that you create. Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $18/child
Meet Vesta the Fox (April 28, 1:00-2:00pm) A little over a year ago a baby fox with a second chance at life was rescued by Linn County wildlife rehabilitator Amber Oldfield. Vesta and Amber will join us for an open-house style program. Learn about one-year-old Vesta’s story, as well as other animals native to Iowa, and about being a wildlife rehabilitator. This is a walk-in event. Indian Creek Nature Center. Free
Cirque du Soleil Corteo (May 1-5, various showings). Corteo, the latest and most enchanting Cirque du Soleil’s arena production is now touring in North America. Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. The cast of Corteo includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world. Tickets: $39-118.
Hiawatha City Wide Garage Sales (May 4) This annual city wide event brings in hundreds of Garage-Salers from around the Corridor, with hopes of finding great bargains on clothing, household items and so much more. Maps will be available Friday, May 3rd at Hiawatha City Hall and Hiawatha Library.
Chalk the Walk (May 4-5, 10:00 am-6:00 pm) Chalk the Walk will feature the work of over 500 artists of all ages and abilities! They will use 3/4 ton of chalk, with a downtown city street as their canvas. Last year’s 1st Place Winners, Craig Rogers and Jamie Rogers, will be invited to return to the event as the 2019 featured artists. Cash prizes will be awarded to chalk artists during a formal check presentation ceremony. For a $10 donation to the festival, any interested festival participant will be given a set of chalk sticks and create a single 2’ by 2’ square of a portion of the collaborative piece of chalk art. This centerpiece of Chalk the Walk will be colored with pastel chalk by dozens of artists of all ages and abilities. Downtown Mount Vernon. Free
Maifest (May 4-5, 10:00am-8:00pm) The Colonies come alive with the colors of spring as the villages celebrate Maifest. You’ll experience German food and music along with a Saturday morning parade. The Festhalle Barn area will be the home of diverse ethnic cultures as food trucks line the parking area with a variety of ethnic cuisine. Music and dance will fill the Festhalle as ethnic dancers will perform. Sunday afternoon Wine, Beer, and Food Walk is a great time to sample some of the best that the Colonies have to offer. Our famous Amana Colonies Maipole Dancers perform all weekend long at various spots in Amana. What a great way to escape your everyday routine by spending a beautiful spring day in the Amana Colonies. Amana Colonies.
Moonlit Movie Series (May 10, 7:00 – 10:00 pm) Join the Marion Parks and Recreation Department for some free outdoor family fun at sunset. Come early to get your seats (bring your own blanket or lawn chair) and then enjoy free kids activities and entertainment starting at 7 p.m. The movie will begin around 8:30 p.m. Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center. Free
Preschool Trail Trekkers: Sounds of Spring (May 11, 10:00-11:00am) As the weather warms up, so does the frog chorus! Listen for frogs at the wetlands. Learn about the frog life cycle and special frog features, sing frog songs, and go on a frog watching hike. Registration encouraged. For preschoolers with adult. Indian Creek Nature Center. Free.
Workshop: Clay Flower Ring Dish (May 11, 10:30am-12:00pm) Create your own jewelry/ring dish in the shape of a flower. Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $18/child
Pied Piper (May 12, 10:30-11:00am) Join Orchestra Iowa’s talented chamber ensembles as they introduce preschool-age children to the instruments of the orchestra! Focused on fun and learning, each program is 30 minutes. Advance registration is encouraged but same day attendance is possible. Marion Public Library. Free
Pajama Storytime: Artists in Pajamas (May 16 @ 6:30pm) Come listen to some stories about Frida Kahlo who, due to painful back troubles, sometimes painted in bed. Then you can try a slightly less messy version yourself with pencils, to celebrate National Drawing Day. It’s free for kids & their adult companions. Wear your PJ’s and bring a stuffed friend to cuddle with. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Free
42 Annual Houby Days (May 17-19) Join us for family fun as we celebrate all things Houby! We have many activities including a parade (Saturday), live music, carnival, mushroom sale, Czech Folk Dancers, Houby Hunt, mushroom contest, kids make and take, great food and vendors, and more. Go on a Houby Hunt through the village restaurants! Participating restaurants will be offering special dishes featuring, what else, houbys, of course! Pick up a card at the information booth. One card per person. Purchase is required to get your card punched. Completed cards are eligible for the drawing for some great prizes. Czech Village. Free
Marion Arts Festival (May 18, 9:00am-5:00pm) Experience collaborative, creative merrymaking at its finest! The event features fifty artists hailing from coast to coast, a slate of emerging artists, and family activities, including wet clay play with the Iowa Ceramics Center. Add in specialty food vendors and a warm welcome from retailers and restaurants in Uptown Marion! Consistently named among the top tier of juried art events nationwide, the Marion Arts Festival is an opportunity to enjoy fine art while wearing flip-flops, alongside a mostly-behaving audience of 10,000. City Square Park. Free
Baby Animal Festival 2019 (May 25-27, 9:00am-4:00pm) Join us for our FIRST ANNUAL BABY ANIMAL FESTIVAL here at Bloomsbury Farm on Memorial Day Weekend! A celebration of SPRING, FUN, ADVENTURE, and some of the cutest lil’ baby animals you will ever lay your eyes on! Of course, along with our OG Bloomsbury Farm animals as well. We will have our Farm activities up and running, ready to enjoy! Some other exciting surprises that are awaiting! Concessions will also be open for some delectable grub! Bloomsbury Farm. Tickets: $9.95/person 3 and older
Iowa Renaissance Festival (May 25-27, 10:00am-6:00pm)) Bring your family and have a reunion as a Celtic Clan! The Iowa Renaissance Festival celebrates 28 years of family fun! Come experience two weekends of live entertainment featuring comedy, swordplay, music, magic, and even horseback jousting. Explore a marketplace full of unique merchandise from around the land. Enjoy tasty treats and drinks in the royal food court (including adult libations like honey mead). The village awaits your visit! Middle Amana. Tickets: $12/adult, $6/children (6-13), free/children (0-5)
Workshop: Glass Wind Chime (May 25, 2:00-3:30pm) Create a wind chime from glass, just in time for Spring. Kids ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio. Cost: $20/child
Cedar Rapids Spring Family Fun Quick Links:
When and Where Kids Eat Free or Cheap in Cedar Rapids
Guide to Indoor Play Areas for Kids in Cedar Rapids
Our Favorite Cedar Rapids Parks with Trails
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