If you are looking for Cedar Rapids family events in October, we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a round-up of this month’s need-to-know weekend events! If you’re looking for events taking place during the weekdays, be sure to visit our Events Calendar! Do you know of an event we should add? Email us at info(at)cedarrapidsmomsblog.com! Scroll to the bottom for links to our Orchard & Pumpkin Patch Guide, Kids Eat Free Guide, and more!
Mom’s Guide to Cedar Rapids Family Events in October
**Looking for Halloween-Themed Events? Check out our Guide to Cedar Rapids Area Trick or Treat Times and Halloween Activities
FEATURED EVENT
Hip Hop Harvest Kids Dance Party | October 13th from 9:30-11:00 a.m. @ Prestige Dance Studio
Join Cedar Rapids Moms Blog and Prestige Dance Studio on Saturday, October 13th for a Hip Hop Harvest Party!! We’ll be doing dance activities, a fun obstacle course, crafts, and a snack! This is a great opportunity to have some fun and meet other Cedar Rapids moms and kiddos!! Tickets are $5/child ages 18 months and up (plus processing fees) and free for siblings 17 months and under. Parents are free. Kids may come in costume or comfy clothes! Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Get your ticket here!
October 5th-7th
Friday- Sunday, October 5-7: Oktoberfest 2018 | time varies @ Amana Colonies
Celebrate the 53rd Anniversary of Oktoberfest in the Amana Colonies! When you think Oktoberfest in Iowa only one name comes to mind; the Amana Colonies. We invite you to join us this year , our 53rd, for this Bavarian style festival. Enjoy a keg tapping ceremony on Friday at the Festhalle along with German Music, Amana Brats, local wines and beer. Saturday starts with our annual Oktoberfest Parade (10:00 a.m.) and plenty of activities including the Eisenman Contest, a brat eating contest, and much more. Sunday is the final day of this 3 day celebration and features free admission to the Festhalle which has the main stage and the headliner music. There will be music, beer and German food all weekend long!
Friday, October 5: Unschool Picture Day! | 2:00-4:30 p.m. @ Ladd Library
School year pictures are an on going tradition! Meraki Imaged is excited to be able to reasonably offer them to homeschool, public, or private school familes for the 2018-2019 school year! For only $30 per child, you will receive up to 5 digital images, fully edited with all rights! ($2 additional per family for images on a disc!) There are 9 time slots available with the capacity of 5 children per slot! Resulting in only 45 slots available for this fall school picture session! To secure your time slot spot, you will be required to pay a $10 deposit per child! The other $20 will be due at time of photos!
Friday, October 5: Dream on: the art and science of infant sleep | 6:00-8:00 p.m. @ Robinson Family Wellness
The #1 concern for new parents is SLEEP and how to get it! Do you want to know the best way to get a good night’s sleep? Start early! This class is designed to set up healthy expectations and habits surrounding infant sleep BEFORE the baby is here. Nested Mama offers a heart-centered, holistic approach to sleep. While this is designed to be a prenatal class, parents who have a little one in arms may also enjoy the class. Registration fee is $59 and closes September 28 or when all spots are filled. The course is taught by Johanna Tomlinson, PhD, MCPCD, MBE, MCE, ISE, a trained infant sleep educator, childbirth and breastfeeding educator, and postpartum doula. For more on Nested Mama’s approach to infant sleep education visit their site.
Saturday, October 6: Kid N Canvas | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. @ Hy-Vee (Collins Rd)
Kid N Canvas classes are for kids 8 to 16. Join us at Hy-Vee (279 Collins Rd NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402) cafe on Saturday Morning 10 am. $20 per painting, please only 1 painter per ticket. All supplies (canvas, paints, brushes and apron) are provided for you, but please on clothes that are ok to get paint on. Class lasts about 1.5 to 2 hrs. Hy-Vee is providing a $10 gift card (per ticket) to shop with while your kids are painting. Check in at 9:45 am, painting starts at 10 am.
NEW DATE AND TIME Wednesday, October 10: Harvest Fest | 3:00-6:00 p.m. @ Old MacDonald Farm
Fall is a great season on the farm! Enjoy hayrack rides, apple bobbing, storytelling, scarecrow-making contest, obstacle course and much, much more. Free admission for all ages, $1 donation is recommended.
Sunday, October 7: Geo-snacking | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Learn how to use a GPS receiver and go on a practice course before navigating the ICNC campus in search of hidden snacks! While leaving snacks in permanent caches isn’t wise, Emily will set up a temporary geocaching course especially for this program. No previous knowledge required; all equipment provided. Meet at the Barn (6665 Otis Rd SE). Fee: $10 (members), $12 (non-members), free for children under 5.
Saturday, October 6: Annual Pumpkin Fest! | 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. @ Earl May (both CR locations)
Join us for our annual Pumpkin Fest! Fun for the whole family! Pumpkin Painting (with purchase of a pumpkin), Games, Last Hope Bake Sale, Scavenger Hunt and more!!!
Saturday, October 6: Cedar Rapids Food Truck Fest | 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. @ Benz Beverage Depot
We’re pumped up for the Cedar Rapids Food Truck Fest! Get your VIP tickets. A portion of the VIP ticket proceeds will benefit a local charity.
Saturday, October 6: CoderDojo | 1:00-3:00 p.m. @ NewBo Co K-12 Education
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!
Saturday, October 6: Kids Crew and Family Event: Purple Pumpkin Project | 2:00-5:00 p.m. @ Matthew 25
Kids Crew Members will be hosting a family fun event for children & teens with epilepsy at Matthew 25’s Cultivate Hope Urban Farm in Cedar Rapids where they will receive a medium pumpkin, painted purple, to decorate to help kick off the National Epilepsy awareness campaign, the “Purple Pumpkin Project”! After decorating pumpkins, everyone can participate in team building activities and pumpkin patch fun. There are many other activities which the youth & their families can enjoy after our gathering! There will be additional pumpkins available to purchase to help financially support epilepsy programs, services & advocacy in Iowa, including purple pumpkins decorated by local businesses and UIHC Neurology and Neurosurgery staff! We encourage registration by Sept. 29th to ensure we have enough pumpkins painted purple and ready for decorating! We hope you can join us!
Sunday, October 7: Meet Vesta the Fox | 1:00-2:00 p.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
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. Free, but registration is required.
Sunday, October 7: Harry Potter Wand and Potion Workshop | 2:00-4:00 p.m. @ Ushers Ferry Historic Village
Why should the kids have all the Harry Potter fun? Bring your child (or your inner child) out for an afternoon of magic and let your inner wizard tag along! Step back in time to the American wizarding world of the 1920’s. Make your own wand and get it licensed, learn the basics of brewing potions, infusions and tinctures. Then, enjoy a cup of your own witches’s brew at a magical tea party. Ages 12+ years. Cost: $24 for Cedar Rapids residents, $28 for non-residents. To register, call 319-286-5566 or visit www.crrec.org
October 12th-14th
Saturday, October 13th: Hip Hop Harvest Dance Party Playdate | 9:30-11:00 a.m. @ Prestige Dance Studio
Join Cedar Rapids Moms Blog and Prestige Dance Studio on Saturday, October 13th for a Hip Hop Harvest Party!! We’ll be doing dance activities, a fun obstacle course, crafts, and a snack! This is a great opportunity to have some fun and meet other Cedar Rapids moms and kiddos!! Tickets are $5/child ages 18 months and up (plus processing fees) and free for siblings 17 months and under. Parents are free. Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Get your ticket here!
Thursday-Sunday, October 11-Nov 4: The Addams Family | Time varies @ Old Creamery Theater
Join your favorite creepy, cooky, mysterious and spooky family for this madcap musical adventure! When teenage daughter Wednesday brings her straight-laced Midwestern boyfriend and his parents home for dinner at the mansion, nothing will ever be the same for… the Addams family. *Snap, snap.* Rated PG (may not be suitable for children under 10). Admission: $31.50. This is a regular Main Stage performance. Out of courtesy to our patrons, children under six years of age are not allowed.
Thursday-Sunday, October 11-Oct 13: The Incredible Adventures of Captain Spoon, the Forgetful Pirate | time varies @ Jefferson High School
Captain Spoon is one of the greatest pirates to ever sail the seven seas, but he has a small problem. He is forgetful. In fact, he has forgotten where he left his boat, where his crew has gone, and where he buried his treasure. The good news is that he has a map, a determination never to give up, and you, the audience, to help him every step of the way. Join Captain Spoon as his map leads him to pouty parrots, surf-shredding sharks, a tap-dancing octopus, and grand adventure. Tickets: $5 (ages 1-99) or Poppy Punch Pass ($55 for 12 punches). 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.
Saturday, October 13-14: Fall Festival | 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. @ Bass Farms
Join us for another fun Fall Festival Weekend at Bass Farms! Bring your family to pick out your pumpkins, shop our country store, and have some family fun! Activities include hay rack rides, sling shots, 18 hole mini-golf, bounce houses, GIANT tic tac toe and checker board tables, photo booth, teeter totters, LIFE size connect four, GIANT Jenga, photo ops, music wall, witch hat ring toss and much much more!! Magic shows by Magic of Tim Stolba (1pm and 3pm), Funny Face Designs by Lori FACE PAINTING (additional charge, 12-6 pm) and Papa Balloon (2-4 pm) Saturday and Sunday! Admission $7 per person (2 and under are free).
Saturday, October 13: ISU Insect Zoo | 10:00-10:45 a.m. and 11:00-11:45 a.m. @ Culver’s Garden Center & Greenhouse
Join us for a family favorite event, the ISU Insect Zoo. We will be hosting sessions at 10 & 11. Registration is required and is $8 per child . Please sign-up using the ticket link or call the store to reserve your spot (319-377-4195), spaces fill up fast! All money collected from registration fees goes to the ISU Insect Zoo and the Iowa State University Entomology Department.
Saturday, October 13: Trail Trekkers: Bat Business | 10:00-11:00 a.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Discover the many good things bats do for us. Where do they live? What do they eat? How do these flying mammals hunt? Listen to a story and play a bat game. For preschoolers with parents. Free.
Saturday, October 13: Kids Build Workshop | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. @ Cedar Rapids Carpenters Training Center
Kids Build events are free, two-hour workshops for children ages 5-12. At these workshops, kids will have the opportunity to make wood projects, as well as build their skills and confidence. The workshops are limited to 30 kids each month in each area, who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters staff and members are on hand to help children make their projects and learn new skills. Tools are supplied and there are no fees to participate. Children are able take their projects home to enjoy, along with a certificate of project completion.
Saturday, October 13: Music on the Move | 9:15-10:00 a.m. or 10:15-11:00 a.m. @ Baby Time
Join us for Music on the Move Family Class at 9:15 or 10:15 am. Please RESERVE your seat online. Sing, play, listen, laugh, move, learn and bond with your little one (baby – preschooler). We will have fun each week tickling our senses while playing with (learning!) music, language, motor, and pre-academic skills. Lisa is a board-certified music therapist – all children are welcome!
Saturday, October 13: Tiger Workshop | 10:00-11:00 a.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Complete two required adventures in one workshop! In My Tiger Jungle, take a hike around the Nature Center and experience the sights and sounds. Learn about birds, and go on a one foot hike with a magnifying glass. In Tigers in the Wild, go on a hike to look for plants and animals. Talk about leave no trace, the outdoor code; the Cub Scout six essentials; and find out what it’s like to carry your own gear. Spend some time learning about plants, animals and trees in our area. Fee: $5.00 per Parent Chaperone,
$10.00 per Scout.
October 19th-21st
Saturday, October 20: A Little Dirt Never Hurt! | 9:30-11:00 a.m. @ Old MacDonald’s Farm
The Linn County Master Gardeners have partnered with Old MacDonald’s Farm and would like to invite you to the new Growing Classroom at Old MacDonald’s Farm! These hands-on workshops are for all ages. Bring your kids and learn everything you need to know about gardening at home, no matter how little space you may have. Snacks from the garden will also be part of the classes. This week’s topic: Garden Clean-up and Planting Garlic. Admission: $2 for individuals, $5 for families, children age 2 and under are free.
Saturday, October 20: Wickiup Fall Fest | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. @ Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center
Come out and experience our friendly trick or treat hike through the woods, pumpkin bowling, straw scramble, creepy critters, and more! Aimed at ages 3-8, but younger and older siblings welcome. Costumes encouraged! Cost $3/child. No registration required.
Saturday, October 20: 2018 Super Hero Bash | 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. @ Lindale Mall
Put on your best super hero outfit or favorite costume and join us for the 2018 Super Hero Bash! We’ll have mascots, activity tables, candy tubs, a DJ and a costume contest, all to celebrate and raise awareness for Families Helping Families, which works to support Iowa’s children in foster care. This event is open to the public and is free of charge for children in foster care and their caregivers and immediate family. All others are welcome to attend for a $10 fee. Follow the link below to register and guarantee your spot as the capacity for this event is set at 100. Thank you to our co-host and sponsor, Lindale Mall, for supporting this event. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Saturday, October 20: Lunch with Live Animals | 10:00-11:00 a.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Meet in the classrooms learn about our critters, what they eat, and how we care for them. After the critters eat their snacks, you’ll enjoy your sack lunch on our patio and learn how to recycle and compost so we can keep our earth healthy for all animals. Please bring your sack lunch. Fee: $2 (members), $5 (non-members), free for children under 5.
Saturday, October 20: Harvest Festival | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. @ Wakema Park
Stop by Wakema Park for a fun afternoon of games, pumpkin crafts, face painting and more! All activities are FREE! Don’t forget to dress in your costume!
Saturday, October 20: Draw Me a Zoo: Family Fun Day at the CRMA | 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. @ Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Join us for free art-making activities for all ages and free gallery admission to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibition, If We Ran the Zoo: Animals in Children’s Book Illustration. There will be fun make-and-take animal-themed art projects, free gallery admission, scavenger hunts, balloon animals with Mark Garvey, an art tools “petting zoo,” and even a special appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog. Bring the whole family!
Saturday, October 20: CoderDojo | 1:00-3:00 p.m. @ NewBo Co K-12 Education
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!
Saturday, October 20: Family Nature Experience: Wild Weekend | 1:00-3:00 p.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Meet in the classrooms learn about our critters, what they eat, and how we care for them. After the critters eat their snacks, you’ll enjoy your sack lunch on our patio and learn how to recycle and compost so we can keep our earth healthy for all animals. Please bring your sack lunch. Fee: $2 (members), $5 (non-members), free for children under 5.
October 26th-28th
Friday, October 26: Creepy, Crawly Creatures of the Day – Learning Extensions Camp | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
NO SCHOOL for Linn-Mar, Marion & various Metro Catholic Schools on Friday, October 26? No problem! Join Summit Schools and Indian Creek Nature Center for fun, engaging activities at Learning Extensions Camp. Explore the worlds of invertebrate creepy crawlies from bees and butterflies to spiders and insects. Play games to roleplay creepy critter lives. Make butterfly and bee crafts. Search for creepy crawlies and fall colors in the woods and prairies. End the day with a costume parade! Cost: $60/child (includes lunch, snacks, and festive treats) Registration is open through Tuesday, October 23. This event is open to ALL STUDENTS (Summit and Non-Summit) K-6th Grades! Sibling and referral discounts available.
Saturday, October 27: Webelos Workshop: Into the Wild | 9:00-11:00 a.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Learn about birds and flyways, and practice your bird watching skills. Build a terrarium and learn how to take care of it. Play the food chain game, and think about different parts that humans play. Explore a wetland and talk about the importance of aquatic ecosystems. (Note: we will not complete every requirement for this adventure.) Fee: $5.00 per Parent Chaperone, $10.00 per Scout.
Saturday, October 27: Music on the Move | 9:15-10:00 a.m. or 10:15-11:00 a.m. @ Baby Time
Join us for Music on the Move Family Class at 9:15 or 10:15 am. Please RESERVE your seat online. Sing, play, listen, laugh, move, learn and bond with your little one (baby – preschooler). We will have fun each week tickling our senses while playing with (learning!) music, language, motor, and pre-academic skills. Lisa is a board-certified music therapist – all children are welcome!
Saturday, October 27: 3rd Annual Pumpkins & Ponies | 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. @ Sutliff Cider
Join Unbridled Spirits Thoroughbred Retirement Ranch at our Annual Family Fall Festival Fundraiser! The fun packed day will include food & merchandise vendors, Bingo, 50/50 Raffle, live music, bake sale, silent auction, bounce house, kids inflatable obstacle course, pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin & gourd decorating, face painting, hay rack ride and so much more! Tickets are $7 Advance Purchase / $9 Day of Event – kids 3 and under are free.
Saturday, October 27: Webelos Workshop: Into the Woods | 12:00-2:00 p.m. @ Indian Creek Nature Center
Take this workshop with Into the Wild, or on its own. Trees are everywhere! What kind are they? Learn how trees work, which trees you’re likely to find in your backyard, how we use trees and more. Fee: $5.00 per Parent Chaperone, $10.00 per Scout.
Saturday, October 27: Rock Mandala Painting for the Whole Family| 1:00-3:00 p.m. @ Prairiewoods
Spend a few hours creating art with your favorite people! The whole family is invited to learn the art of rock painting with mandalas, which are sacred works of art in the form of a circle. For the first time, Prairiewoods will have fine dotting tools for you to use, which will make your mandalas even more detailed and beautiful! Facilitator Andi Lewis will guide you in this fun, relaxing process that can be done by anyone, regardless of age. You will have time to paint several rocks and will be encouraged to take one rock home and leave one on the grounds as a secret gift for another guest to find! No experience or artistic skill is necessary, but kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. (It is ideal for ages 10 and older.) The cost is $13 and includes rocks and all art supplies (including fine dotting tools).
Saturday, October 27: Kid’s and Grandparents (or Parents) Fall Harvest Favorites | 1:00-4:00 p.m. @ Cooking With Nina
Kid’s and Grandparents (or Parents) Fall Harvest Favorites: (Kid’s Ages 6 to 15) On the menu: Hot and Healthful Honey-Sweetened Apple Cider, Sweet and Savory Snack Mix, Spider Web Pizza, and Scotcheroos. $90 for two.
Saturday, October 27: Ceramic Leaf Bowls | 2:00-3:30 p.m. @ Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio
This is a great way for kids and parents alike who are interested in creating in the studio. Take a page out of nature and use a leaf as inspiration to create a beautiful hand built bowl. Cost is $18. Minimum age is 9 years old. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Sunday, October 28: Kid’s Pillowcase | 7:00-10:00 p.m. @ DelveMIY
Kids learn pillowcase making skills and personalize their bed at the same time! We will cover the basics of sewing. This project is perfect for a beginner! $29 covers all supplies needed for the class. Your event fee covers all supplies needed for the project, including use of a sewing machine. If you feel more comfortable using your own machine, you are welcome to bring it.
Cedar Rapids Fall Family Fun Quick Links:
Guide to Cedar Rapids Area Trick or Treat Times and Halloween Activities
Guide to Cedar Rapids Area Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches
When and Where Kids Eat Free or Cheap in Cedar Rapids
Guide to Indoor Play Areas for Kids in Cedar Rapids
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