ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

M5 Mexican Brass opens the Burlington Civic Music season later this month. (Photo: M5 Mexican Brass)

The concert season is heating up in Burlington

By Jinessa Lewis

As the weather cools, the concert season is heating up in small towns and big cities across Iowa. In southeast Iowa, the Burlington Civic Music season is tuning up for a handful of shows at the historic Capitol Theater.

Oct. 25: M5 Mexican Brass quintet offers a lively mix of genre-bending melodies with audience interaction.

Nov. 21: David Burnham, the award-winning Broadway star and writer, samples some of his best known roles in “Wicked” and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” into a dynamic show.

March 26: Invoke, an innovative string quartet, teams up with the Grammy-nominated pianist Clarice Asad.

April 24: Brubeck Brothers Quartet continues the jazz legacy of their father, Dave Brubeck, with a program that includes a fresh take on his famous “Take Five.”

In the room where it happens: Tour artists' studios this weekend in Ames. (Photo: Ames Community Arts Council)

Tour creative spaces in Ames

Ever wonder how artists make beautiful baubles out of glass? Or paint subjects on canvas? Well, you can see the magic happen this weekend during the Ames Artist studio tours.

Painters, sculptors, writers and even radio personalities are opening their studios for free tours this Saturday and Sunday. Watch them work, ask questions and, if you're so inclined, purchase something to take home.

From the vault of Shakespeare's works come "The Twelfth Night" in Oskaloosa. (Photo: Lord Chamberlain's Men)

Bards from abroad to visit Oskaloosa

Experience a slice of Shakespearean history when the Lord Chamberlain’s Men perform "Twelfth Night" at 7 p.m. Monday at the George Daily Auditorium in Oskaloosa.

The romantic comedy was the first show the London-based company performed, back in 1594. And they're bringing it back again on their first North American tour, performing with an all-male cast just as the group did way back when.

How about dinner and a show ... and a murder? (Photo: The Dinner Detective)

Whodunit? Find out in Cedar Rapids

Just like Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew, now you, too, can be a famous detective in an interactive dinner party in Cedar Rapids. During "The Dinner Detective" program, enjoy a tasty meal while you sleuth out criminals in a murder mystery case. But don’t get too comfortable: You could be the culprit.

The meal/crime is set for Oct. 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Convention Center. But if you can’t make this one, don't worry: A whole culinary crime wave is predicted through the rest of the year.

Artists from all over Iowa gather to celebrate their musical work and talents of their peers (Photo: Iowa Music Awards)

Burlington to host Iowa Music Awards

The fourth annual Iowa Music Awards are set for Nov. 9 at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium, and table reservations are still available. The awards celebrate musicians from all over the state.

After more than 1,200 guests showed up last year, the upcoming event may be even bigger, with more than 30 awards being presented across various genres.

In 2024, the IMAs named Lorena Eclatt, who performs as Lani, as the Latino Artist of the Year. Read more about her in dsm Inclusion.

Iowa is all things pumpkins with farms putting out their best of the best for the pumpkin patches.

Searching for the Great Pumpkin? Start here

As the air chills and the sun sets earlier every day, Iowans know it’s time for fall — and pumpkins. Farms all over Iowa invite visitors to scour the fields for the perfect pumpkin to carve, display or cook.

Popular patches can be found at Red Rock Farms in Oelwein, Hoefling’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze in Marcus and Harvestville Farm in Donnellson.