ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Decorate your lantern however you please, then release your creation into the water for everyone to enjoy. Photo: Water Lantern Festival

Des Moines Water Lantern Festival lights up the night

The Water Lantern Festival, a national event held in several cities annually, is bringing the enchanting event to Riverview Park in Des Moines this weekend. Experience the magic and beauty of hundreds of paper lanterns floating across Riverview Lake.

Decorate your own lantern, listen to stories of lanterns creating magic, hear live music and feast on food truck fare. As the sun sets and the lanterns are released, you'll witness a breathtaking display straight out of the Disney movie “Tangled.”

After the main event, the lanterns are collected from the lake by staff, along with any trash and debris that may have been there before, so the display doubles as a cleanup effort. Proceeds from Water Lantern Festivals support the mission of Water.org in helping to provide safe water and sanitation to families around the world. Tickets and more information are available online.

Watch cars race around the track at the Iowa Speedway, then head to the main stage to see musical performances from a few top talents.

Race to Newton for a weekend of cars and concerts

The Hy-Vee Indycar Race Weekend set for July 21-23 over the at the Iowa Speedway in Newton has more moving parts than a souped-up engine: camping, tailgating, a pit stop challenge on “Free Family Friday” and, of course, the main event around the 7/8-mile oval track.

But – holy moly! – there are some big-name concerts, too. Carrie Underwood hits the stage just before noon on Saturday, before the 2 p.m. race, and Kenny Chesney performs after the checkered flag, around 4:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the Zac Brown Band performs at 11 a.m., before the 1:30 p.m. race, and Ed Sheeran wraps up the weekend with a concert at 4:15 p.m.

A still from "The Norm," a comedy short directed by Sarah Gaudoin that will show at the Snake Alley Festival of Film.

Roll the clip: Film festival returns

Burlington hosts its annual Snake Alley Festival of Film in the restored Capitol Performing Arts Center on July 13-16. View independent short films from both rising and experienced filmmakers, as well as attend screenplay table reads and Q&As with filmmakers. An awards ceremony takes place on Sunday.

A variety of ticket options are available, so whether you’re a film junkie or an amateur wanting to learn more, they’ve got you covered. Choose among single-film-block, single-day and all-access passes to meet your film desires. Check out the Capitol Theater website for more information and to purchase tickets.

The Creamery in Polk City makes for a perfect pit stop after a ride through town. Photo: Duane Tinkey

Explore the RAGBRAI route on your own time

Thousands of cyclists from across the world are heading here later this month for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. They’ve been training for months, packing their bags, daydreaming about rolling green hills and small-town hospitality.

So consider this: As an Iowan, you can see all that whenever you’d like. Here are just a few highlights from this year’s route, which you can visit whenever you have a free day to hit the road.

Lake View
During the annual Stone Pier Summer Concert Series — continuing Aug. 5 and Sept. 3 — the lake view is just the beginning. The sound of music, the flutter of the breeze, the taste of barbecue and potato salad all add up to a pretty good evening. Bands perform right on the pier, which was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, while crowds gather on lawn chairs along the shore and in boats out on the water. Folks can order dinner from the “burger boat” on the water or from food trucks on shore.

Polk City
Take the family or some friends to the Creamery, a charming worth-the-drive shop on the northwest corner of the square. On summer nights, folks line up on the sidewalk for hard pack, soft serve, frozen yogurt, shakes, malts, floats, sundaes and pup treats.

Coralville
Just off Interstate 80, the Iowa River Landing offers a fun mix of hotels, restaurants and a neo-Main Street of stylish boutiques. If you prefer nature to shopping, take a walk through the Iowa River Landing Wetland Park, where elevated walkways cross through an aquatic plant and wildlife habitat near the Iowa River. Coralville also offers more than 20 miles of recreational trails, including the Sculpture Walk at the Iowa River Landing Development, which skirts the Iowa River and showcases a dozen sculptures by Iowa artists, each inspired by a literary work written by former students and faculty of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa.

Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor is one of 60 stops to check off your State Park Passport. Photo: Northeast Iowa RC&D.

Win big with your State Park Passport

The Iowa State Park Passport program is making a comeback in 2023, offering outdoor enthusiasts a fun and rewarding way to explore the state's parks and forests. From June 1 to Oct. 31, participants can earn points by checking into over 60 locations. With the mobile app, participants can earn points at each park, and discovering "hidden gems" within each location earns you bonus points. Once they rack up enough points, users can redeem them for various prizes.

The "hidden gems" within each park include various points of interest like historical markers and scenic overlooks. By posting a selfie at a hidden gem with the hashtag #IowaStateParks on social media, participants have a chance to win an outdoor cooking package.

The more points earned, the more prizes passholders can redeem, including discounts on camping stays, weather-proof stickers, and ceramic coffee mugs. Passholders also have the opportunity to win a paddling package or a three-night cabin stay through a drawing for every 300 points earned. Learn more and sign up to participate online.

Dawn Richard will perform in the free outdoor kickoff concert Aug. 25. Photo: Hancher Auditorum

Hancher Auditorium announces new season

Iowa City performing arts venue Hancher Auditorium has announced its 51st season, which includes a diverse lineup of performances and collaborations. The season kicks off with a free outdoor concert featuring Elizabeth Moen, Brittany Howard and Dawn Richard coming up Aug. 25. Catch can’t-miss Broadway productions “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Hairspray,” “Chicago” and “Come From Away” in the lineup, too. Collaborations with the Mic Check Poetry Fest, FEaST festival, and the Martha Graham Dance Company are also planned.

The season concludes with the contemporary opera “Fierce,” a co-production with the UI School of Music, featuring compositions by William Menefield and the participation of university students. For more information and the complete season schedule, visit the Hancher website. Tickets go on sale to the general public July 31.

Huge hot air balloons will soon take over the sky above Indianola. Take a ride for yourself or watch the show from below. Photo: Eagle Eye Photography

Up, up and away

The National Balloon Classic is back on July 28-Aug. 5 in Indianola. Pilots from all over the world compete for points, prizes and championship titles, and you get a front-row seat. When evening rolls in, enjoy live music, including musicians Brad & Kate and TrainWreck. Nite Glows and fireworks are also scheduled to take place throughout the nine-day event. Want to take your experience to the next level? Purchase a balloon ride to experience Iowa at a new height.

General admission tickets are $10 online and $14 retail, which includes general admission parking. Children ages 5 and under get in for free. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather to help determine the ideal days to attend. Learn more and secure your tickets online.