ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Devour delicious Danish dishes at Julefest. (Photo: Tivoli Fest Elk Horn Iowa)

Yoohoo! Julefest is back in the Danish Villages!

The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton host a celebration of Danish culture every year on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to kick off the “jule”-tide season. Businesses in both towns deck their halls and offer deals, activities and, of course, aebleskivers, kringle and buttered rum.

Kids can brunch with Santa on Friday morning at the fire station, and adults can kick off the season at the “Naughty or Nisse” 5K run on Saturday.

The Danish Windmill, Bedstemor’s Hus and the Museum of Danish America will be open for tours of Danish-American history. In the museum, enjoy live piano music, cookies, crafts, seasonal drinks and festive decorations in the “hyggelig julestue." Translation: cozy Christmas room.

Enjoy a delicious slice of New York-style pizza at Fancy's New York. (Photo: Fancy's New York)

Three places for Italian pie in Cedar Rapids

By Katie Mills Giorgio

Cedar Rapids isn’t exactly famous for pizza, but there are plenty of good options, including the following trifecta. Why not try all three?

Fancy’s New York is the newest slice-slinger on the scene, serving up mouthwatering New York-style pizzas that are available for preorder on social media and often sell out. Owner Jesse Sauerbrei also owns the Lincoln Winebar in Mount Vernon, which recently landed in a New York Times list of the best pizza spots in the country. (Clearly, they haven’t yet discovered the Fancy hidden gem!)

Tomaso’s relocated to a newly renovated space in 2023, but it’s been a Cedar Rapids mainstay for a couple of decades and its motto is simple: “Make good pizza.” They do just that. Try the Mombo Combo on Detroit crust and savor each hearty slice.

At Need Pizza, you can get creative with toppings, so we dare you to try a pizza with mashed potatoes. (It’s surprisingly delicious.) You can make your dream pie on thin, gluten-free or vegan crust, too. The place has a great beer selection and its downtown location makes it convenient for a late-night slice on the weekend.

Louise Kames printed a leafy image directly onto a prayer book for her series "I Don't See Anything That's Not Beautiful." (Photo: Figge Art Museum)

In Davenport, art honors the cycle of life and death

A few years ago, the Dubuque artist Louise Kames took one of her walks along the Mississippi River bluffs near her home and noticed little piles of sticks along the road. When she asked about them at the nearby convent where she used to live, she learned they were the handiwork of a nun who was slipping into dementia, who gathered sticks as a way to tidy the landscape and calm her mind.

So Kames started photographing the sticks for an art project that evolved into a series she calls “I Don’t See Anything That’s Not Beautiful.” The 2021 Iowa Arts Council fellow and former member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary compares her artistic process to the rigors of religious devotion. She hopes her latest drawings and woodcut prints of a dying willow tree in her yard will inspire viewers to do some quiet thinking of their own.

The new exhibition opens Nov. 30 and remains through April 6 at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport.

This barn gets decked from top to bottom in lights for the Christmas season. (Photo: Amana Colonies)

Decorated trees light up Amana

As if by magic, a forest will pop up Nov. 29 in a century-old barn in Amana. The indoor Tannenbaum Forest features more than 70 trees decorated for the holidays by local clubs and businesses. (If you look hard enough, you’ll find a few traditional German pickle ornaments.) While you’re there, take a photo with Santa’s sleigh and the German Christmas pyramid.

The forest is free to visit on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22. And fair warning: The barn isn’t heated, so bundle up. When you’re finished, check out the neighboring restaurants and shops, including the international Christmas market at the Amana General Store.

Michael Fabisch plays the title role in the current national tour. (Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Dear Evan Hansen: Welcome to Iowa

The national tour of “Dear Evan Hansen” is coming through Iowa in early December, giving you three chances to see the 2016 musical about a shy high school senior who struggles with social anxiety. The show takes over the Orpheum in Sioux City Dec. 4, then Stephens Auditorium in Ames Dec. 5. A short residence for the weekend at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City Dec. 6-8 closes out the run.

The original Broadway production in 2017 won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score, which includes the memorable hit “You Will Be Found.”

You'd better shape up, boys and girls: Santa's coming to town. (Photo: Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce)

Atlantic is the seasonal City of Lights

Paris, schmaris. During the holiday season, Atlantic stakes its claim as the City of Lights with more than 200,000 twinkling LED lights that cast a glow over six blocks of cafes and shops along Chestnut Street. The annual tradition has been named one of Travel Iowa’s No. 1 Christmas destinations.

This year’s festivities start with the flip of a switch at 5 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 21, at the historic Rock Island Depot. See the big moment, enjoy a free dog (courtesy of the elves at Hy-Vee) and pay a visit to Santa Claus from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in his cozy cabin at City Park.

A few weeks later, on Dec. 7, Christmas in Atlantic continues with a parade of illuminated floats and a fireworks display.

Kindle your Christmas spirit on Main Street in Manning. (Photo: Travel Iowa)

A German Christmas at Weihnachtsfest

Celebrate German traditions in Old World style at Weihnachtsfest on Nov. 29 in Manning. The Christmas decorations come out of hibernation for this event, which features reindeer and horse-drawn carriage rides every year on the day after Thanksgiving. This year’s fun starts at 5:45 p.m. with the community band and continues at 6 p.m. with a lighted parade on Main Street, where Santa and snowmen plan to arrive on floats.

Stick around to meet Santa in person at the Market Place. You can also indulge in some sweet activities like roasting marshmallows, decorating cookies and warming up with hot apple cider.