ia Season Preview

Later this week we plan to release the annual print edition of ia magazine, which we’ve packed with stories that might surprise even lifelong Iowans. Have you heard about the peacock farm over by Minden? Or the oyster festival in North Liberty? What about the glowing light installation that has transformed Davenport's Figge Art Museum?

There’s all that and more in the 122 pages of the new edition, which you can pick up at the unveiling party 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Bank Iowa, at 1150 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines. Come on out; we’d love to see you.

Meantime, scroll down to find some of the best ways to make the most of the months ahead. Our team scoured the state for festivals, performances, outdoor rec events and a getaway trip we think you’ll enjoy as Iowa leans into fall and the winter holidays.

Thanks for reading — and keep in touch,

Michael Morain
ia Editor

The Myotis Trail at Pike’s Peak State Park is gorgeous, especially when carpeted in fall leaves. (Photo: Mary Willie)

Outdoor Recreation

Enjoy fall colors around the state

The Iowa DNR has begun its annual fall color report to help us keep tabs on when and where trees will turn a rainbow of red, orange, yellow, purple and gold. The report estimates the dates colors will peak, starting this weekend in northeast Iowa and continuing through southwest Iowa around the fourth week of October.

If you want to dive even deeper into the data, the report also details the types of trees found around Iowa and what colors they’ll show. For example, green ash leaves turn yellow, while white ash will turn purplish before falling. Red oaks and hard maples light up in brilliant reds.

To take your newfound tree knowledge on a test run, or simply enjoy the views, head to some of these state parks during the upcoming peak-color weeks.

West
Broken Kettle Grassland, just north of Sioux City, is the state’s largest remaining prairie, with hills that overlook miles of grassland and forest. The area is also home to nearly 200 bison.

Further south, the Loess Hills State Forest offers a kaleidoscope of colors. The diverse area is home to bur oak, red oak, black walnut, hickories, basswood, elms, ashes, Kentucky coffee tree, cottonwood, ironwood and red cedar.

Central
Ledges State Park makes a great afternoon getaway. Its easy-to-navigate, 4-mile trail system loops through the trees and sandstone ledges that make great overlooks.

South of Des Moines, Honey Creek State Park’s rolling hills and Rathbun Lake make for scenic views and great sunset photo ops.

East
Explore stunning fall forests throughout Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, or Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor. Further inland, Backbone State Park near Dundee feels ethereal with the Maquoketa River flowing through the forest. If you want to see Iowa’s colors in a small town, head to Marquette, a good spot for antiquing, relaxing with a glass of wine or dining on a riverboat on the Mississippi River.

More Outdoor Recreation

Iowa Mountain Bike Festival, Oct. 19, Coralville. Beginners and experts alike can enjoy a day of skills clinics, bike demos, food, vendors, group rides and other fun on and off the trails.

Tour de Pumpkin, Oct. 25, Monroe. Ride at your own pace through the Red Rock Prairie Trail from Monroe to Prairie City and back, for a 22-mile loop full of fall foliage.

Winter Tubing, every Friday through Sunday during the winter, Sioux City. Cone Park’s 700-foot tubing hill offers an outdoor thrill with unlimited tube rides during 3-hour sessions. Afterward, treat yourself to a meal in the lodge.

Early Morning Harvest Open House, Nov. 8, Panora. Early Morning Harvest holds its annual open house with farm tours and food. The farm uses hydroponics and aquaponics to raise its crops, and anyone is welcome to learn firsthand how the operation works.

Cranksgiving, Nov. 16, Iowa City. Enjoy a bike ride for charity during this mythic bike race around town to gather specific food items for donation. Cranksgiving originated in New York City in 1999, and is now an Iowa City tradition, too.

Sunset Hike, Nov. 17, Ames. Appreciate the early sunsets autumn brings during an evening walk through McFarland Park in Story County.

Skiing and Snowboarding, opening Thanksgiving weekend, Boone. Hit the hills this winter for skiing and snowboarding at Seven Oaks. Courses range in levels for beginners to experts, and you can enjoy a meal with a scenic view of the slopes.

Snowflake Stroll, Dec. 1, Otley. Brave the cold for a winter scavenger hunt. Find 35 snowflakes scattered throughout Karr Trail at Cordova Park.

In Coralville, Thomas Agran recently completed a mural to honor A.G. Nandasena, who farms cinnamon in Sri Lanka. (Photo: Fairtrade America)

Food & Dining

Painting a picture of fair trade

This time of year, you can’t toss a pumpkin without hitting a harvest festival. We love all the local bounty — apples, squash, honey and more — but we also benefit from a complex global marketplace. To celebrate Fairtrade Month this October, the national nonprofit Fairtrade America commissioned three murals to promote sustainable food sources and equitable supply chains.

One of those new murals is at the beloved New Pioneer Food Co-op in Coralville, where the artist Thomas Agran painted a portrait of a Sri Lankan farmer named A.G. Nandasena. For years, Nandasena has grown cinnamon for the spice line from Frontier Co-op, which ensures that farmers get paid a fair price for their work.

"At a time when global trade is increasingly uncertain, we reaffirm our collective commitment to cooperation across the world," Fairtrade America’s executive director, Amanad Archila, said in a press release. "We share a deep belief that trade can and must be a force for good."

The other two new Fairtrade murals are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the artwork honors a cocoa farmer in Sierra Leone, and Richmond, Virginia, where the artwork honors a farmer in Madagascar who grows vanilla for Ben & Jerry’s.

More Food & Dining

Cider Stroll, Oct. 17, Cedar Rapids. Enjoy an evening of sipping and shopping in the historic neighborhoods of Czech Village and New Bohemia. Shops and restaurants will offer samples of cider, cider-based mocktails and other apple treats.

Four Seasons Gardening, Oct. 25, Cumming. Want to grow fresh food year round? Pick up a few tips during a short class at Middlebrook Farm.

Chili Cook-Off, Nov. 1, Mount Vernon. If you like chili, make a day of it in one of Iowa’s most picturesque small towns. The 19th annual contest involves a bags tournament before the main event.

Winter Farmers Market, Nov. 1 through April, Dubuque. The Saturday morning market at Kennedy Mall offers the lively feel of an outdoor farmers market, where customers can chat with local farmers and producers and warm up with coffee or hot chocolate.

Farm-to-Table Dinner, Nov. 2, Iowa City. Head out to the Walker Homestead, a private farm and winery about 40 minutes west of Iowa City, for a special farm-to-table dinner that benefits local food pantries. It’s one of many special events throughout the year at the private farm and winery southwest of Iowa City.

Historic dinners at Living History Farms, Nov. 7 through Dec. 31, Urbandale. Take a trip back in time — and bring your appetite. During its off-season, the living history museum invites guests to gather around the table for a lamp-lit supper at the 1870s Tangen House or cozy 1900 Farm, long before cholesterol was even invented. Tickets are currently on sale for meals through the end of the year.

BaconTown, Nov. 8, Ottumwa. Bacon production plays a big role in local history here. The city’s 10th annual bacon festival invites visitors to try and buy various bacon products, enjoy live music and even take part in the "piggly wiggly fun run."

Henry A. Wallace Legacy Lunch, Nov. 12, Orient. Dig into an Iowa classic, chili and cinnamon rolls, at the Wallace Farm while learning about Wallace’s service as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and his historic role in implementing the school lunch program.

Oskaloosa goes all out for its illuminated parade. (Photo: Mahaska Chamber & Development Group)

Around Iowa

Communities across Iowa light up the night

So when are you going to plug in your holiday lights?

Every neighborhood has that one house that jumps the gun. Across Iowa, entire towns can’t wait for the parades and festivals that brighten the year’s longest nights. The planning for these dazzling displays starts weeks or even months in advance. From drive-through spectacles in metro areas to small-town squares aglow with holiday cheer, communities across the state are ready to pay higher utility bills to get into the spirit. Here are some highlights, so to speak, of Iowa’s twinkliest hot spots.

Uptown Wonderlights, Nov.14- Dec. 31, Ankeny. Check out the annual galaxy of more than 50 light displays.

Turn on the Lights!, Nov. 22, Oskaloosa. The extravagant lighting ceremony kicks off the season with holiday staples like cocoa, cider, reindeer and more. Later, on Dec. 6, the town’s 38th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade will knock your fuzzy socks off.

Mount Pleasant Festival of Lights, Nov. 26-Dec.31, Mount Pleasant. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your car to enjoy Iowa’s largest drive-through light park.

Parade of Lights, Nov. 28, Fort Madison. The largest light parade in Southeast Iowa is back with more than 50 glowing floats. Bonus: The floats will be lit for viewing every night until the end of December.

Winterset Festival of Lights, Nov. 28, Winterset. See the best of the best window light displays along with a parade, food, horse-drawn wagon rides and a screening of "Elf" at the Iowa Theater.

More Arts & Culture

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in Concert, Oct. 11-12, Cedar Falls. Enjoy the beloved world of Harry Potter on the big screen with live accompaniment from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony.

Cedar River Film Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Cedar Falls. The festival’s first night features horror movies, followed by two days of various short films and features by Iowa filmmakers.

Denmark Iowa Renaissance Faire, Nov. 1-2, Denmark. Back for a second year, the fair contains more than 30 entertaining acts, a feast and duels for the most valiant of guests.

DSO Center Stage, Nov. 2, Dubuque. Celebrate the talent of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra with performances that showcase individual skill and ensemble work.

Ateneo Chamber Choir, Nov. 4, Cedar Rapids. The Ateneo Chamber Choir from the Czech Republic sings at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Artrageous, Nov. 18, Mason City. Experience a passion project which combines singing, dancing and all things art by a group of creative friends.

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland, Nov. 20, Mason City. What makes a winter spectacular even better? Astounding aerial artists and acrobats, all at the North Iowa Area Community College.

Candlelight Tour of Homes, Dec. 5-6, Washington. Take a tour of historic homes and businesses, all decked out for the holidays.

"The Nutcracker," Dec. 13, Davenport. Join the ballet as they open their new season with Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, one of several productions across the state.

The Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge spans the Missouri River in Sioux City.

Destinations

Swing by Sioux City for art, music and history

As cornfields give way to the rolling crests and valleys of the Loess Hills, there’s much to savor in northwest Iowa. Sioux City may not have been built on rock and roll, but it does have a vibe, blending a more metropolitan atmosphere with decidedly small-town charm. A developing community of small businesses, arts attractions and local restaurants is spicing up the scene alongside large-scale amenities like the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

STAY: Check into your art deco home base, The Warrior Hotel, and prepare to swoon at this stunning transformation. After sitting vacant for more than 40 years, this "hipstoric" hotel underwent a $70 million renovation and reopened in 2020 under the Autograph Collection by Marriott. Today, the 148-room destination features an upscale restaurant, indoor pool, private bowling alley and serene spa.

EAT: Head up the street for a few drinks and a bite to eat at The Diving Elk. Named for the troupe of traveling "diving elk" trained by Sioux City’s own W.H. Barnes in the early 1900s, this eatery is as unexpected as its namesake. The menu changes frequently, and dishes like the farro and roots bowl and elkwurst along with handcrafted cocktails and craft beers on tap give this unassuming gastropub its glowing reputation.

For lighter fare, grab a croissant and something from the seasonal menu a few blocks away at Hardline Coffee before catching some cultural attractions. Refuel with lunch at Marto Brewing Co. This swanky taproom and outdoor patio is a popular spot for foodies and beer enthusiasts alike. Order from a menu of mouth-watering wood-fired pizzas, giant soft pretzels and baked pasta dishes, and take a four-pack of your favorite beer to go.

DO: Plan your visit around a show at the Orpheum Theatre. The largest theater in the state when it was built in the 1920s, its stage has hosted icons Fred Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead and Katharine Hepburn. Home to the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, the Orpheum welcomes Broadway hits and touring headliners.

Stroll to the Sioux City Art Center for a jolt of creative inspiration. Wander the engaging outdoor sculpture walk and appreciate works from the museum’s impressive permanent collection, including Grant Wood’s "Corn Room" mural. Originally painted for the Martin Hotel in 1926, this multi-panel mural was lost for decades before being rediscovered in 1979. The depiction of Iowa cornfields is captivating with its tone-on-tone golden hues, a can’t-miss Sioux City experience.

Sioux City is also the longtime home of the Palmer Candy Co., makers of the Twin Bing candy bar. Stop by the downtown storefront to stock up on this classic Sioux City candy and more.

This article has been updated from its original version, written by Megan Bannister in 2023.