ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Did you know red velvet cake is a Juneteenth tradition? Learn about its history in this dsm article.

Around Iowa

Juneteenth celebrations this weekend across Iowa

Juneteenth became a federal holiday only three years ago, in 2021, but it was officially recognized here in Iowa back in 2002. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers marched into Texas and told the 250,000 people enslaved there that they were finally free — more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

This Saturday, you can head over to Western Gateway Park in Des Moines for the Neighbors’ Day celebration, hosted by Iowa Juneteenth. This year’s theme is “Remembering Our History, Releasing the Past and Reshaping Our Future,” and the festivities will involve more than 80 vendors, food trucks and performers who plan to celebrate the history of the holiday and the community.

Iowa City’s Juneteenth festivities will take place on the downtown ped mall starting this Friday, featuring free soul food, a basketball game and family-friendly activities. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the fashion show at 7 p.m. and musical performances, including a show from a local Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band.

The African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids hosts Juneteenth activities and programs today through Wednesday, including a special event at NewBo City Market. Over the course of the week, the museum offers special exhibits, extended gallery hours and book signings by local authors.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: Knock out all three objectives during this weekend's garage sale extravaganza in North Liberty.

Around Iowa

One person’s trash is another’s treasure

There’s a garage sale takeover in North Liberty this weekend. Today through Saturday, bargain hunters can pick through more than 200 garage sales for clothing, furniture and more. As any dedicated second-hand shopper can tell you, the key to a good find is a strategy. Use the handy list of sellers to find all the local details you’ll need, including locations, hours, whether the sellers accept Venmo and, most importantly, which sales offer new-to-you designer handbags.

Crack open a cold one and enjoy some barbecue, food trucks, live music and even a wiener dog race.

Food & Dining

It’s 'Have a beer outside' season

Nothing says summer quite like a brewski with the broskis on your deck, patio or too-small apartment balcony. Several events all over Iowa capture this vibe for three weekends in June:

Wurst Festival, June 14-15, Amana Colonies. Get ready to have the wurst day of the summer. Taste German sausages and vote for your favorites, then sample other traditional offerings from beer and dessert vendors. Oh, and did we mention the wiener dog races?
The Beer Fest, June 15, Bettendorf. Downtown at the Warehouse, sample beers from all over Iowa with a smorgasbord of food-truck favorites. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Bands and Brews, June 21, Cedar Falls. Still thirsty? Another beer-tasting event supports Iowa Public Radio, with samples from more than 20 Iowa breweries and live music.
Lazy River Beer & Wine Festival, June 22, Marquette. This event at Riverfront Park offers samples of beer and wine, right by the mighty Mississippi.
BBQ and Brew Festival, June 28-29, Centerville. Sample brisket, pulled pork, ribs and chicken all cooked by 12 teams of local barbecue pros vying for a top spot in the town’s third annual barbecue competition. There also will be beer vendors, live music, lawn games and other activities to really capture the spirit of a backyard barbecue.

The Riverside Festival Stage brings the ambience of a true Shakespearean performance circa 1599, with some help from electric light. (Photo: Spike Beerdinski)

Arts & Culture

Romans to take over Iowa City

Friends, Romans and countrymen can head to the Riverside Festival Stage in City Park for free performances of William Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar” hosted by Riverside Theatre. After this Friday’s opening, the senatorial showdown begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday through June 30.

Go early to snag a prime spot at the Elizabethan-era stage. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase at the concession booth.

The Simon Estes Rose, named for the opera singer from Centerville, was developed at Iowa State University in 1984. (Photo: Leslie Hunter/Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden)

Home & Garden

Everything’s coming up roses and lavender

It’s too late to tiptoe through the tulips, but there’s still plenty of time to smell the roses. Reiman Gardens in Ames hosts the Iowa Rose Society’s annual juried show this Saturday, with award-winning roses from across the state on display from 1 to 4 p.m. If you like what you see – and sniff – consider planting a few bushes at home with practical, hyperlocal tips we published this spring.

Later, on June 30, enjoy a Lavender Field Day among the fragrant fields at PepperHarrow in Winterset. This year’s early warm weather has prompted the fields to burst into their purple haze earlier than usual. So mark your calendar for a stroll through the farm and pick your own bouquet.

Whether you're cruising out on the boat or in front of the stage, artists can be enjoyed from both sides of the pier at Black Hawk Lake in Lake View. (Photo: Frolic Photography)

Arts & Culture

Ride the sound waves in Lake View

The town of Lake View in northwest Iowa lives up to its name year-round, right there on the west end of Black Hawk Lake. But during the award-winning annual Stone Pier Summer Concert Series — continuing July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 1 — the 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 a Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps crew who would enjoy, no doubt, seeing so many people benefit from their rock-hauling labor. Crowds gather on lawn chairs along the shore and in boats out on the water, where folks can order dinner from the “burger boat” operated by volunteers from the fire department.

“It’s just grown into this true celebration of a place — the lake and the community,” organizer Emily Busch told dsm a couple of years ago.

Check the city’s events page for details about various festivals, a popular fishing tournament founded by a local 11-year-old, and bike rides along the 33-mile Sauk Rail Trail that connects to Swan Lake down near Carroll.

Thelma and George Nopoulos, pictured here in 1993, met, fell in love and owned at the Candy Kitchen for more than 70 years. You can till get a sweet treat at this historic shop in Wilton. (Photo: The Wilton Archives)

Food & Dining

Find the best old-fashioned soda shops in Iowa

More than a century ago, the first soda fountains introduced carbonated water in an attempt to replicate natural mineral water and its purported health benefits. The concept flourished in pharmacies, ice cream parlors and candy stores across the United States, reaching their height of popularity in the 1940s and ’50s before they started to fizzle out.

Here in Iowa, several communities have preserved their soda fountains, maintaining their history and their role as a gathering place for locals and a worthy destination for out-of-town visitors. Find the full list on Travel Iowa.

Penn Drug, Sidney
Known as one of Iowa's oldest family-owned drug stores, Penn Drug has been continually operating since 1863. Today, it delights visitors with the nostalgia of a classic soda fountain, serving phosphate drinks and ice cream sundaes alongside an old-fashioned menu made with fresh, local ingredients.

Wilton Candy Kitchen, Wilton
Since its opening in 1910, the Wilton Candy Kitchen has been a community staple that attracts residents and tourists alike and has earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Step inside to enjoy a deliciously flavored soda or ice cream treat or a light lunch. Before or after, walk through the Candy Kitchen Museum to learn about its legacy and admire historic photos, memorabilia and clothing.

Christy Creme, Council Bluffs
This local legacy is a third-generation family-owned establishment that has been serving Council Bluffs since 1954. Along with the soda fountain and ice cream options, they also serve classic meals, including tasty hamburgers from a local provider, and feature more than 10 rotating flavors of sherbet.