ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

The African American Museum of Iowa's Juneteenth festival welcomes everyone, with activities for all ages. (Photo: AAMI)

Juneteenth revs up in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines

Juneteenth has been recognized for many years across the country, even before it became a national holiday. To celebrate the day and honor its history, the African American Museum of Iowa plans to host its annual Juneteenth Festival at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids. The free event opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Jacqueline Hunter, the museum's executive director, said it's an opportunity for the community to come together “not only to commemorate the importance of the day, but to celebrate each other and the good work that's happening in our community and state.”

The day will be filled with live music and performances, food and merchandise vendors, family-friendly activities and more. Visitors can meet with local businesses and nonprofits, check out the sweet potato pie competition and talent show, or simply hang out on the lawn and play a few games.

When planning this year's program, the museum team considered how to best serve the community at this moment in time. “We are in a season where people are looking for community,” Hunter said, adding that many are looking for others who share similar sentiments and ideas. “It's a time for the community to connect.”

Festivities will continue on Thursday, June 19, when the museum galleries will open for extended hours and a 6:30 p.m. screening of the award-winning documentary “Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom.”

In Des Moines, a Juneteenth Jubilee is set for 5 p.m. June 19 at the State Historical Building, before the annual Neighbor's Day Celebration noon-6 p.m. June 21 at Western Gateway Park. For more Juneteenth events in Central Iowa, visit IowaJuneteenth.org.

Shamrocks and smiles are easy to spot at the Lawler Irish Festival.

In Lawler, Irish (or Iowish) locals have a bit o' fun

In Lawler, east of New Hampton, the annual Lawler Irish Festival kicks off with a kiss and a wish at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 20. Live music will rock the main stage starting at 7 p.m., and an outdoor movie will play at dusk. (Don't forget your lawn chairs and blanket.)

The festivities continue the following day with Irish musicians, a bagpiper and other performers on the main stage. Stick around for the parade at 1 p.m. and the car show afterward, with another movie at dusk.

Wagon walkers and historic characters bring the past to the present in the green hills of Van Buren County.

Bentonsport brings history to life

When a picturesque town in southeast Iowa opens its doors for Bentonsport Heritage Day on Saturday, June 21, volunteers will share the colorful stories of long-gone locals' lives during the town’s rise to prosperity. Visitors of all ages can take part in a buckskinners rendezvous, dig into an archaeology exhibit and stroll through the town that is one of several historic Villages of Van Buren County.

While you're there, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, listen to musicians play a few old-fashioned tunes, and visit local artisans at work in their shops. Some vendors plan to sell their goods near the local rose garden, where visitors will have a chance to win a basket of gifts from local merchants.

Drums, lids, buckets and tins ... They make music on anything they can.

In Orange City, hear a beat with a backstory

What started as a fundraiser to help a musician adopt a boy from South Korea has turned into a whole band called Omaha Street Percussion. When the band members got together a few times to perform for donations in Omaha's Old Market, they quickly attracted a following.

The group has performed more than 1,000 local and regional shows, and they plan to add Orange City to the list on June 25. Pre-concert activities start at 5 p.m. at Windmill Park, before the show at 7 p.m. The family-friendly event is free for all and includes workshops, crafts and concessions.

From left: Susan Lapham, Niraja Lorenz and Deb Cashatt with their colorful work at the Iowa Quilt Museum. Not pictured: Irene Roderick. (Photo: Teddi Yaeger)

Iowa Quilt Museum hosts a bold show in Winterset

On the south side of the Winterset square, the Iowa Quilt Museum’s current exhibit, "Tiny Pieces, Vast Visions," features four quiltmakers who share a creative bond. They each bring their own aesthetic to their work, but all use tiny pieces of fabric to create larger patterns. Small pieces come together to tell unique visual stories throughout their work, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces of quilted artwork.

The show remains through Aug. 3 ... sew check it out.