ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Take photos with historical characters in 1850s dress at Bentonsport Heritage Day. Photo: Courtesy of Mindy Kralicek.

Transport yourself back in time in Bentonsport

Step into the 1850s at Bentonsport Heritage Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, June 24. The annual celebration features artisan demonstrations, children’s activities, entertainment, music and food. Free events include horse-drawn covered wagon rides and tours of the Indian Artifact Museum and historic Presbyterian Church.

You can also tour private homes, schools and gardens from 1 to 5 p.m. Tour tickets are $10 for adults and children over 14. For something more unusual, catch Dr. Aloysius Quacksham’s Amazing Elixir Show at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Then catch the moment in time: Dress in historical clothing and sit for a portrait at Bentonsport’s vintage photography studio.

Celebrate creativity, culture and community at the Des Moines Arts Festival. The three-day event annually draws more than 200,000 visitors from around the world.

Explore all kinds of art at the Des Moines Arts Festival

Don't miss the Des Moines tradition this weekend, June 23-25. Throughout the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, guests will find interactive arts, live music and artwork by artists from across the country. Find daily schedules, a list of exhibiting artists and entertainment lineups online. This year, to celebrate Pride Month, there will also be a drag brunch on Sunday.

Admission to the festival is free, but you can upgrade to the Silent Rivers VIP Club to enjoy an exclusive covered area with great views of the main stage. The hospitality suite includes terrace seating, with catered food and beverages.

The rushing waters at Macbride Falls are the perfect place to cool off after a hike through Lake Macbride State Park.

Cool off at three Iowa waterfalls

Several state parks and lakes provide a refreshing retreat in Iowa's natural landscape.

Union Grove Lake Waterfall
Find this cascade tucked away in Union Grove State Park in Gladbrook. Follow the trail marked "waterfall" and cross Deer Creek on the edge of Union Lake — you’ll hear it before you see it. During the summer, visitors can wade up to the falls and enjoy a refreshing respite from the sun.

Macbride Falls
While Lake Macbride State Park in Solon offers a plethora of outdoor activities spread across its expansive 2,180 acres, one of its hidden gems is Macbride Falls. Visitors can indulge in fishing, boating and swimming in the lake, or lounge on the rocks as white water from the falls rushes past.

Boone River Waterfall
Nestled within the scenic beauty of Briggs Woods Park in Webster City is a series of captivating waterfalls along the Boone River. Just a short distance from the park's 70-acre Briggs Woods Lake, these cascades offer a picturesque escape. The sandy beach of the lake beckons sun-seekers and water enthusiasts, and some visitors opt to explore the pools above and below the waterfalls.

Punk-metal band Glass Ox will play 80/35 on July 8. They've played at several venues in Des Moines since banding together in 2018. Photo: Madison Kim-Poppen Photography

80/35 Music Festival is back with a stacked lineup

Sure, Taylor Swift is visiting Minneapolis and Kansas City this summer, but you don’t need to leave Iowa to jam out. Head to downtown Des Moines July 7 and 8 to see musicians from all over the country. Most performances are free, but access to the main stage and headliner performances requires tickets. Proceeds support the Des Moines Music Coalition, a nonprofit that builds a stronger and more diverse music community in Des Moines.

Headliners this year include the War on Drugs, an indie rock band from Philadelphia, and former Outkast member Big Boi going solo. Find Iowa artists Annie Kemble, Penny Peach, Allegra Hernandez and others across all the stages.

While you're there, show your support for young musicians in the Emerging Artists Series, featuring bands under the age of 21, or stop by the Iowa Public Radio Stage to watch interviews with artists.

Choose from three different rooms at Little Swan Lake Winery's bed and breakfast and take in the view of the vineyards. Photo: Little Swan Lake Winery.

Small business spotlight: Little Swan Lake Winery

Little Swan Lake Winery is a charming family-owned and -operated business located just north of Superior in northwest Iowa. Since opening in 2002, this winery has delighted visitors with a selection of 35 different wines, all crafted on-site from their 2-acre vineyard of cold-hardy grapes.

The tasting room is housed in a renovated 1920s barn, full of ambiance and complemented by gourmet cheeses and buffalo meat sourced from their own herd. Thursday through Sunday evenings during the summer, guests can enjoy live music and dinner in the barn.

For a longer stay, their renovated grain elevator serves as a cozy bed and breakfast, inviting guests to stop and savor the beauty of Little Swan Lake.

Every year, Sioux City's Saturday in the Park draws of 25,000 to live music. Photo: Chrisine McAvoy, GR Lindblade & Co.

Turn the sound up in Sioux City

Get ready for a party at Saturday in the Park, the annual music festival at the picturesque Grandview Park Municipal Bandshell in Sioux City. This year’s lineup on July 1 boasts the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, the talented Samantha Fish, the soulful sounds of the War and Treaty, and rising rap star Armani White.

The festival started in 1991 and regularly draws crowds of 25,000, including musicians and fans from Sioux City’s sister city, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Besides the music, the festival offers all kinds of food, a carnival and pony rides for kids, an art fair with two dozen exhibitors from across the Midwest, and a fireworks show at the end of the night. Admission is free.

Garnets embellish nearly 200 items on display at the "Brilliant Bohemian Garnets" exhibit at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library. Photo: National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library

Unearth a few cultural hidden gems

See captivating beauty and cultural heritage at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids. The exclusive exhibition, "Brilliant Bohemian Garnets," opened June 17 and showcases a remarkable collection of priceless antique and modern garnets from the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Marvel at nearly 200 trinkets adorned with the fiery gemstones, including jewelry, eyeglasses and mirrors. And for an interactive experience, embark on a garnet mining adventure where you can search for your own precious gemstone.

The exhibition closes on Jan. 14, 2024, after which the collection will be kept permanently at the National Museum in Prague.