Wake me up when September ends…
Alright, it was almost too easy to open with that… But seriously though, don’t sleep on CR this month! There is still plenty of cool things going on in and around the area!
Football is around the corner and kids (and parents) are starting to fall into their school routine, and the weather is about to be absolutely gorgeous. Fall in the Midwest is great!
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Have fun this week.
Adventures Ahead📅📅
Check out some below happenings in the CR area!
Have an event suggestion? Just click here and let us know what it is.
Wednesday, 9/2
Baby & Toddler Storytime
Downtown Library, 9:30-10:30 am
Join us for this 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime.
Tween & Teen Crafternoons with MakerSpace!
Marion Library, 1:30-3 pm
Our new-and-improved Crafternoons will have a MakerSpace associated craft! Tweens & teens can join the library for exploration and creativity.
Pokémon Night
Turtle Power Games, 5-7 pm
Whether you're a seasoned battler or just starting your Pokémon journey, Pokémon Night is the place to connect, play, and grow with fellow Trainers!
Bring your own devices or cards.
Thursday, 9/3
Symphony Kids Music Program
Marion Library, 10:30-11 am
Symphony Kids is a music literacy program provided by Ms. Amy from Orchestra Iowa.
Five Seasons Water Ski Show
Ellis Blvd., Ski bleachers, 6:45 pm
Food truck will be The Crazy Greek Food Truck
Friday, 9/4
West Amana Historic Blacksmith Shop Open House
Between 703 and 705 7th Ave. West Amana, IA 52203, 9 am-3 pm
The Amana Arts Guild invites the public to step inside one of the Amana Colonies’ most historic working spaces. The shop is the last fully functional blacksmith shop in the Amana Colonies, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a working piece of history.
During the open house, visitors can meet blacksmith Cory Nevitt, watch live demonstrations, ask questions, and learn about the traditional craft of blacksmithing.
Rock the Block: Take 2! w/Redemption
Newbo City Market, 6 pm
Redemption ROCKS the block in Cedar Rapids! Bringing back to life your favorite hits all the way from the 70's to Today's Hits!
Saturday, 9/5
Downtown Farmers Market
Downtown Cedar Rapids, 7:30 am-12 pm
You will find fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, honey, jewelry, woodworking, crafts and more!
Marion Farmers Market
Willowood Park, 8-11 am
Attendees will find fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, honey, jewelry, woodworking, crafts and more at this neighborhood farmers market.
Traveling Exhibit: American Revolution Experience
Marion Library, all day (runs thru 9/14)
The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
Presented by The Ashley, Mayflower, and Marion-Linn Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust.
West Amana Historic Blacksmith Shop Open House
Between 703 and 705 7th Ave. West Amana, IA 52203, 9 am - 3 pm
The Amana Arts Guild invites the public to step inside one of the Amana Colonies’ most historic working spaces. The shop is the last fully functional blacksmith shop in the Amana Colonies, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a working piece of history.
During the open house, visitors can meet blacksmith Cory Nevitt, watch live demonstrations, ask questions, and learn about the traditional craft of blacksmithing.
Sunday, 9/6
Hiawatha Farmers Market
Guthridge Park, 10 am-1 pm
Whether you’re shopping for the week or simply enjoying the atmosphere, the market is the perfect place to gather, explore, and support local.
Newbo Art Festival
Newbo Neighborhood, 9 am-4 pm
View the work of 38 artists from 21 cities in Iowa and Illinois. Enjoy local musicians while you browse a variety of artwork. New Bohemia hosts a variety of delicious food options and unique shops, spend your day strolling the neighborhood.
Monday, 9/7
Five Seasons Water Ski Show - Last of the 2026 Season!
Ellis Blvd., Ski bleachers, 5 pm
Food truck will be Boulevard Grill
Tuesday, 9/8
Expressive Arts for Kids
Marion Library, 10:30-11 am
Expressive Art is a music, drama, movement, and visual art prevention program that serves children and families on their journey toward mental wellness.
Tween & Teen Crafty Hangout
Marion Library, 3:30-4:30 pm
Choose from a fun selection of crafts to do. The library will provide knitting looms, crochet supplies, and bracelet/necklace and friendship bracelet making. Relaxing or lo-fi music will be playing as attendees craft, talk, and hangout.
Tween & Teen Basic Baking Class
Marion Library, 5:30-6:30 pm
Tweens & teens are invited to a back-to-school special culinary class to make no-bake cookies: a perfect staple for lunchboxes and sharing with friends. Lemon oatmeal no-bake cookies and healthy no-bake breakfast cookies (includes peanut butter) are on the menu.
We apologize…
In last week’s newsletter, there was an error… the wrong start time was listed in our newsletter for the Expressive Arts event with Tanager at the Hiawatha Library due to a mix-up on social media. We are sorry for all the readers who showed up late and missed the event! We appreciate those who brought this up.
Just a friendly reminder as well, once the newsletter goes out, we are not constantly refreshing for event changes so please double check with the event/location if you think something may be cancelled or have a time change. If we see the update, we will try blast it out on social media but, as two over-tired parents we can’t guarantee anything.
Grown-Up Getaway… 99 problems and a kid ain’t one.
Stroll Through History in Downtown Marion
📍 Marion Public Library, Tuesday, September 8 @ 6 PM
Ditch the usual dinner-and-a-movie routine for an evening walk through historic downtown Marion. Hand-in-hand, you’ll trace the town’s shift from horse-drawn carriages and early railroads to the motor age, taking in the stunning classic architecture that gives the district its character.
Along the route, you’ll discover the stories of early local businesses, key historic figures, and the vision that built the community.
Make an Evening of It:
* Before: Grab a cocktail or local craft beer at a downtown Marion lounge.
* 6 PM: Enjoy a peaceful, guided historical walk through the district.
* After: Cap off the night with a cozy dessert or late bite nearby.
It's a low-key, charm-filled way to connect with both the city's past and each other.
Purchase your tickets here. ($8/person for History Center members, $10/person for nonmembers.)
Knee-Slappers😂🤣
Kid Tested & Approved
What do you call a flower that runs on electricity? 🌷
A power plant! 😸
Why do ducks have feathers? 🦆
To hide their butt-quack! 😂
Knock knock…. who’s there?
Dewey…. Dewey who?
Dewey have to keep tellin’ knock-knock jokes!! 😅
🥁ba-dumm, tsssst…. 🥁
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Bon appétit! It’s time to eat!
Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you asked your great grandmother where some of the generational family recipes came from, she’d be lying if she didn’t say the label of the dressing bottle or the back of a pasta box…. Seriously! We know for a fact that there is at least one manufacturer recommended recipe that has made it into your family’s recipe book. This one is ours… our sacred buffalo chicken dip….
It’s football season, let’s make some buff dip.
Ingredients
1/2 cup Frank's RedHot® Buffalo Wings Sauce (mild)
2 cups shredded chicken (canned chicken is just fine!
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup ranch dressing
A bag of your favorite dipping vessel (Tortilla chips is our go to, but Ritz crackers are tasty too)
Optional: blue cheese crumbles diced green onions.
1) Mix all ingredients together in a crockpot.
2) Cook on high for 1-2 hours or low for 2-3. You want all the cheese melted and the mixture to be a creamy, consistent texture. Remember to taste test throughout. The measurements above are approximations. Make this fit your taste!
3) ENJOY. Grab a chip and dig in! Watch out, it is addicting….
Recipe Courtesy of Frank!
Need to know Nuggets
Weather Report ⛅⛈
Wednesday, 9/2 | 92℉/72℉ | ⛅ |
Thursday, 9/3 | 91℉/73℉ | ⛅ |
Friday, 9/4 | 89℉/71℉ | ⛅🌦 |
Saturday, 9/5 | 89℉/72℉ | ⛅ 🌦 |
Sunday, 9/6 | 86℉/68℉ | ⛅ 🌦 |
Monday, 9/7 | 83℉/64℉ | ⛅ |
Tuesday, 9/8 | 83℉/67℉ | ⛅ |
We thought summer was done! What is this stuff?! Be prepared for hot humid weather…
Weather courtesy of KCRG.com
News Worthy Nuggets
Some interesting local stories from the past week:
Iowa faces referee shortage ahead of high school football season kickoff - CBS2 (IowaNewsNow)
Prairie Summit YMCA prepares for its grand opening ceremony - from Corridor Business Journal
Cedar Rapids plans to complete two stalled road construction projects - from CBS2 (IowaNewsNow)
That’s it for this week.
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