The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival offers a day-long festival on the Fourth of July, including the "Music-on-the Fourth" event at Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. Scheduled to perform are Funk Stop, Terry McCauley, Carlis Faurot and Glenn Lonsdale. At 8 p.m., the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band with perform its annual "Fanfare to Fireworks," followed, of course, by the "Celebration of Freedom Fireworks" at 9:45 p.m. Free. More information is available at (319) 365-8313.
The Amana Colonies will offer its "Firecracker Fourth Tailgate" Friday, July 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Festhalle Barn in Main Amana. Free. More information is available through (319) 622-7622.
Mount Vernon offers its "Lincoln Highway Antique Show" all day Saturday, July 4, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., where two blocks of the historic Lincoln Highway will be blocked off and filled with antique vendors. Free. More information is available through (319) 560-9478.
Summer of the Arts offers Iowa Jazz Fest in downtown Iowa City, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 3 through 5. Friday night will feature the Des Moines Big Band followed by The David Sanchez Quartet. Saturday features Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and the Lionel Loueke Trio, followed by Iowa City’s Fourth of July Fireworks. Free. More information is available through (319) 337-7944.
Coralville’s Fourth Fest will take place in ST Morrison Park, Coralville, throughout the day on Friday, July 3. The headliner this year will feature Dennis DeYoung of Styx performing from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Free. More information through (319) 248-1750.
The Linn County Fair will take place July 8 through 13, at the Linn County Fairgrounds, 201 Central City Road, Central City. The fair offers everything from harness racing to Terry Lee Goffee, the ultimate Johnny Cash tribute performing Friday, July 10, from 7 to 10 p.m. Most events free. Grandstand ticket prices vary. More information is available through (319) 350-5569
The UI Summer Rep will be offering the plays of Sarah Ruhl throughout July. "The Clean House" and "Dead Man’s Cell Phone" will be performed in repertory at the UI Theatre Building, on the University of Iowa campus, Iowa City, most Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. through July 19. $24, with discounts for seniors, students and youth. Reservations and information are available through (319) 335-3213.
The Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival will continue through July 12 at the Riverside Theatre Festival Stage in Lower City Park, Iowa City. See "Richard III" and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" performed in repertory Tuesday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; or Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. $25 to $37. Reservations and information through (319) 338-7672.
Theatre Cedar Rapids will present "Schoolhouse Rock Live" July 2 through 12 at Theatre Cedar Rapids Lindale, 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. See the show Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through July 12. $20 to $25, with discounts for students. Reservations and information available through (319) 366-8591.
Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, offers two outdoor theatrical productions in July. See "To Kill A Mockingbird" Thursdays through Saturdays July 9 through 18, at 8 p.m. outside in the natural amphitheatre near the duck pond. $15 to $18. See "The Princess Who Wouldn’t Wear Pink" children’s show Wednesday through Saturday, July 22 to 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the same natural amphitheatre. $3 to $5. Tickets to both shows are available through (319) 362-7375.
The Folllies will be performed Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the University of Northern Iowa campus, Cedar Falls. This is a large, Vegas-style comedy music revue, and always a lot of fun. $19 to $32. Reservations and information are available through (319) 273-4TIX.
"Queen of Bingo" is the next performance at The Old Creamery Theatre Company Depot Stage, in the basement of the Ox Yoke Inn, 4420 220th Trail, Amana, from Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, August 2. The play concerns two bingo players and a bingo game where the audience can play along. $26.50. Reservations and information are available through (800) 35-AMANA.
"The Wizard of Oz" is going to be a huge summer production at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. See the show that stars professional actors from Old Creamery alongside dozens of local young actors and actresses, Thursday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, July 17 and 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; or Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. $25, with discounts for children. Reservations and information through (319) 688-2653.
The Parlour Theatre Company presents something called "The Summer Love Show" Saturday, July 25, beginning at 7 p.m. at Ushers Ferry Historical Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trail NE, Cedar Rapids. Attendees are asked to pack a picnic and a blanket, grab your one true love, and join the Parlour Theater Co. for "great music, delightful stories, sappy love poems, and just enough wry wit to remind us that we are Iowans." Grounds open for picnics at 6 p.m. $12. Reservations and information are available through (319) 286-5763.
Joe Jennison is the Executive Director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, a group of 100+ arts and culture organizations whose mission is to build, strengthen and lead the local cultural industry and the communities it serves. More information is located at
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