BBQ, Concerts, & Freedom Festival Events -- Iowa Weekend Events

We are over halfway through the month of June, which means the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival has officially begun! Here are some of the Freedom Festival events and other fun activities happening in our neck of the woods this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:

Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup (Freedom Festival Event)
- McGrath Amphitheatre
- Dates/Times
  - June 21st from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
    - Canvas & Cocktails at 6 p.m. ($40 - get tickets HERE)
  - June 22nd from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
    - Beerfest from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ($30 in advance/$35 at the door - pick up tickets at the U.S. Cellular Center)
  - June 23rd from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    - Family Fun Day
- Featuring a bags tournament, live music, six BBQ vendors, and more
- Event is free with a Freedom Festival Button or $3 without one - kids 12 and under are free
- See a full schedule of events HERE
Movie Night at the Ballpark (Freedom Festival Event)
- Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids
- June 21st from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. - gates at 6 p.m.
- Featuring Despicable Me 3
- Activities include an inflatable zone and a free t-shirt for the first 1,000 kids
- Event is free
Fairfax USA Days 2019
- Fairfax
- Dates/Times
  - June 21st
    - Beer tent opens at 6:30 p.m.
    - Street Dance featuring Robin Banks from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
  - June 22nd
    - Hero Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    - Vanderbilt Street Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    - USA Days Freedom Parade at 11:30 a.m.
    - Kids’ Carnival from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    - Fireworks Spectacular at 9:30 p.m.
- See a full schedule of events HERE
Party in the Park
- Riverside Park in Vinton
- Dates/Times
  - June 21st from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  - June 22nd from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Featuring children's activities, live music, a 5k, games, fireworks, BINGO, and more
- See a full schedule of events HERE
America's River Festival 2019
- The Port of Dubuque
- Dates/Times
  - June 21st at 5 p.m.
    - Clint Black performs at 10 p.m. - get reserved seating HERE
  - June 22nd at 5 p.m.
    - Steve Miller Band performs at 10 p.m. - get reserved seating HERE
- Single day general admission is $20 & weekend general admission is $35 - get tickets HERE
Morgan Wallen
- Five Flags Center in Dubuque
- June 21st at 8 p.m.
- Tickets start at $26.75 - get yours HERE
Rock the Block
- NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids
- Dates/Times
  - June 21st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    - Featuring Dawson Hollow
  - June 22nd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    - Featuring FunkDaddies (rescheduled from the 14th)
- Event is free
2019 Downtown Block Party
- Downtown Iowa City
- June 22nd from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Featuring live music, a silent disco, games, an outdoor movie, comedy, magic, and more
- Pre-sale tickets are $10 and day-of tickets are $11 - get yours HERE
Patriotic Picnic (Freedom Festival Event)
- Marion Square Park
- June 22nd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Featuring food vendors, Papa Balloon, face painting, caricatures, trackless train rides, inflatables, and more
- Event is free
Safe Fest & Pancake Breakfast
- Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids
- June 22nd from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- "At Safe Fest 2019, children and families will have the opportunity to check out safety stations with information on bicycle safety, stranger danger, poison and drug safety, fire safety, and car seat safety"
- Featuring special guests and giveaways
- Admission is free - Pancake Breakfast is $5 per person
Purple Xperience
- Lowe Park in Marion
- June 22nd from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- "Purple Xperience is a true tribute memorializing the greatest entertainer of all time, Prince!"
- Guests should bring their own chair/blankets for seating and are welcome to bring food/drinks - food vendors will also be onsite
- Event is free
9th Annual Cleaning Up Cancer Carnival (Freedom Festival Event)
- Salem United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids
- June 22nd from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Featuring inflatables, rides, games, a petting zoo, food trucks, a silent auction, a dunk tank, and more
- Proceeds benefit Time In a Bottle Inc.
- Unlimited wristbands (includes rides, inflatables, & petting zoo) are $10 with a Freedom Festival button or $15 without
Relay for Life of Linn County (Freedom Festival Event)
- Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center in Cedar Rapids
- June 22nd from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- "Relay for Life celebrates the quality of life for cancer survivors and their loved ones through a fun and activity-filled event. Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and Relay for Life brings the community together to join the fight."
- Get more information HERE
2nd Free Self Defense Seminar
- Hard Drive Performance Center in Cedar Rapids
- June 22nd from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- "Strategies, tactics, a strike and a strangle will all be taught to area women looking for an intro to realistic self-defense"
- Event is free - get registered HERE
Strawberry Fest
- Bass Farms L.L.C. in Mount Vernon
- Dates/Times
  - June 22nd from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    - Horse rides from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. - $3 per ride
  - June 23rd from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    - Vendor show from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    - Live music from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Featuring food, games for kids/adults, face painting, kickball, and more
- Admission for the activity area is $7 per person - kids 2 and under are free
Pentatonix
- TaxSlayer Center in Moline
- June 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
- With special guest Rachel Platten
- Tickets start at $26.50 - get yours HERE
Shawn Mendes: The Tour
- Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines
- June 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
- With special guest Alessia Cara
- Tickets range from $19.50 to $89.50 - get yours HERE
CRST Concerts at the Creek
- Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids
- June 22nd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - doors open at 6 p.m.
- Featuring the Kris Lager Band
- Tickets are $23 in advance and $25at the door - get yours HERE
1st Annual Meskwaki Car Show
- Meskwaki Bingo Casino & Hotel in Tama
- June 22nd from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- "One hundred trophies will be awarded in 30 judged classes, plus Best of Show and special awards. Stick around after for a Street Dance featuring Spazmatics Chicago and Rock This Town Orchestra!"
- Registration is $15 - get more info HERE
Marion Farmers' Market
- Taube Park in Marion
- June 22nd from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Hiawatha Farmers' Market
- Guthridge Park in Hiawatha
- June 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2019 Freedom Bike Ride - Root Beer Edition (Freedom Festival Event)
- Begins/Ends at Lowe Park in Marion
- June 23rd at 10:30 a.m. - registration begins at 8 a.m.
- Choose from the 28-mile or the 45-mile loop route
- Designated stops at Papa Juans, Sag Wagon, Parlor City Ice Cream, Iowa Brewing Company, Great American Popcorn, Lion Bridge, and Lucky Penny
- Live music/free meal runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lowe Park
- Registration is $40 - get registered HERE
Marion Airport Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast (Freedom Festival Event)
- Marion Airport
- June 23rd from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Breakfast includes pancakes, sausages, eggs, orange juice, and coffee - cost is $8.50 for adults and $5 for kids (get $1 off adult price with your Freedom Festival Button)
- Airplane rides are available for $20 per person and helicopter rides are $50 per person
- Also featuring farmers' market vendors, classic cars, a police car, a fire truck, and more