Iowa City Downtown District to host Dubuque Street celebration

IOWA CITY — Iowa City residents will get a smaller version of the Iowa City Block Party later this month.

The Iowa City Downtown District is hosting a Dubuque Street Celebration Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the reopening of Dubuque Street after months of construction on the street.

Those who attend the celebration will be allowed to posses an open container of alcohol on Dubuque Street between Washington Street and Iowa Avenue. The beverage must be purchased at the celebration.

Dubuque Street retail shops and restaurants will be set up on the street, which will be closed to traffic, throughout the celebration. There also will be food available to-go from nearby restaurants.

The celebration will include live music and Micky’s will host bingo to win prizes.

“The Dubuque Street businesses have shown incredible resilience during this project, and we are thrilled to come together as a community to celebrate their dedication and the street’s transformation,” Christopher Hunter, director of marketing at the Iowa City Downtown District, said in a press release.

The Dubuque Street Reconstruction project, which began in the spring, closed off the street between Washington Street and Iowa Avenue for storm and sewer infrastructure updates as well as work on the street and sidewalks.

The project included updating and adding bike racks and planters. Additional work on lighting upgrades and construction in nearby alleys is expected to be completed later this year.

“Everyone involved including Portzen Construction, the Iowa City Downtown District, City Staff, and all the impacted businesses were instrumental in making this a successful Project,” Scott Sovers, assistant city engineer for the City of Iowa City, said in a press release.

Businesses participating in the Dubuque Street Celebration

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