Six things to do in Eastern Iowa this week

FESTIVALS

Backcountry Film Festival

Spend an evening at the Nature Center (or Big Grove Brewery’s Iowa City Taproom) for the Winter Wildland Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, a compilation of films that celebrate the human-powered experience through winter adventures.

When: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Where: Indian Creek Nature Center, 5300 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids

Cost: $15

Coralville Brrrfest

Attendees ages 21 and over can celebrate the beers of winter and the brewers who make them! Sample and purchase craft beers showcased by breweries from across the Midwest. Proceeds benefit Coralville's annual 4thFest celebration and the Iowa Brewer's Guild.

When: Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Where: Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E. 9th St., Coralville

Cost: $50

MUSIC

Jefferson High School Band presents A Night at the Movies

Experience the soundtracks of your childhood, featuring hits from Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks and more.

When: 5:39 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Where: Jefferson High School, 1243 20th St. SW, Cedar Rapids

Cost: 12 and under free; 13+ $5

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Duke Ellington found deep inspiration in Africa, and several works inspired by his relationship with the continent stand out among his classic jazz compositions. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis gives new life to those compositions in a program designed by saxophonists Chris Lewis and Alexa Tarantino

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Where: Hancher Auditorium, 141 Park Rd., Iowa City

Cost: $10 youth; $55+ adult

Steely Dane: Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute

Steely Dane is dedicated to not only faithfully reproducing the Steely Dan and Donald Fagen songbook, but to bringing an energetic live-show experience to the crowd.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Where: Coralville Center for Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville

Cost: $29+

School of Rock Winter Student Showcase

From first riffs to full-band performances, students take the stage alongside the teachers and mentors who guide, challenge, and inspire them. This event is as much about community as it is about music. Families, friends, and fans come together to celebrate hard work, creativity, and the spark that ignites when young artists are given a stage. Equal parts inspiring and downright fun, the School of Rock Winter Seasonal Show is a joyful reminder of what happens when passion, mentorship, and live music collide.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026

Where: The Ideal Theater & Bar, 213 16th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids

Cost: Free

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