Outdoor concerts, festivals turn up cultural heat around Eastern Iowa

Art Fairs, festivals, concerts and plays are among the building blocks for cultural fun under the summer sun and stars.

Here's a look at just some of the outdoor events happening around Eastern Iowa. More will pop up, so keep checking the calendar listings at Hooplanow.com

JUNE

IOWA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL & GATHERING O' CELTS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day weekend and June 3 and 4, Middle Amana Park, 27th Avenue and H Street, Middle Amana; $6 ages 6 to 13, $12 ages 13 and older, passes available; Iowarenfest.com

IOWA CITY COMMUNITY BAND: Free concerts in various Iowa City/Coralville area sites, early June to mid-July; Iccband.org/iccbConcerts.html

MARION BY MOONLIGHT: 6 p.m. food, 6:30 p.m. music, June 1, 8, 15, 22, City Square Park, Marion; different band each week; free, bring seating; Uptownmarion.com

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES: Fridays to Aug. 25, Pedestrian Plaza by Sheraton Iowa City Hotel, downtown Iowa City; rain site Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, free admission; Summerofthearts.org

UPTOWN FRIDAY NIGHTS: 6 p.m. music, Fridays to Aug. 18, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; local and national bands; $5, restricted to ages 21 and older; Uptownfridaynights.com

CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: 7:30 a.m. to noon June 3 and 17, July 1 and 15, Aug. 5 and 19, Sept. 2 and 16, downtown Cedar Rapids; Market After Dark: 6:30 to 11 p.m. Aug. 26; Cedarrapids.org/events/farmers-market

MARION BBQ RENDEZVOUS: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 3, City Square Park, Marion; barbecue vendors, beer, live music, kids' activities; Facebook.com/marion.bbq.rendezvous

TANAGER PLACE SUMMER FEST: 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 3, Rockwell Collins Sports Complex, 400 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids; activities, displays, entertainment; free; Tanagerplace.org/event/summer-fest-2017

CEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL BAND: 20 free concerts, generally 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, June 7 to Aug. 6; professional ensemble performing in metro area parks and neighborhoods; Crmuniband.org

AMERICA'S RIVER FESTIVAL: June 8 to 10, Port of Dubuque, East Third Street, along the Mississippi River in downtown Dubuque; regional and national bands, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on June 8, Tucker Beathard and Old Dominion on June 9, and the Little River Band, The Guess Who and Styx on June 10; Saturday afternoon craft beer Tappening; tickets and admission varies; Americasriverfestival.com

ROBINS ROUNDUP: 5 p.m. June 9, 7 p.m. Kids Color Run, 8 p.m. Twilight Run, East Knoll Park, Robins; daylong festivities June 10; Robinscivicclub.com

ST. LUDMILA KOLACH FESTIVAL: June 9 to 11, St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 2107 J St. SW, Cedar Rapids; kolach sales, games, carnival rides, music, food; Stludmila.org/kolachfestival

RIVERSIDE THEATRE IN THE PARK: Festival Stage, Lower City Park, Iowa City; 'Macbeth,' June 9 to 18, 'The Bomb-itty of Errors,' June 23 to July 2; times and dates vary; $17 to $30, (319) 338-7672, gate or Riversidetheatre.org/shows/

FREE MOVIE SERIES: Saturday nights, June 10 to 24, July 8 to 29 and Aug. 5 to 26, Macbride Hall, downtown Iowa City; Summerofthearts.org

WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY: 7 p.m. June 12, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; $49.50 to $154.50. ALSO: Dispatch, July 3; Diana Ross, July 9; In This Moment, July 12; Lifehouse & Switchfoot, July 25; 2Cellos, July 27; Primus, Aug. 4; Garrison Keillor, Aug. 10; tickets and details, Mcgrathamphitheatre.com/events/

MARION COMMUNITY BANDS: 7 p.m. June 13 and 27, City Square Park, Marion; jazz and concert bands; free, bring seating; Marioncommunitybands.us

CEDAR RAPIDS OPERA THEATRE: 'Speed Dating Tonight,' June 15 to 17, rain date June 18, Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; one-act interactive comic opera, bring seating; tickets, Brucemore.org or (319) 362-7375; information Cr-opera.org/Content/Season.aspx

CEDAR RAPIDS FREEDOM FESTIVAL: June 11 to July 4, Cedar Rapids metro area; June 11 Praise on the River; June 15 Tribute to Heroes dinner; June 25 Army Band concert; June 30 concert at NewBo. Complete schedule: Freedomfestival.com/events/

CRBT MOVIES ON THE RIVERBANK: June 17, 'The Secret Life of Pets'; July 15, 'Sing'; Aug. 12, 'Moana'; 7 p.m. activities, movie at dusk, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; Crbt.com

IRISH DISTRICT MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL: 4 to 10 p.m. June 17, Shores Central Park Building, 700 16th St. NE, Cedar Rapids; live music, local food and arts vendors, Kid Zone; $10 adults at the gate, free ages 12 and under with adult; Irishdistrictfest.com

WURST FEST: June 17, Amana Colonies; Festivalsinamana.com

BALLOON GLOW: 6 to 10 p.m. June 20, Brucemore front lawn, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; music, food, tethered hot-air balloons; free with $5 Freedom Festival button, available at gate beginning at 5:30 p.m.; Brucemore.org

CEDAR RAPIDS BBQ ROUNDUP: June 22 to 25, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; Mcgrathamphitheatre.com

TREKFEST XXXIII: June 23 and 24, Riverside; themed events and contests, music, parade, 5K, demolition derby, recreation around Hall Park; Trekfest.org

LINN COUNTY FAIR: June 28 to July 3, Central City; exhibits, grandstand entertainment and competitions, food; Thelinncountyfair.com

IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL: June 30 to July 2, downtown Iowa City; local, regional, national and international jazz artists, July 2 fireworks; free admission; Summerofthearts.org

JULY

FREEDOM FESTIVAL: July 1 parade in Czech Village and NewBo, evening concert in NewBo, Cedar Rapids; July 4 pancake breakfast, car show, concert, fireworks, downtown Cedar Rapids. Freedomfestival.com/events/

CORALVILLE 4THFEST: July 1 to 4, S.T. Morrison Park, 1513 Seventh St., Coralville; 5K run/walk, entertainment, food, carnival, free concert by a national act July 3, parade and fireworks July 4; Coralville.org/310/4thFest

CEDAR BOAT CLUB FIREWORKS: dusk, July 3, Cedar River at Ellis Park, Cedar Rapids; free; Cedarboatclub.org

MARION BIG BAND: 7 p.m. July 6, 13, 20, 17, City Square Park, Marion; free, bring seating; Uptownmarion.com

BOURBON & BLUES FEST: July 7 to 9, Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, 1441 Marak Rd., Swisher; Crwine.com

ASIAN FEST: noon to 11 p.m. July 8, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; cuisine, performances, fashion show, dance party, interactive villages, kids' zone; free admission, Asianfest.org

NORTH LIBERTY BLUES & BBQ: 10 a.m. to evening July 8, Centennial Park, 1565 St. Andrews Dr., North Liberty; food, Iowa craft beer, blues music, kids' arts pavilion, playground inflatables and games; free admission; Northlibertyblues.org

DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR: July 10 to 16, 200 E. Acers St. Manchester; Beach Boys on July 14, exhibits, entertainment, contests; delawarecofair.com

CLASSICS AT BRUCEMORE: 'Lysistrata' by Aristophanes, 7:30 p.m. July 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, outdoor stage at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; classic Greek comedy about the battle of the sexes; gates open 6:30 p.m., bring seating and picnics; $15 to $25, Brucemore.org/events/annual-events/

GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR: July 19 to 23, 800 N. Maple St., Monticello; Nickelback with Daughtry on July 20, Thomas Rhett with Big & Rich on July 21, Keith Urban, July 22, and MercyMe with Crowder on July 23; fair admission $10, concerts $20 to $58; Greatjonescountyfair.com.

SOLON BEEF DAYS: July 21 and 22, around town, Solon; music, games, contests, parade, beer tent, beef dinner; Beefdays.com

JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR: July 24 to 27, 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City; exhibits, entertainment, contests; Johnsoncofair.com

NORDIC FEST: July 27 to 29, downtown Decorah and surrounding area; opening ceremonies pageantry, Nordic food, crafts, recreation, grand parade 10:30 a.m. Saturday, finale fireworks; Nordicfest.com

SWISHER FUN DAYS: July 28 and 29, Swisher; kids' zone, parade, 5K run, games and contests, music, food, beer tent, fireworks; Swisherfundays.blogspot.com

AUGUST

BRUCEMORE OUTDOOR CHILDREN'S THEATRE: 'Alice in Wonderland,' 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 to 5, outdoor stage at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; $5 at the event; bring seating and snacks but no big coolers, picnics and pets; Brucemore.org/events/calendar/

JAZZ UNDER THE STARS: 7 p.m. Aug. 3, 10, 17 in Noelridge Park, 4900 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids; Aug. 24 at McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids; free; rain site, Parlor City Pub, 1125 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids; Kcck.org/juts/

UPTOWN GETDOWN: 6 p.m. food, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. music, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, City Square Park, Marion; free, bring seating; Uptownmarion.com

IOWA SOUL FESTIVAL: Aug. 4 to 5, downtown Iowa City; dance, music, food and art of the African and African-American communities, free admission; Summerofthearts.org

TOURNAMENT OF DRUMS: 7 p.m. Aug. 5, Kingston Stadium, 907 15th St. SW, Cedar Rapids; $15, Tournamentofdrums.com

ST. JUDE SWEET CORN FESTIVAL: Aug. 11 to 13, St. Jude Catholic Church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids; sweet corn, music, games, car raffle, food, beverage tent, carnival, country store; Judesweetcornfest.com

CABARET IN THE COURTYARD: featuring local artists on the national scene, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 to 12 and 17 to 19, Brucemore courtyard, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; $20 to $30, Brucemore.org

HIAWATHA FUN FEST: 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to fireworks Aug. 26, Guthridge Park, 704 Emmons St., Hiawatha; music, outdoor movie, food, 5K run, parade 11 a.m. Saturday; Hiawatha-iowa.com

MIDWEST OLD THRESHERS REUNION: Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, at 405 E. Threshers Rd., Mount Pleasant; museums, displays, parades, steam engines, country concerts; Oldthreshers.org

l Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com