Even without $400 ‘newbo evolve’ pass, there’s plenty to do

CEDAR RAPIDS - If you don't want to fork over $400 for a three-day 'newbo evolve” pass, no worries - there still will be plenty to do alongside the three-day festival that begins Friday. .

A number of free and low-cost activities are lined up in the area to allow people to join in the festivities, including the New Bohemia Art Fest and NewBoRama.

'The message from GO Cedar Rapids has been to put our best foot forward to show who we are and what we are as a district and cultural center,” said Scott Kruger, executive director of the NewBo City Market at 100 Third Sts SE.

Newbo evolve - a music, speaker and cultural festival sponsored by the GO Cedar Rapids tourism agency, continues through Sunday.

Admission to the speaker sessions and special activities requires the three-day newbo evolve pass, while individual tickets can be purchased for the Kelly Clarkson performance Friday night and the Maroon 5 performance Saturday night. The bulk of the daytime activities are in conference halls of the Cedar Rapids Convention Center, while evening activities are in the NewBo district.

NewBo City Market is putting on a free 'NewBoRama” event starting Friday afternoon.

It features 10 musicians, including the Dawson Hollow, TreesReach and Halfloves, spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday; an outdoor artisans market, improvisational and spoken word performers and chalk art Saturday; and a nonprofit fair Sunday.

Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The events will be held on the NewBo City Market grounds. Indoor market vendors will be open, including extended hours on Saturday evening, and vendors will be set up in the parking lot and musicians will be performing on the Bankers Trust stage, Kruger said.

'People come to NewBo because we have free things going on, family things going on, that combine music and culture,” Kruger said. 'So, we said, ‘Let's make sure we have something on our stage, and something big going on in the yard, so we can show off what we do in our community.'”

Friday's and Saturday's NewBoRama events are timed to end before the beginning of Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5.

On Sunday, 42 local and regional artists will be participating in the New Bohemia Art Fest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Third Street SE.

The Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE, will have a sculpture invitational on the first floor and a ceramic demonstration and display in the yard.

Other free activities include access to food and drink vendors, and portions of the evolve lounge at the corner of Third Street and 16th Avenue SE. Festival visitors may carry beer in newbo evolve-branded cups as they stroll in the festival area. Most neighborhood bars and restaurants will sell the cups.

Local businesses including Tornado's Pub and Grub, 1600 Third St. SE, and Lion Bridge Brewing Company, 59 16th Ave. SW, are setting up beer gardens. Jason Ray Brown will be performing Sunday at Lion Bridge.

From noon to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the main stage of newbo evolve near the Sinclair levee will be turned over to local acts headlined by the Pork Tornadoes. Three-day passholders receive complimentary admission, while general admission tickets are available for $10 at the gate. The gate opens at 11 a.m.

l Comments: (319) 398-8310; brian.morelli@thegazette.com