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Things to do this Labor Day weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City areas
Recreation, festivals, entertainment on tap in the Corridor for the holiday

Sep. 2, 2021 6:00 am, Updated: Sep. 2, 2021 2:33 pm
Ready to dive into some Labor Day weekend fun? Check out these ways to celebrate summer’s final holiday hurrah. For more ideas, go to hooplanow.com.
Mike Stopko of Tiffin competes in a bags tournament during the 2019 FRYfest in Coralville. This year's event, named in honor of the late Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry, will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. (David Harmantas/Freelance)
SWIMMING POOLS:
Cedar Rapids
Noelridge Aquatic Center, 1248 42nd St. NE: open Saturday and Sunday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for lap swims and 1 to 6 p.m. for open swim; Monday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for lap swims and 1 to 5 p.m. for open swim; closing for the season at 5 p.m. Details: cedar-rapids.org/residents/parks_and_recreation/noelridge_aquatic_center.php
Jenny Glad of Fairfax closes her eyes as she reaches the end of a waterslide during the 2018 Last Gasp! Back-to-School Swim at Noelridge Aquatic Center in Cedar Rapids. The pool will be open this weekend, Saturday through Monday, before closing for the 2021 season. (The Gazette)
Iowa City
City Park Pool, 200 Park Rd.: open Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lap swim and water walking; Saturday to Monday, 6:15 to 11:30 a.m. for lap swim and water walking, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for open swim; $2 swim 5 to 6 p.m. Details for all Iowa City pools: icgov.org/pools
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Mercer Park Aquatic Center, 2701 Bradford Dr.: open Friday, 6:15 to 9 a.m. for lap swim and water walking, 4 to 8 p.m. for open swim.
Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.: open Friday, 6:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lap swim and water walking, 4 to 8 p.m. for open swim.
Coralville
Coralville Recreation Center Indoor Pool, 1506 Eighth St.: open Friday, 6 to 8:30 a.m. for lap swim, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for the shallow end, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. for open swim; Saturday, 8 to 10:30 a.m. for lap swim, 10:30 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. for open swim; closed Sunday and Monday. Details: coralville.org/279/Indoor-Pool
FESTIVALS:
Fireworks & Fireflies
Marion: 6 p.m. Friday, fireworks at dusk, Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park, 4500 N. 10th St. Free admission; bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers, but no pets, sparklers, fireworks or other flammable items. Details: cityofmarion.org/recreation/parks-recreation/events/fireworks-fireflies
FRYfest
Coralville: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, or as it’s known during the festival, Fryday, at Iowa River Landing, along First Avenue/Hayden Fry Way. Celebration of all things Hawkeye, named in honor of late University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry. Signature attractions: Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Hawkeye Collectors Showcase, Hawkeye fashion show, former player panel discussions, autograph sessions, pep rally, High Porch Block Party at 1 p.m. with a Kid Zone, food trucks and bags tournament — all leading up to the evening’s High Porch Block Party Concert featuring The Spazmatics from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. Block Party tickets: $5 at fryfest.com/concert. Full festival details: fryfest.com/ The Hawkeyes tackle the Indiana Hoosiers at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City.
Iowa Craft Beer Bash
Amana: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Millstream Brewery Co., 835 48th Ave. Unlimited Beer Tastings from more than 50 Iowa Craft Breweries, plus music by the Surf Zombies. Tickets: $70 VIP admission noon to 5 p.m.; $45 general admission 1 to 5 p.m., $5 designated driver, at millstreambrewing.com/event/iowa-craft-beer-bash/
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT:
Amana
AKC Amana Colonies Cluster Dog Show: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Monday, Amana RV Park & Event Center, 3850 C St. See hundreds of dogs strut their stuff to win prizes; also includes vendors and health clinics. Free admission; no non-entered pets unless they’re participating in a health clinic; masks highly recommended in the tents and buildings, social distancing enforced. Public invited to bring their dogs to try out the FastCat fun runs, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, enter at gate 3. Updates posted at facebook.com/amanacoloniesdogshow
Cedar Rapids
“A Year with Frog and Toad,” Theatre Cedar Rapids musical at Brucemore’s Peggy Boyle Whitworth Amphitheater, 2160 Linden Dr. SE: 6:30 p.m. today through Sunday, continuing Sept. 9 to 12. Waking from hibernation in the spring, Frog and Toad spend a year planting gardens, swimming, raking leaves, sledding and learning life lessons along the way. Tickets: $23 adults, $13 children, at theatrecr.org/event/a-year-with-frog-and-toad/2021-09-03/
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 401 Third Ave. SE: Sunday marks your final chance to see “Grant Wood Revealed: Rarely Seen Works by an American Master.” While there, stroll the galleries to see more works by Grant Wood, Marvin Cone, Mauricio Lasansky, “Art in Roman Life” and “Beyond the Prairie: Midwestern Art from the Collection.” “Mildred Pelzer’s Iowa” exhibition opens Saturday. Hours: noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (other hours during the week); admission is $8 adults, with discounts for seniors and students, free ages 5 and under. Details: crma.org/
CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE: “Derecho Remembrance, One Year Later,” featuring works from local artists, Gazette archival images and newspaper clipping from the week of the Aug. 10, 2020, storm, as well as videos of the response/damage and photo journalists’ never before seen work. Hours: noon to 6 p.m. today through Sunday (also Thursdays); free admission. Details: cspshall.org/exhibits
A sign encouraging social distancing, masks and one way foot traffic is seen on Second Avenue SE during the 16th annual Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market on June 19. The market returns Saturday morning, offering food items, artisan wares and entertainment. (The Gazette)
Downtown Farmers Market: 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Second to Fourth avenues, between Second and Fifth streets SE. Vendors featuring produce, baked goods, meat, cheese, specialty foods, food trucks, wine, artisan creations, family friendly entertainment. Details: cedarrapids.org/events/farmers-market
The History Center, 800 Second Ave. SE: See two new exhibits: “Fashion and Philanthropy: The Armstrong Family” and “Victory: Adapting to Peace.” Hours: noon to 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (other hours Tuesday, Thursday); free admission in September. Details: historycenter.org/
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids: Monday is your last chance to see “Moravian Glory: Preserving Our Brilliance,” an exhibit showing life in Moravia from childhood to old age. Other exhibits also are open, including the new “Crowning Glory: A Feast of Slovak & Moravian Headdresses.” Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; admission $10, with discounts for seniors, veterans, students and youths, free ages 5 and under. Details: ncsml.org/
Rock the Block, NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE: Friday, The Bamboozlers trop rock band, 6 to 8 p.m.; free admission, bring seating. Details: newbocitymarket.org/rock-the-block
Iowa City
Free puppet show: “Magical Fish and Mermaids,” 4:30 p.m. Monday, Calder Park, 2831 Hickory Trl. Two stories and a song from Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, performed by Monica Leo, using Bohemian style rod marionettes. Details: owlglass.org/local-events-20192020/summer-neighborhood-tour/
Summer of the Arts Friday Night Concert Series, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Free concert on the Ped Mall stage, featuring The Beaker Brothers rock jam band. Bring chairs, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages. Details: summerofthearts.org/calendar/
Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com