The Daily Iowan will take a publishing break from Aug. 5-21. Here are a few things coming up around town while we’ll be gone.
By Kendrew Panyanouvong
Iowa Soul Festival
The 2016 Iowa Soul Festival will take place Saturday in central Iowa City. Locals have the opportunity to celebrate Iowa City’s vibrant environment with dancing, music, food and art of the African and African-American communities.
The event is designed to highlight the positive influences the cultures have on Iowa City, the Creative Corridor, and eastern Iowa.
Performances on the Weatherdance Fountain Stage will include Local on the 8s, Goose Town, Kevin B.F. Burt, and the BluPrint Band.
Iowa State Fair
Iowa’s largest state event — the Iowa State Fair — is coming up, and this year there are lots of new foods and attractions.
According to a press release on the fair’s website, 26 new foods will be unveiled this year, including ice-cream nachos, apple fritter bites, bacon cheddar brat sandwiches, and fried fruit kabobs. The kabobs will join the other “75 delectable items served on-a-stick.”
Grandstand performances include appearances by Brett Elridge, Jason Derulo, Newsboys, and Meghan Trainor.
The fair will take place Aug. 11-21.
Rock the Chalk
In celebration of the completed “historical” reconstruction of the 104-year-old MidwestOne headquarters building, 102 S. Clinton St., and the new construction of OnePlace in the Riverfront Crossings, the city will host a chalk-art festival.
The festival, called Rock the Chalk, will feature art pieces designed around the theme of “Home Sweet Home: Iowa City.”
Fifty artists will be selected to create original pieces that represent what Iowa City means to them at the event on Aug. 12.
Farm to Street Dinner
A few locals will get the chance to eat a fully local six-course meal in downtown Iowa City.
The city of Iowa City, Iowa Citys’ Farmers Market, and the Downtown District will host a special event the night of Aug. 18 that will provide an “incredible” six-course meal prepared and cooked by some of the best local chefs using local ingredients.
All guests (21-plus) will have one glass of wine included, and “wine doggy bags” will be provided, allowing guests to take home unfinished bottles of wine.
Tammy Neumann, who coordinates the Farmers’ Market, said in a press release she wanted to bring the idea to Iowa City after she saw a similar event in Tennessee.
“I knew we needed to bring this to Iowa City to showcase the talents of our local producers and chefs,” she said in the release.
The event, which sold tickets for $75 each, sold out in 48 hours.
Rock Climbing Wall
Construction is underway in downtown Iowa City.
As part of the “Open Washington” campaign, IMON Business Services will put up a rock-climbing wall in the Black Hawk Mini Park Aug. 19 and 20.
Another component of the “Open Washington” project that débuted in May, City Paddle Boarding, will return Aug. 21.
Other events, including outdoor yoga, will also take place.