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🎁 Dec. 11 - 14 | Your Johnson County Weekend Plans

🎁 Dec. 11 - 14 | Your Johnson County Weekend Plans

The JoCo Know
December 11, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Holiday mode activated! 🎄 Here are 100+ ways to get out, unwind, or celebrate in Johnson County. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for weekend roundups and holiday giveaways! 🎁

FAMILY FUN 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

All Play This Weekend

Sponsor Highlight

🎁 Give the Gift of Play |📍 The Iowa Children’s Museum
Give the gift of play this holiday season with digital gift cards and memberships from The Iowa Children’s Museum. Inspire imagination, spark curiosity, and share joyful learning experiences kids will remember long after the holidays end. ✨

And fun for the fam this weekend:

Friday, 10:30am: Read on the Rug (UI Museum of Nature History)
Friday, 12:30pm: Holiday Tubas (Old Capitol Museum)
Friday, 5:00pm: ‘Tis the Season Festive Fridays (Downtown IC)
Friday, 5:30pm: Tween After Hours - Nerf War (North Liberty Library)
Saturday, 8:00 - 1:00am: Breakfast with Santa (Waterfront Hy-Vee)
Saturday, 8:30 - 12:30pm: Breakfast with Santa (Hyatt Regency)
Saturday, 9:00 - 11:00am: Green Grouch Breakfast (Crosspark Rd. Hy-Vee)
Saturday, 9:30am: Music4TOTS (Music4Life)
Saturday, 10:00 - 4:00pm: Tractor Wagon Rides (Downtown Iowa City)
Saturday, 10:30am: Story Time (IC, NL and Coralville Libraries)
Saturday, 10:30am: Movie Morning (Oxford Public Library)
Saturday, 11:00 - 1:00pm: Visit with Santa (Lantern Park Hy-Vee)
Saturday, 11:00 - 1:30pm: Buddy’s Syrup, Sips & Cinema (Tavern Blue)
Saturday, 11:00 - 1:00pm: Santa’s Coming! (Solon American Legion)
Saturday, 11:30 - 2:30pm: Santa Saturdays (FilmScene at the Chauncey)
Saturday, 12:00 - 3:00pm: Santa Claus Visit (Reds Alehouse)
Saturday, 1:30 & 3:00pm: UI Youth Ballet Showcase - Nutcracker (ICPL)
Saturday, 4:00 - 7:00pm: A Very Merry Christmas Celebration (Swisher)
Saturday, 6:00pm: Fun For All Night (Solon Public Library)
Sat. & Sun., 11:00am: The Picture Show - Bambi (FilmScene)
Sunday, 9:00 - 1:00pm: Brunch with Santa (Wilson’s Orchard)
Sunday, 1:00 - 3:00pm: Skate with Santa (BodyArmor Ice Rink)
Sunday, 1:00 - 3:00pm: Photo Opps with Santa (Iowa River Landing)
Sunday, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Ultimate Santa Event (Anderson’s ATA Taekwondo)
Sunday, 2:00 - 4:00pm: Sunday Fun Day Craft (ICPL)
All Weekend, 5:30 - 8:30pm: Holiday Lights at the Lake (Iowa City)
All Weekend, 10:00 - 8:00pm: Teddy Bear Room (Hilton Garden Inn)
All Weekend, 10:00 - 5:00pm: Hunt for the Elves (Downtown Iowa City)

A NIGHT (OR DAY) OUT 🍻

Sleigh Your Weekend Plans

Sponsor Highlight

Sleigh Bar Christmas Pop-Up | 📍 Tin Roost
🎄 Step into a festive pop-up packed with twinkling lights, cozy vibes, cheerful cocktails, and fun photo ops. Bring your friends, rock your ugly sweater, and make merry—reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome! 🎅🏼 ✨

And more ideas for outings:

Thursday, 4:00 - 7:00pm: Swisher Sip & Shop (Swisher)
Thursday, 7:30pm: Magic Dust: Dave Moore (The Englert Theatre)
Friday, 7:00pm: Hawkeye Night @ Iowa Heartlanders (Xtream Arena)
Friday, 8:00pm: Don’t Tell Comedy (TBD Iowa City Location)
Saturday, 7:30pm: Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas (Hancher)
Saturday, 8:00pm: Bawdy Bawdy Ha Ha (The Englert Theatre)
Saturday, 9:00pm: Holiday Onesie Party (Studio 13 & Alley Cat)
Sunday, 9:00 - 12:00pm: Friends-mas Brunch (Cedar Ridge)
All Weekend: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (CCPA)
All Weekend: The Madrigal Dinner (The James Theater)
All Weekend: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (Riverside Theatre)
All Weekend, Showtimes Vary: Holiday Classics (FilmScene)
All Weekend: Trivia and Game Nights (BowlDogs, PinSeekers, Tailgators)

HOLIDAY FUN 🎄

Thursday, 5:30pm: Holiday Trivia + Cocoa Party (Springmier Library)
Thursday, 7:00pm: A Very Merry Jingle - Old Capitol Chorus (Robert A. Lee. Comm. Ctr.)
Saturday, 9:00 - 12:00pm: Cookie Walk (NL First United Methodist)
Saturday, 11:00 - 3:00pm: Santa Paws Pet Photos (Theisen’s)
Saturday, 3:00pm: The Great Christmas Ring (Coral Ridge Mall)
Sunday, 9:00 - 11:00am: Meet Santa (Craft Salon + Spa)
Sunday, 11:00 - 1:00pm: KWLG Winterfest (Shuey’s Restaurant)
Sunday, 2:00pm: Carols, Chorales & Christmas (Solon High School)
Sunday, 4:30pm: Lucia Fest! (The Celebration Farm)
Sunday, 5:00 - 9:00pm: Coralville Aisle of Lights (S.T. Morrison Park)
All Weekend, 11:00 - 7:00pm: Holiday Pop-Up Market (Downtown Iowa City)

GET CREATIVE 🎨

Thursday, 6:00pm: Holiday Plate Techniques (Artisan Insight Studios)
Saturday, 9:30am: Holly Jolly Cookie Decorating (Midnight Coffee)
Saturday, 10:00am: Gingerbread House Decorating (Solon Public Library)Sunday, 10:00am: Ornament Painting (The Stuffed Olive)
Sunday, 2:00 - 5:00pm: Beginning Crochet Workshop (Wilson’s Orchard)
Sunday, 4:00 - 6:00pm: Second Sunday Sketch (Press Coffee)
All Weekend: Pottery, Splatter and Seasonal Painting (Brush & Barrel)
All Weekend: Jewelry Making Classes (Beadology)

GIVING BACK 🤝

Thursday, 5:30pm: 100+ Men Quarter 4 Event (BowlDogs)
Friday, 6:00pm: Project Holiday Kick-Off Concert (Wildwood)
Saturday, 6:00pm: BBBS Night @ Iowa Heartlanders (Xtream Arena)
Sunday, 5:00 - 7:00pm: HomeBrewed, Home Renewed (Reunion Brewery)
Sunday, All Day: Mac & Cheese for a Cause (Big Grove Solon)

ODDS & ENDS 🤸

Thursday, 7:00pm: Swing Dance Lessons (IC Masonic Lodge #4)
Friday, 3:00 - 5:00pm: The World of Tea (Coralville Library)
Friday, 5:00 - 7:00pm: Free Winter BrrrBQ Meal (Coralville Parks & Rec)
Friday, 6:00pm: HoliGay Pride Night (Public Space One)
Friday, 7:00pm: Broomstick Scotch Doubles (First Avenue Club)
Saturday, 1:00pm: Meet Hawkeye Football Players (Shuey’s)
Saturday, 2:00 - 4:00pm: Puzzle Swap (Diversions)
Saturday, 3:00pm: Posy Pages (Posy Bakery and Cakes)
Saturday, 3:00 & 5:30pm: Open Skate (Robert A. Lee Comm. Center)
Saturday, 4:00 - 6:00pm: MockTales - Spooky Stories (Coralville Library)
Sunday, 10:00am: Small Balls Scotch Doubles Tournament (BowlDogs)
Sunday, 11:00am: Pottery Sale (Dolphin Dr. Iowa City)
Sunday, 12:00 - 2:00pm: Legion Bingo (Solon American Legion)
Sunday, 1:00 - 6:00pm: Pool Tournament (BowlDogs)
Sunday, 1:00 - 3:00pm: Free Mom Hugs Book Club (ICPL)
Sunday, 3:00pm: Penny’s Hill Book Signing (Prairie Light Bookstore)

LIVE MUSIC 🎸 & ENTERTAINMENT 🎭

AND GO HAWKS! 💛🖤

🤸🏼‍♀️ Friday, 6:00pm: Women’s Gymnastics Intra-Squad Meet
🏃 Friday & Saturday: Women & Men’s Track - Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational
🏀 Saturday, 2:00pm: Women’s Basketball vs. Lindenwood
🏀 Sunday, 3:00pm: Men’s Basketball vs. Western Michigan

NEXT WEEK 📅

No #SundayScaries! Here are a few things to look forward to next week:

Dec. 15: Hawk Talk | Watermill Kitchen + Bar | 6:00pm
Dec. 16: Elf Trivia Night | Foundtry Food + Tap | 7:00pm
Dec. 17: Holiday Market | Big Grove Iowa City | 5:00 - 8:00pm
Dec. 17: Meditative Sound Journey | U.U.S. | 6:30pm
Dec. 17: A Very Merry Cocktail Class | Cedar Ridge | 6:30pm
Dec. 17: Music Bingo | Field Day | 7:00pm
Dec. 18: SweetCakes by Paige Xmas Pop-Up | 4:30 - 6:00pm
Dec. 18: Death of a Brewer | Iowa City Elks Lodge 590 | 5:30pm
Dec. 18: Holiday Centerpiece Class | Forever Green | 6:30pm
Dec. 18: Crooked Path - A Chris-mas Carol | The James | 7:30pm

And for the fam:

Dec. 15: DoodleBugs | NL Library | 10:30am
Dec. 15: Santa is Back at the Sleigh Bar | Tin Roost | 5:30 - 8:00pm
Dec. 16: Teddy Bear Storytime | Hilton Garden Inn | 9:30am
Dec. 16: Music4Tots | Music4Life | 3:00pm
Dec. 17: StoryJAM | ICPL | 10:30am
All Week: Holiday Lights at the Lake | Iowa City | 5:30 - 8:30pm

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And Who Are We?
We’re Hayley and Andy, parents of two toddlers and lovers of Johnson County. We’re always planning our next outing and exploring what’s new locally. Living in the area for almost 20 years, The JoCo Know is a passion project for us and is truly an extension of what we love to do - plan, explore, enjoy, and repeat.

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