🎄 Dec. 18 - 21 | Your Johnson County Weekend Plans

TOGETHER WITH

FAMILY FUN 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Merry, Bright & Bluey

🏒 Iowa Heartlanders - Bluey Night | Friday, Dec. 26 | 📍 Xtream Arena
What better holiday gift than BLUEY NIGHT? Bring the family to Xtream Arena for energy, imagination, and fun, plus a chance to meet Bluey on the concourse. Part of the Kids Series, it’s a magical night little fans will love.

And now for this weekend:

• Thursday, 3:00 - 7:00pm: Youth Center Hangout (United Action for Youth)

• Thursday, 3:30pm: The Picture Show - Bambi (FilmScene)

• Thursday, 5:00 - 7:30pm: Christmas at the Ranch (IC Pizza Ranch)

• Friday, 5:00pm: ‘Tis the Season Festive Fridays (Downtown IC)

• Saturday, 9:00 - 11:00am: Breakfast with Santa (Crosspark Rd. Hy-Vee)

• Saturday, 10:00 - 4:00pm: Tractor Wagon Rides (Downtown Iowa City)

• Saturday, 10:00 - 1:00pm: DIY-U Kids’ Workshop (Lowe’s)

• Saturday, 10:30am: Limitless Youth Art Collective (United Action for Youth)

• Saturday, 10:30am: Story Time (IC, NL and Coralville Libraries)

• Saturday, 10:30am: Movie Morning (Oxford Public Library)

• Saturday, 11:30 - 2:30pm: Santa Saturdays (FilmScene at the Chauncey)

• Saturday, 4:00 - 7:00pm: A Very Merry Christmas Celebration (Swisher)

• Sunday, 10:00 - 1:00pm: Brunch with Santa (Micky’s Irish Pub NL)

• Sunday, 11:00 - 1:00pm: Christmas Bash with Santa (PinSeekers)

• Sunday, 4:00 - 7:00pm: A Very Merry Christmas Celebration (Swisher)

• Sunday, 2:00 - 3:00pm: Winter Solstice Lanterns (Coralville Public Library)

• Sunday, 2:00 - 4:00pm: Sunday Fun Day Craft (ICPL)

• Sunday, 6:00pm: Meet & Greet Santa Claus (Tavern Blue)

• 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 🍻

• Thursday, 5:30pm: Death of a Brewer (Iowa City Elks Lodge 590)

• Thursday, 6:00pm: Holiday Beer Dinner (ReUnion Brewery)

• Thursday, 7:00pm: Wicked Drag Dinner (Bg Grove Brewery)

• Friday, 7:30pm: Euforquestra (The Englert Theatre)

• Friday, 8:00pm: Ugly Sweater Contest & Party (Micky’s Irish Pub NL)

• Friday, All Day: Cheers to the Years (Backpocket Brewing)

• Saturday, 11:00am: Tom & Jerry Party (Iowa City Elks Lodge 590)

• Saturday, 5:00pm: Christmas/Hanukkah Party (BowlDogs)

• Saturday, 8:00pm: The Englert Ball (The Englert Theatre)

• Saturday, 9:00pm: Krampus Xmas Party (Studio 13 & Alley Cat)

• Sunday, 11:00am: Holiday Brunch Prix Fixe (Big Grove Brewery Solon)

• All Weekend: Trivia and Game Nights (BowlDogs, PinSeekers, Tailgators)

• All Weekend: Crooked Path - A Chris-mas Carol (The James Theater)

• All Weekend: Holiday Classes - To All A Good Night, Brazil, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Home Alone, Die Hard, It’s A Wonderful Life (FilmScene)

SEASONAL FUN 🎄

• Thursday, 4:30 - 6:00pm: Christmas Pop-Up Shop (SweetCakes by Paige)

• Friday, 7:00pm: Cousin Eddie Party (The Down Under)

• Friday, 8:00pm: Karaoke Christmas (Club 76)

• Saturday, 7:30am: Java Jog - Ugly Sweater Run/Walk (The Java House)

• Saturday, 10:00am: Holiday Gift Wrapping (Swisher Library)

• Saturday, 11:00am: Christmas Celebration (Iowa City Harley-Davidson)

• Saturday, 3:30pm: Irish Christmas Ceili 2025 (CCPA)

• Saturday, 6:30pm: Winter Solstice Gathering (InSpirit Healing Arts & Yoga)

• Saturday, 7:00pm: Winter Solstice Celebration (Unitarian Universalist Society)

• Sunday, 1:00pm: Winter Solstice Celebration (Robert A Lee Comm. Ctr.)

• All Weekend, Times Vary: Holiday Public Skate (BodyArmor Ice Rink)

• All Weekend, 11:00 - 7:00pm: Holiday Pop-Up Market (Downtown Iowa City)

GIVING BACK 🤝

A Weekend That Gives

Open House + Winter Clothing Drive | Sat., 3:00 pm | 📍 Dynamic Music Studios🎁 Celebrate the season with student performances, music games, treats, and warm drinks! Bring winter clothing donations to support the North Liberty Community Closet and spread warmth and joy to those in need this holiday season.

Other ways to give back this weekend:

• Thursday, 10:00 - 6:00pm: IMU Gives Back (Hubbard Commons)

• Thursday, 6:00pm: Novel Conversations (Coralville Public Library)

• Thursday, 6:30 - 10:30pm: Line Dance & Lesson (Wildwood)

• Friday, 5:00 - 7:00pm: CVHS Benefit (Kendra Scott)

GET CREATIVE 🎨

• Thursday, 6:30pm: Holiday Centerpiece Class (Forever Green)

• Thursday, 6:30pm: Festive Paint Nite & Ugly Sweater Party (Tavern Blue)

• Saturday, 6:30pm: Winter Van Gogh Painting (Brush & Barrel)

• Sunday, 2:00 - 3:30pm: Drawing Salon with Robert Caputo (UI Stanley Museum of Art)

• All Weekend: Pottery and Splatter Painting (Brush & Barrel)

ODDS & ENDS 🤸

• Thursday, 6:00pm: Movie Night (Coralville Public Library)

• Friday, 5:00 - 7:00pm: Open Mic Night (Tavern Blue)

• Friday, 5:00pm: Prime Rib Night (Iowa City Elks Lodge 590)

• Friday, 8:00pm: Karaoke Night (Black Squirrel Tap)

• Saturday, 10:00am: Publish Don’t Perish (Springmier Comm. Library)

• Saturday, 10:00am: Is Love a Virtue? (Big Grove Iowa City)

• Saturday, 10:00 - 3:00pm: IC Card & Collectibles (JoCo Fairgrounds)

• Saturday, 2:00 - 3:30pm: Jacob Gill Meet & Greet (The Vine)

• Saturday, 4:30pm: Iowa Dance Festival (Space Place Theater)

• Sunday, 11:00am: Johnson Co Market (JoCo Fairgrounds)

• Sunday, 11:00 - 2:00pm: Grief & The Holidays (The Goose Nest)

• Sunday, 11:00 - 2:00pm: Pro-Fit Gym Weightlifting Seminar (Pro-Fit Gym)

• Sunday, 1:00 - 6:00pm: Pool Tournament (BowlDogs)

• Sunday, 4:00pm: Sound Meditation with Tina McCoy (Heartland Yoga)

LIVE MUSIC 🎸 & ENTERTAINMENT 🎭

FRIDAY
🎵 Gypsy | Cedar Ridge | 6:00pm
🎵 30th Anniversary Concert | CCPA | 7:00pm
🎵 Live Music | Wildwood | 7:00pm
🎵 Jos Celebrates the Holidays | The Green House | 7:30pm
🎵 Holiday Voices | Gloria Dei Lutheran Church | 7:30pm
🎵 Live Music | Gabe’s | 8:00pm
🎵 Mullins Brothers | The Highlander | 8:00pm
🎵 The Winterland Jazz Trio | The Black Angel | 9:00pm
🎵 Brady Lee Band | Elray’s Live & Dive | 10:00pm

SATURDAY
🎵 Ryne Doughty | Cedar Ridge | 5:00pm
🎵 Heavy Xmas 2025 | Wildwood | 6:00pm
🎵 Salt River Band | DanceMor Ballroom | 6:30pm
🎵 Mill Creek Band | Shuey’s Restaurant | 7:00pm
🎵 Justin Goodchild | The Highlander | 8:00pm
🎵 Live Music | Gabe’s | 8:00pm
🎵 Freegrass Trio | The Black Angel | 9:00pm
🎵 Brady Lee Band | Elray’s Live & Dive | 10:00pm

SUNDAY
🎵 ICCB & NHB Holiday Concert | The Englert Theatre | 2:00pm
🎵 Savannah Dexter & Brabo Gator | Wildwood | 7:00pm
🎵 Kevin Gordon | The Black Angel | 7:00pm

NEXT WEEK 📅

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

• Dec. 22: Hawk Talk | Watermill Kitchen + Bar | 6:00pm

• Dec. 22: Cork N Canvas - Winter Sunset | Rayo’s | 6:00pm

• Dec. 23: Neighborhood Night | Big Grove Solon | 3:00 - 11:00pm

• Dec. 23: Blue Violin Candlelight Christmas | CCPA | 7:00pm

• Dec. 23: Christmas Vacation Trivia | Foundry Food + Tap | 7:00pm

• Dec. 23: Christmas Game Night Trivia | Copper Boar | 7:00pm

• Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Dinner | Vue Rooftop | 4:00pm

• Dec. 24: Cellar Sale | Field Day Brewing Co. | 6:30pm

And for the kiddos:

• Dec. 22: Tot Time Christmas Carnival | 9:00 - 12:00pm | Solon Comm. Center

• Dec. 22: Reindeer Games | Iowa Children’s Museum | 10:00 - 12:00pm

• Dec. 22: Gingerbread Fun Storytime | ICPL | 10:30am

• Dec. 23: Pajama Party | Iowa Children’s Museum | 10:00 - 4:00pm

• Dec. 23: Santa Visit | Big Grove Iowa City | 5:00 - 8:00pm

• Dec. 26: STEM Family Free Night | Iowa Children’s Museum | 5:00 - 8:00pm

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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