Looking for things to do during November in Iowa City?
Check out these events going on throughout the month in our collection of curious communities.
Find more things to do by visiting our events calendar or to submit your own event here. Sign up for our free events e-newsletter #ICtheWeekend.
Jack Splat
Jack Splat
Nov. 1, 10 a.m.
Chauncey Swan Park
Iowa City
- Pumpkins must be gutted (this is Jack SPLAT, not Jack THUD).
- Please remove candles, artificial lighting, or any other decorations that are in or attached to the pumpkin. This includes stickers, ribbons, and remnants of candle wax inside.
- We compost Jack Splat pumpkins. Ones that have been painted or coated with a preserving sealant should not be added to a compost pile. Pumpkins coated with glitter should not be composted.
Eureka Day
Eureka Day
Oct. 24- Nov. 9
Riverside Theatre
Iowa City
At the Eureka Day School in Berkeley, California, the board of directors meets in the library to deal with a crisis: an outbreak of mumps among the students. When the school’s vaccine policy becomes front and center, battle lines are drawn, misinformation flies, and consensus turns slippery as misinformation spreads faster than the virus.
Family Folk Machine Dreaming Iowa
Family Folk Machine Dreaming Iowa
Nov. 9, 3 p.m.
Englert Theatre
Iowa City
Exploring stories and songs from Iowa’s past and how we see our future, the Family Folk Machine presents “Dreaming Iowa”, a fall concert that features over 100 inter-generational singers, a full instrumental ensemble, and a collaboration with legendary singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Dave Moore. With traditional songs that represent groups of people who lived in Iowa 100 years ago, brand-new compositions written specifically for this concert, and other selections that support our musical theme, the Family Folk Machine weaves a tale of belonging, understanding immigrant experiences, reflections on present-day Iowa City, and a celebration of other voices found in Iowa’s rich history. The concert, to be held at the Englert Theatre on Sunday, November 9th at 3 p.m. is free and open to the public. Please join us!
Mic Check Poetry Festival
Mic Check Poetry Festival
Nov. 13-15
Various locations
Iowa City
Mic Check Poetry Fest is a three-day celebration of spoken word and its power to bear witness, create community, and inspire change. The festival is packed with a variety of events, from performances by Iowa spoken word poets to a showcase highlighting nationally-acclaimed artists Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye, making it unlike any other festival in Iowa. In the true spirit of spoken word, Mic Check Poetry Fest gives space for attendees to engage and create through writing workshops and a poetry slam and open mic.
Adults attend low cost, teens attend free!
Hairball performs at Xtream Arena
Hairball performs at Xtream Arena
Nov. 14, doors at 6:30 p.m.
Xtream Arena
Coralville
Celebrating 25 years of turning concerts into full-blown rock spectacles, Hairball continues to bring the ultimate 80s Rock & Roll tribute to fans across the nation. With heart-pounding accuracy, they recreate the iconic sound and style of legends like Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, and Queen, transforming the stage into an ever-changing tribute to rock history. Packed with pyrotechnics, lights, and surprises, every Hairball show is a larger-than-life experience. For two and a half decades, they’ve ignited crowds with their passion for Rock & Roll, proving they’re still at the top of their game!
With Special Guest: THE PORK TORNADOES
Floodwater Comedy Festival
Floodwater Comedy Festival
Nov. 14-15
Willow Creek Theatre Company
Iowa City
The Floodwater Comedy Festival is bringing the best comedy in Iowa, the Midwest and beyond for a two-day festival of standup, improv and more. 55 comedians + 24 acts + 11 shows = 2 days of fun. Headliners include Shawna Blake, Eli Wilz, and the Ham Hammer improv team out of the renowned iO Theatre in Chicago, and featuring Bernard Bell, Chowdown, Bl!mp and many others.
Tickets are available now for single shows and for multi-show passes. Floodwater is also hosting two workshops where Iowa Citians can learn from members of Ham Hammer to “Yes, and…” on stage in life.
For the first time, Floodwater is all held in one place for one-stop shopping for the best comedy you can find! All shows and workshops are held at Willow Creek Theatre — a nonprofit, volunteer-run, labor of laughs.
T-Rex Tea Party
T-Rex Tea Party
Nov. 19, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library
Iowa City
Let’s celebrate DINOvember with afternoon tea (and other yummy treats!) with a T-Rex! Nibble some dino-riffic snacks, listen to a dino-tacular stories, make some dino-mite crafts, and greet a very special guest (who might dance with you, too!).
If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Library.
This event is open to the public.
Stories of Community
Stories of Community
Nov. 23, 12:30 p.m.
FilmScene
Iowa City
Join us in celebrating two years of partnership between Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) and FilmScene with a roundup screening of every short film produced and screened this year, including the three most recent shorts, “Trash Pickup”, “Catskill Ice Cream Social”, and “Iowa City Kitty Walk”. After the screening, we’ll have a conversation then move into the Chauncey lobby for a community building reception with food.
12:30pm — Short films on the big screen
12:45pm — A short conversation with filmmakers and participants
1pm — Reception in the Chauncey lobby
Holiday Lights at the Lake
Holiday Lights at the Lake
Nov. 26-Dec.31
West Overlook Campground
Coralville
Embrace the festive spirit and make Holiday Lights at the Lake your treasured holiday tradition! As you drive through the enchanting West Overlook Campground, you’ll be captivated by our fifth annual community celebration. A magical mile of dazzling animated light displays awaits, complete with a captivating animated tunnel and countless sparkling arches and holiday figures.
West Overlook Campground is transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland. Delight in the playful antics of dancing polar bears, be awed by the giant poinsettia pot and forest, and join in the fun as we take you “Under the Sea”- a display new for 2025!
Take a heartwarming journey down “Memory Lane,” where a vibrant collection of illuminated trees pays tribute to cherished loved ones.
Many beloved displays are making a delightful return, including the “Farming in Iowa” area featuring “Snowmerican Gothic,” a joyful twist on Grant Wood’s timeless “American Gothic.”
All proceeds support The Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County.
The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap – Riverside Theatre
Nov. 28-Dec. 14
Riverside Theatre
Iowa City
November 28 – December 14, 2025 at Riverside Theatre
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – 7:30pm
Sundays – 2:00pm
Synopsis: A timeless “who done it” with a twist ending that has famously been performed for 70+ years on London’s West End. When a young couple opens a bed and breakfast on the English countryside, their first guests turn out to be six odd and shadowy figures, each with secrets to hide. A snowstorm cuts the house off from the outside world just as a notorious murderer is revealed to be on the loose, and each guest becomes a suspect.
**There will be a talkback with the performers and director hosted by Miriam Gilbert following the Sunday, 11/30 matinee performance. This event is free and open to the public; you do not need to attend that day’s performance to attend the talkback.
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