Events

Winter Bird Feeding & the Science of Snow

Join us for the final session of a new 2020 programming series, "A Land Ethic Workshop". Join instructor Ron Cisar as we celebrate the life and legacy of the famous naturalist and philosopher Aldo Leopold. Our December 5th session will focus on Leopold's essay "Home Range". Participants in this session will compare various types of birdseed and feeders, learn to make simple bird feeder ornaments to decorate and bring birds to your yard, and plan the perfect winter backyard feeding station. We will also explore the legacy and contributions of notable naturalists and discuss the secret language of snow and important animal adaptations for winter.

This program is intended for participants age 14 and over with an interest in the natural world, no experience or prior knowledge is required to participate. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited. The cost for this program is $15.00 per person per individual session.

Hummmm In the Holidays - Piano Concert

Pianist Dan Fogel will be performing holiday classics from his home in Long Island, New York, and taking requests. Hum along to some of your favorite holiday songs! This is a ZOOM Event - Join us for viewing in Meeting Room B, or pre-register to view from home. Registration is required. Contact the Reference Desk at 712-323-7553, ext. 2 for reservations or visit our website. Face masks and social distancing are required for in-person events and programs.

Winter Market at Full Fledged Brewing Co.

Come support your local artist and entrepreneurs as we kick off the holiday shopping season at Full Fledged Brewing Co. Listen to Paul Hart on the acoustic guitar while you enjoy your shopping experience! Browse and purchase art from Buck Christensen Photography, Lutzco Creative House, Chelsea Vanrose Art, Sterling by Branigan, Adkins Wood & Knife, Good Flour Confections, Golden Bolt Brand, and more! All attendees will be required to follow the most recent Proclamation of Disaster Emergency as set forth by the Governor of the State of Iowa.

Wartime Railroad Advertising: Steam into Saturday Virtual Happy Hour

How did the railroad advertise its support for wartime mobilization? Join us for an exploration of Union Pacific's wartime posters. This event will take place on Zoom. It is totally free, but please register ahead of time by clicking the ticket link in the event. You will receive a confirmation email immediately, and we will send out the Zoom meeting link the day before the event. If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a Facebook message.

Breakfast with Santa

Come down and enjoy a holiday breakfast with Santa at the Walnut Community Center! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present for pictures from 9 a.m. until noon. Freewill donations will go toward supporting the Walnut Community Center Foundation. 

Virtual Christmas Karen Chat

A fun, interactive virtual event! Talk with Karen Schaler about her novels and movies. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting and empowering, filled with heart and hope. “Christmas Karen” will share behind the scenes stories and answer questions about her novels and Netflix/Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies. ZOOM Event - Contact the Reference Desk at 712-323-7553, ext. 2, to view with us in Meeting Room B or go to our website to pre-register and view via ZOOM from home. This event is free and open to the public. Due to COVID restrictions, space is limited, and face masks and social distancing are required for in-person events and programs.

Winterfest Holiday Lights Tour

You're invited to take a tour of the best holiday lights in Council Bluffs! This is a self-guided event for you to enjoy from the safety and warmth of your vehicle. The Holiday Lights Tour map will be published on Tuesday, December 8 on the @712initiative's Facebook event and website for everyone to use! Council Bluffs residents are encouraged to decorate their homes with holiday lights and participate in a route around the community. Add your home to our list by filling out the form by Tuesday, December 1. 

Wheels of War Virtual Presentation

Railroads have played a part in every U.S. war since 1860. During the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Gulf War, and even today, railroads transported soldiers and everything they need, from tanks to uniforms. Learn more about this exciting history through this webinar. This event is will take place on Zoom. It is totally free, but please register ahead of time by clicking the ticket link in the event. You will receive a confirmation email immediately, and we will send out the Zoom meeting link the day before the event. If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a Facebook message.

Free Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Training

This American Red Cross first aid, CPR, AED, and bloodborne pathogens training class is free to Iowa workers whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19 thanks to a grant from Iowa Workforce Development. Participants will receive 2-year first aid/CPR/AED and 1-year bloodborne pathogens certifications. Eligible participants include but are not limited to those who are unemployed, partially employed, unable, or have been unable to work as a result of the pandemic. Unemployed participants are eligible to receive a $100 stipend for completing the training. Those employed or partially employed must be "on the clock" while completing training to qualify. Training consists of an online component that must be done beforehand and an in-person classroom event. This is a great opportunity for those in quarantine/isolation or caring for someone who is to earn while learning. If you have any questions about eligibility just ask! Email training@loesshillsenvr.com for details.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

PACE Studio Artists - Open Studio Hours

The Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center hosts open studio hours for incredible artists every Thursday. The dazzling array of media includes oil and acrylics, pastel, photography, sculpture, home goods, and more. Browse work by Council Bluffs Photography by Buck Christensen, LUTZCO Creative House, Ann Brugenhemke Art, Susan Woodford Sculpture, and Hz Productions.

We encourage visitors to enjoy local contemporary art throughout the facility and unparalleled views from the 4th floor Nelson Gallery. Open studio hours are free and parking is abundant. Please join us for fresh air, art, live music, and libations!

746 Needlework Club

Knitting, crochet, embroidery - all skill levels welcome! Meet with people who share your interest in needlework; share ideas and help each other! Bring your own supplies or projects to work on. 746 Needlework Club meets the second and fourth Thursday most months, and is free and open to the public.

Due to COVID restrictions, seating is limited, and face masks and social distancing are required for in-person events and programs.

Breakfast With Santa

Bring your kids and let Santa know what you want for Christmas. This event includes breakfast. The cost is $10 per person. In order to ensure proper social distancing, this year's event will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. Enter through the main entrance on the west side. The event will be on the first floor. Afterward, you may visit the Dodge House.

Christmas by Candlelight Tours

Experience Christmas as it was in the last quarter of the 19th century. Enjoy the General Dodge House and the Beresheim House with all the lights off illuminated only by flickering (artificial) candlelight and over a dozen beautifully decorated and lighted trees. Each tree features its own distinct theme. Tickets are $15.00 each, non-cancelable, non-refundable. Tours are available in 20-minute intervals beginning at 6 p.m. with the last tour ending at 10 p.m. More tours will be available on December 19th. Guests will receive a goodie bag upon completion of their tour.

The Nucracker Home Cinema Edition

American Midwest Ballet is bringing The Nutcracker home! The holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without The Nutcracker. So this year, as our gift to you, we’re sharing this magical holiday tradition in an all-new home cinema edition that you and your family can enjoy wherever you are!

The Nutcracker Home Cinema Edition will premiere at 7 p.m. on Facebook and Youtube. These will be available for viewing through December 25!

Dailey & Vincent: Sleigh Bells Ringing 'N Singing

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, now on season five of their television series "The Dailey & Vincent Show on RFD-TV" and backed by one of the best bands on tour today, are some of the most reputable and elite entertainers in American bluegrass, traditional country and gospel music. Their concoction of fantastically instinctive vocal blends of Dailey’s tenor and Vincent’s reedy harmonies has gained them well-deserved praise for their own distinctive style and worldwide recognition as American Music gold.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

PACE Studio Artists - Open Studio Hours

The Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center hosts open studio hours for incredible artists every Thursday. The dazzling array of media includes oil and acrylics, pastel, photography, sculpture, home goods, and more. Browse work by Council Bluffs Photography by Buck Christensen, LUTZCO Creative House, Ann Brugenhemke Art, Susan Woodford Sculpture, and Hz Productions.

We encourage visitors to enjoy local contemporary art throughout the facility and unparalleled views from the 4th floor Nelson Gallery. Open studio hours are free and parking is abundant. Please join us for fresh air, art, live music, and libations!

Full Moon Night Hike

Join us at Hitchcock Nature Center for a naturalist-led night hike through the Loess Hills. The full moon shines down from her place in the sky and if the weather cooperates, will illuminate your path through the trees. This is a leisurely hike but please note this event will take place outdoors and involves pedestrian travel on uneven surfaces in low light and darkness. Flashlights will be permitted for portions of the hike but will not be in use the entire time. Strollers are not permitted. Please dress for the weather. Cost is $5.00 per person, age 3 and under are free and don't need a reservation. Your admission fee includes admission to the park. This event is open to participants of all ages. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited.

Christmas by Candlelight Tours

Experience Christmas as it was in the last quarter of the 19th century. Enjoy the General Dodge House and the Beresheim House with all the lights off illuminated only by flickering (artificial) candlelight and over a dozen beautifully decorated and lighted trees. Each tree features its own distinct theme. Tickets are $15.00 each, non-cancelable, non-refundable. Tours are available in 20-minute intervals beginning at 6 p.m. with the last tour ending at 10 p.m. Guests will receive a goodie bag upon completion of their tour.

Veteran Buddies on the 22nd

On the 22nd of each month, Operation 22 til Freedom is going to set up and arrange a gathering of veterans. The purpose is to meet up with our veteran buddies or to meet new ones. We all need a support system, we want to help our vets grow theirs. Please feel free to invite a veteran buddy to our group. This is a free event. (No beverages or food will be provided.)

New Years Eve Midnight Hike

Celebrate the end of 2020 in style during this guided night hike through the Loess Hills at Hitchcock Nature Center. This special, after-hours hike is the perfect way to ring in the new year in style. This is a leisurely hike but please note this event will take place outdoors and involves pedestrian travel on uneven surfaces in low light and darkness. Flashlights will be permitted for portions of the hike but will not be in use the entire time. Strollers are not permitted. Please dress for the weather. The cost is $5.00 per person and we ask that participants be age 5 and over, please. Your admission fee includes admission to the park. This event is open to participants of all ages. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited, visit www.pottconservation.com to register online.

Homeschool in the Hills: Nocturnal Animals

Area homeschool students and educators are invited to join us at Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek for another fun-filled program. Join us on a winter hike to learn about how wild animals survive winter and learn the answers to some important nature questions like: Why do some trees lose their leaves? How can our local chipmunks survive the winter if they don’t hibernate? Why do some plants stay green and living all winter while others die in the fall? The cost for this program is $3.00 per child age 3 and over, accompanying adults and children under 3 are free. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Visit www.pottconservation.com to register online.

Homeschool in the Hills: Nocturnal Animals

Area homeschool students and educators are invited to join us at Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek for another fun-filled program. Join us on a winter hike to learn about how wild animals survive winter and learn the answers to some important nature questions like: Why do some trees lose their leaves? How can our local chipmunks survive the winter if they don’t hibernate? Why do some plants stay green and living all winter while others die in the fall? The cost for this program is $3.00 per child age 3 and over, accompanying adults and children under 3 are free. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Visit www.pottconservation.com to register online.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

The Railroad Photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg

Join author Tony Reevy for a free presentation about the railroad photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg. Bon vivant, railroad historian, photographer, pioneering food critic, chronicler of New York's café society, and noted newspaperman, Lucius Beebe (1902–1966) was an American original. In 1938, with the publication of High Iron: A Book of Trains, he transformed the world of railroad-subject photography forever by inventing the railroad picture book genre. In 1940, he met creative and life partner Charles Clegg (1916–1979), also a talented photographer. Beebe and Clegg produced an outstanding and diverse portfolio of mid-twentieth century railroad-subject photographs. Beebe, sometimes with Clegg, also authored about forty books, including many focused on railroads and railroading. If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a Facebook message.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom

Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom is the hilarious and true story behind one of America’s most beloved TV comedies. Lucile Ball paved the way for many of today’s top comediennes, while forcing Hollywood to begin dealing with the rising power and influence of women artists, both on-screen and behind the scenes. Playwright Gregg Oppenheimer – son of I Love Lucy creator Jess Oppenheimer – spins this witty, fast-paced tale of Lucy and Desi’s battles with CBS over the pioneering ideas that changed the face of television forever.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

Council Bluffs Public Library Speaker Series- Erik Larson

Erik Larson is the author of eight books, six of which became New York Times bestsellers. His latest books, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz and Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, both hit no. 1 on the list soon after launch. His saga of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, The Devil in the White City, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and won an Edgar Award for fact-crime writing; it lingered on various Times bestseller lists for the better part of a decade. Hulu plans to adapt the book for a limited TV series, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese as executive producers. Erik's In the Garden of Beasts, about how America's first ambassador to Nazi Germany and his daughter experienced the rising terror of Hitler's rule, has been optioned by Tom Hanks for development as a feature film.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

Barenaked Ladies: Last Summer on Earth Tour

Barenaked Ladies are bringing Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket to Harrah's Stir Cove for their Last Summer On Earth Tour. This will be the 6th edition of the tour, founded by the band in 2012 – the year that the Mayan calendar predicted would be the last, hence the “Last Summer On Earth”. Don't miss a summer night of good times and great music. 

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

3rd Annual Poker Run - A Ride to Prevent Veteran Suicide

Join us in the fight against veteran suicide at our 3rd Annual Poker Run. Registration will open from 10 a.m until 12 p.m. at Edward's Motorsports & RV. Food and drinks will be served by The Dock Bar & Grill. Register with us, get your route maps, and then grab breakfast before heading out. The Dock will have breakfast burritos available. The route will be announced in 2021. Our ride will once again end at Full Fledged Brewing Co. for a street party. There will be a silent and live auction, food truck, and a live band. We will have a suggested donation of $20 for single riders or car drivers, and $35 for couples or carloads. All donations will be collected at registration. More details to come in 2021. Please visit our website.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The City of Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Planning Commission Meeting

The City Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.

City of Council Bluffs Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise notified.