Events

Totally Rad Vintage Fest

Step into a time warp of style and nostalgia at Totally Rad Vintage Fest! Our totally radical vendors specialize in iconic clothing and accessories from the 80s, 90s, and Y2K eras, while also offering a diverse selection of records, toys, video games, home goods, and more to complete your ultimate nostalgic shopping experience! Unleash your inner gamer at the Free-Play Vintage Arcade, and explore the Vintage Gallery with relics from the past. Strike rad poses at the throwback photo ops. Share the memories on social media and let the world know you’re experiencing the raddest event of the year!

Latino Festival

Celebrate National Hispanic Month with Centro Latino of Iowa at Bayliss Park. We will have food, live music, raffles, face painting, bounce houses, and piñatas, along with more than 25 local agencies to promote Hispanic Heritage in Council Bluffs.

Ballroom Dancing

Enjoy ballroom dancing in our beautiful ballroom! We have some of the best live orchestras to deliver a great dancing & music experience. Split the pot at each dance; occasional raffles. Free snacks provided! 

• September 30th - Greg Spevak Orchestra
• October 7th - Greg Spevak Orchestra
• October 28th - Leo Lonnie Orchestra - Snack day, bring a snack to share
• November 4th - Leo Lonnie Orchestra
• November 11th - Greg Spevak Orchestra
•  December 9th - Greg Spevak Orchestra - Christmas Dance and snack day

Tropical Vibes Farewell! A Jimmy Buffet Charity Send-Off

Escape to an island paradise without leaving town at our Jimmy Buffett Farewell Party! Put on your best tropical attire for a chance to win fantastic prizes, and get ready for a day filled with fun and entertainment. Here's what we have in store:

• 🏝️ Tropical Attire Contest: Dress in your finest island-themed outfits, and our judges will select the best-dressed parrothead for a special prize!
• 🎮 Games and Prizes: Enjoy a variety of games with exciting prizes up for grabs throughout the event.
• 🎟️ Raffles: Try your luck with our raffle tickets for a chance to win some fantastic items!
• 🌽 Bags/Cornhole Tournament: Compete with your friends in a thrilling bags/cornhole tournament.
• 🎧 Live DJ: Dance the day away to the sounds of our live DJ spinning your favorite Jimmy Buffett tunes and more!

Best of all, there's no charge to attend this fantastic event. So, grab your flip-flops, don your Hawaiian shirts, and join us for a day of island vibes and good times.

Saturday Glow Night

Drop the kids off every other Saturday night as we transform The Hub into nights of cosmic fun! The lights go down, the music goes up, while we fire up lasers, black lights, disco balls, and fog machines. These weekend events include open jump, glow-in-the-dark dodgeball, games, and giveaways! Memberships will be verified upon check-in, $20 entrance fee for members. $25 for a regular ticket

Prairie Crossing Sip & Shop

Prairie Crossing Vineyard and winery is hosting its annual fall sip and shop on October 1. Vendors will be set up and ready at 10 AM. Smoking good times will be there with her food truck. And we will have music by Jocelyn Olivia and Brenda Lee from 2 to 5. We have well over 25 amazing vendors, and it promises to be a fantastic day!

KSO | Hauntcert

Join the Kanesville Symphony Orchestra this Halloween season for a hauntingly good time! KSO will be performing some classic pieces that are sure to get you in the spooky spirit. Selections from Wicked, The Complete Harry Potter Collection, Selections from A Nightmare Before Christmas, Theme from Halloween, Themes from Sorcerer's Apprentice, and Dark Shadows. Scan the code on the front, or visit the website or our box office to reserve your seats! 

Get Ready for the Annular Solar Eclipse

On October 14th, an annular solar eclipse will be visible along a narrow path from Oregon to Texas, through Central America to Brazil. In the morning, the moon will cover the face of the Sun, so that the Sun appears in the sky as a single ring of light, known as the ring of fire. To witness the incredible ring of fire, you will need to be within the 125-mile path of annularity. The path arches from Oregon to Texas; then it will continue south through Central America to Brazil. Unless you're on that path, you'll only see a partial eclipse. The whole event will take about three hours, but annularity will only last about five minutes. Presented by Mike Modrcin of the Omaha Astronomical Society.

Loess Hills Prairie Seed Harvest

Golden Hills is working with local partners to find volunteers for our seed harvesting project. Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects. Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock. No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.

Adult Board Game Night

Adult Board Game Night - bring a friend!

Come play new and classic board and card games. This group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, and it is free to attend. You are welcome to bring your favorite games or just stop in to join a game.

Trail Stewards Public Meeting & Volunteer Signup

Pottawattamie County Conservation is in need of trail stewards who aren't afraid to get dirty while blazing and maintaining four-season recreational trails. Will you answer our call? Join the Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol and learn more about becoming a specialized Trail Steward volunteer on Tuesday, October 3rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center's Loess Hills Lodge (in the Goldfinch Room). For those unable to join us in person to learn more, an online version of the meeting will also be made available. Please check the event website or visit the Hitchcock Nature Center Facebook page for information on how to join virtually.

Healthiest State Annual Walk

The Annual Walk is an opportunity to join thousands of other Iowans statewide in walking for 30 minutes. Workplaces, schools, organizations and cities are all encouraged to register for a walk! Being physically active is one of the most important steps that people of all ages and abilities can take to improve their health. Walking is an easy, accessible and affordable way to improve your physical, social, and mental health. Whether you walk to clear your mind, connect with family, or for daily exercise, let us know what gets you moving with…

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) works towards the promotion and protection of historic districts, landmarks, and sites within the City of Council Bluffs. The HPC reviews and approves all exterior modifications to locally designated historic buildings, landmarks, and sites.

Railway Wednesday Bike Rides (On FIRST AVE!)

Join us every Wednesday for a 15-mile (ish) Bike Ride - this is a social fun ride and uses the new FIRST AVE trail! Meet at the Railway around 5:00 PM. Can't make it at 5:00 PM? The ride takes off around 6:00 PM. Details: 📍Meet at the Railway - Ride departs around 6:00 🚴🏼 Rides will have a lead 🧭 Route varies each week, but mostly flat 👉 These are for everyone - families, novice and amateur riders 🚫 No drop - What's that mean? No one will be left behind

America's Pub Quiz Trivia Night

Join us for live trivia every Wednesday from 7 pm-9 pm! Get your free answer at americaspubquiz.com. Prizes for the top 3 teams! 1st prize is a $40 gift card, a $20 gift card for 2nd and a $10 gift card for 3rd! Teams can be as big or small as you like. Trivia is general knowledge and includes a variety of categories!

Walk the Bluffs

This is free and open to everyone in our community. Thursday walks are 45-60 minutes, and Saturday walks are 60-120 minutes both offering varying degrees of intensity (easy, moderate, hard), depending on location. You can also shorten your walk to suit your schedule. Check our Facebook Group: Walk the Bluffs for details.

ESL Open House at IWCC

Learn more about adult English Language Learners (ELL) free Classes! We will provide free food, prizes, and a free gift for each child! Don't miss your chance to visit the ESL classrooms and meet our teachers and staff. Please stop by on October 5, 2023, from 11 am to 12:30 pm or from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. We’re located at upstairs in Kinney Hall, IWCC, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA. Please let us know how many people will be attending the Open House. RSVP by emailing AdultEd@iwcc.edu.

Taco Ride

The Taco Ride takes place every Thursday evening on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Mineola, Iowa, and back. The scenic ride is about 20 miles through the Loess Hills and ends with dinner at Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse. The weekly rides take place from when the trail is dry enough in the spring (usually in April or May) until late in the fall (usually until Halloween).

Most riders start at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park where parking is available. Slightly more than halfway between the trailhead and Tobey Jack's, many riders will stop at a picnic area, nicknamed Margaritaville, for a quick break and to join in a conversation with fellow bikers or to partake in refreshments they brought with them.

Note: The Taco Ride is a weekly event. It runs every Thursday evening during most of the year, weather permitting. Visit the Taco Ride website, linked below, for event news. For more information about the ride, visit our blog. 

ESL Open House at IWCC

Learn more about adult English Language Learners (ELL) free Classes! We will provide free food, prizes, and a free gift for each child! Don't miss your chance to visit the ESL classrooms and meet our teachers and staff. Please stop by on October 5, 2023 from 11 am to 12:30 pm or from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. We’re located at upstairs in Kinney Hall, IWCC, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA. Please let us know how many people will be attending the Open House. RSVP by emailing AdultEd@iwcc.edu.

IWCC Musical Theater Madrigal Dinner

Once again, IWCC Music, Theatre, and Culinary will be teaming up to present our annual Madrigal Feaste, on October 5th & 6th at 6:30 in the Arts Center. Come join us for an evening of Renaissance music, entertainment, and a yummy dinner! Tickets are $25 for the general public.

Promise Road: How the Lincoln Highway Changed America

Learn about the audiovisual exhibit telling the story of the national Lincoln Highway. This interactive exhibit will be on display at the library during the months of October and November. The building of the Lincoln Highway was initiated in 1913. America's first coast-to-coast highway, the Lincoln Highway starts in New York City and ends in San Francisco. Presented by Troy Stolp.