After canceling last year’s Czech Village Blues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is returning on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. The Linn County Blues Society will hold the fourth Czech Village Blues in the green space south of the Czech Village neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, near C Street and Bowling Street SW. Gates open […]
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Freedom Festival 2021: Rain on our parad...
The bane of outdoor events didn’t halt the comeback of the Freedom Festival Parade. Rain kept crowds at bay, but the parade returned to downtown Cedar Rapids after last year’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior years were staged through New Bohemia and Czech Village as construction was underway in downtown’s Greene Square. See […]
Photos: Memorial Day in Cedar Rapids, Io...
During Memorial Day services May 31, 2021, Americans remembered members of the military killed during wartime and other loved ones who have died. See photos from a past year of the Czech National Cemetery Memorial Day Service In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, some of those events included a service and free tours of exhibitions at the […]
Photos: Nontraditional twist for traditi...
CEDAR RAPIDS — One year ago, the long-running St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a beloved tradition in Cedar Rapids, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, then in its early days. The parade, which would have marked its 45th year in 2020, attracts thousands of spectators and participants to downtown Cedar Rapids on St. Patrick’s Day, […]
Local holiday traditions take on differe...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Treasured holiday traditions are going virtual this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nature’s Noel at the Indian Creek Nature Center and the Old World Christmas Market at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library are offering online counterparts in lieu of their popular in-person events. Both are happening the […]
Storybook saga: Derecho-damaged library ...
By Cindy Hadish CHELSEA, Iowa — Brad Wolter was still in training for his position as the new Chelsea Public Library director when Iowa was hit by the devastating Aug. 10 derecho. Hurricane-strength winds severely damaged the early-1900s former bank building that housed both Chelsea City Hall and the library, ripping off a portion of […]
Cedar Rapids vigil honors legacy of Supr...
CEDAR RAPIDS — One day after her death, a crowd of nearly 100 people gathered to honor the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in front of the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids. Ginsburg died Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, of complications from pancreatic cancer after serving since 1993 as the second woman on […]
“Marking Time” traces history of drum &
The following is an excerpt from the preface of the recently released book, “Marking Time: A History of Drum & Bugle Corps in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.” In 2015, a drum corps reunion years in the making exceeded my expectations when alumni of some of the earliest Cedar Rapids corps attended. Bill Severa, William Dale and […]
“Special place for veterans” to open in
UPDATE Nov. 11, 2020: The Foxhole “Charlie” Bar & Grill is expected to open later in November after the roof was damaged during the Aug. 10 derecho windstorm. None of the artifacts in the exhibition hall sustained damage. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The legacy of a Vietnam War veteran who was an avid collector of […]
Photos: Thousands march for justice in C...
CEDAR RAPIDS — A peaceful protest turned out as planned, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids. “Please march with us as we peacefully protest the heartbreaking and infuriating racism, inequality, and murder experienced by George Floyd and too many others,” organizers Nicole LeGrand, Tamara Marcus and Leslie Neely posted […]