Iowa City - The Ped Mall
Summer on a student's budget
Sabrina Askinson
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Feature
Downtown Iowa City offers Kirkwood Community College students in search of affordable fun, food, music and art plenty of things to do during the summer.
"All of our summer events are free," said Mary Frieden, executive director of the Summer of the Arts, the organization that coordinates a full schedule of downtown summer events. SOA's recently announced 2009 line-up includes the summer film series, the Iowa Arts Festival, Friday Night Concerts, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
The SOA's Friday night concert series is a terrific way to become more involved in local music. The free performances are held in the Pedestrian Plaza from May 29 to Sept. 11 and feature a wide variety of regional acts. Shows run from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. but seating is limited so get there early for the good seats.
The summer film series is another way to spend a weekend evening. Every Saturday, from June 13 to Aug. 22, the series will feature short films by local filmmakers, as well as popular family friendly movies. The events are held at the University of Iowa Pentacrest and participants are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Free refreshments are also available, courtesy of the Bijou Theater.
The annual Iowa City Arts Festival, which will take place June 5-7 this year, will fill the streets with artists from all over the country. Besides having a crack at purchasing original pieces of art, the festival will provide the community with the opportunity to enjoy local food and free music, not to mention the summer weather.
"Even though some of the artists' work can seem expensive, just appreciating their creations can give me the same joy as if I were to buy it," said Brittany Davis, a liberal arts major at Kirkwood in Iowa City. She said she attends these festivals with friends who also enjoy "the delicious food, free music, and the people coming together."
The Iowa City Jazz festival, held from July 4-6, brings the community together to enjoy live music from local and nationally touring acts. On four stages, this year's installment will feature 27 bands including Johnny Kilowatt, the Silver Swing Band and Iowa City's own Uniphonics.
For more information on the SOA's summer events, visit www.summerofthearts.org.
"All of our summer events are free," said Mary Frieden, executive director of the Summer of the Arts, the organization that coordinates a full schedule of downtown summer events. SOA's recently announced 2009 line-up includes the summer film series, the Iowa Arts Festival, Friday Night Concerts, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
The SOA's Friday night concert series is a terrific way to become more involved in local music. The free performances are held in the Pedestrian Plaza from May 29 to Sept. 11 and feature a wide variety of regional acts. Shows run from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. but seating is limited so get there early for the good seats.
The summer film series is another way to spend a weekend evening. Every Saturday, from June 13 to Aug. 22, the series will feature short films by local filmmakers, as well as popular family friendly movies. The events are held at the University of Iowa Pentacrest and participants are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Free refreshments are also available, courtesy of the Bijou Theater.
The annual Iowa City Arts Festival, which will take place June 5-7 this year, will fill the streets with artists from all over the country. Besides having a crack at purchasing original pieces of art, the festival will provide the community with the opportunity to enjoy local food and free music, not to mention the summer weather.
"Even though some of the artists' work can seem expensive, just appreciating their creations can give me the same joy as if I were to buy it," said Brittany Davis, a liberal arts major at Kirkwood in Iowa City. She said she attends these festivals with friends who also enjoy "the delicious food, free music, and the people coming together."
The Iowa City Jazz festival, held from July 4-6, brings the community together to enjoy live music from local and nationally touring acts. On four stages, this year's installment will feature 27 bands including Johnny Kilowatt, the Silver Swing Band and Iowa City's own Uniphonics.
For more information on the SOA's summer events, visit www.summerofthearts.org.
Be the first to comment on this story