Iowa City's Trick-or-Treat hours will be held on Halloween from 5:30 to 8 PM, Friday, Oct. 31. To keep your little ghouls and goblins safe, stay visible (carry a flashlight or wear something lighted); avoid long, billowing fabrics; and make sure young children are accompanied by an adult or responsible teen. Enjoy!

All neighbors are invited to the NNA’s first-ever “Northside Volunteer Opportunities Info Session.” This informal gathering is designed to acquaint neighbors – whether new residents or long-timers – of the various ways you can help make the Northside an even more welcoming, beautiful, and all-round enjoyable place to live. We’ll touch on leadership opportunities within the NNA Steering Committee, our Block Mentor program, as well as committee work that fits your interests, from the Northside tree canopy to public art. Light snacks will be provided and The James will offer beverages for sale. Please join us to meet and mingle with your neighbors, and to learn how – by working together, we can continue to enhance this very special neighborhood.

Northside Saturday Nights are back! Sponsored by the Downtown District and curated by The Englert Theatre, this FREE music series, running from May 3 to Sept. 27, promises to ignite Northside community with outdoor performances from talented local artists. Grab a seat at any of the available tables on the Northside Outside block of N. Linn Street or bring your own chairs while enjoying food & drink from the surrounding restaurants. You’ll find more info and a complete line-up of the summer’s performers at https://downtowniowacity.com/2025-northside-saturday-nights/.

The NNA’s annual “Goodbye Summer/Hello Neighbors” gathering will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, from 5-7 PM at Happy Hollow Park. All Northside and Deweyville neighbors are cordially invited to attend. We’ll supply a main dish and water and/or lemonade, and as in past years, we invite neighbors to bring a salad, other side dish, and/or dessert to share. We’re also hoping to organize some adult/kid games during the event, so if you’re a softball or soccer fan, come ready to play. And even better: The Northside’s very own Dave Moore will provide music to picnic by! Volunteers are needed for various tasks; to pitch in, fill out and submit the sign-up form. Grab your household and neighbors and join us at Happy Hollow on September 21. See you there! 

Your favorite beer festival returns to the Northside this fall on Saturday, September 20th! Northside Oktoberfest celebrates 29 years and will include BrewFest, the beloved sampling event from 11 AM – 3 PM. Come enjoy the Bohemian nature of the Northside Marketplace with unlimited craft beer samples, neighborhood food, games, live entertainment, and comical contests that you don’t want to miss. Only 800 BrewFest tickets are available; to purchase or learn more, visit this link.

The Northside’s own Iowa Conservatory invites you to attend Hadestown: Teen Edition. ICON’s first summer musical is going to be one to remember as The James Theater becomes transformed into a unique, one-of-a-kind theatergoing experience including balcony seating, interactive performances, and a special "Road to Hell" moving platform experience. You will not want to miss out on this production, with a talented cast up and down and a live band to drive the performance, this show is sure to be unlike anything else you experience this summer! For tickets and additional information, visit this link.

Summer of the Arts’ popular Music on the Move series is back for 2025 with a wider variety of performers and locations. We encourage Northsiders to turn out for what looks to be a fun performance on Wednesday, July 9, at North Market Square Park. This event features the Alone Tonight Quartet, a Django Reinhardt-inspired group of accomplished musicians. Piano, drums and bass make up the steady back line, while a cast of guest soloists sit in to fill out the fourth in this combo. Expect to hear songs from old films, cabarets, and Looney Tunes as heard through the floorboards of your cheap apartment upstairs from the theater. Bring a chair and rock out with your neighbors!

It’s back! This popular potluck and social event returns to its familiar spot in front of the Brown Street Inn. Bring a dish to share, a beverage, and a chair if you’re so inclined. Also, organizers need volunteers for tasks on the Friday before and the day of. Please use this link sign up as a helper. Hope to see you there!

Northside neighbors are cordially invited to attend a meeting with Jennifer Miller, MHA, MPH, RD, Chief Administrative Officer of UI Health Care’s Downtown Campus, who will provide an update on progress, plans, and services regarding the former Mercy Hospital facility. The NNA organized a similar meeting last year with UI Health Care leadership. We’re eager to learn more about what’s happened since then and what we might look forward to in the future. We hope to see many neighbors there!

Gather with neighbors and friends during Iowa City’s annual Party in the Park series! From June 12 through August 14, weekly on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00pm, enjoy live music, visits from the ICPL Bookmobile, and outdoor family-friendly recreation activities at some of your favorite Iowa City Parks. Tonight the party is happening right here in the Northside at our beloved Happy Hollow!

Northside Saturday Nights are back! Sponsored by the Downtown District and curated by The Englert Theatre, this FREE music series, running from May 3 to Sept. 27, promises to ignite Northside community with outdoor performances from talented local artists. Grab a seat at any of the available tables on the Northside Outside block of N. Linn Street or bring your own chairs while enjoying food & drink from the surrounding restaurants. Tonight’s performance is by The Swampland Jewels. You’ll find more info and a complete line-up of the summer’s performers at https://downtowniowacity.com/2025-northside-saturday-nights/.

The folks at John’s invites the community to their annual Open House celebrating 77th years in business on the Northside! There’ll be free beer (of course) from many local breweries, food, wine samples, music and more. Bring your friends!

Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) and FilmScene invite Northsiders to enjoy a FREE premiere film screening, discussion, and reception event that promises an engaging afternoon for the community. Included in today’s line-up will be a short film about the NNA’s Winter Social, held at The James on Jan. 30, 2025, and featuring many neighbors you’ll recognize! The films will be shown at 3:30, followed by a short conversation with filmmakers and participants at 3:45, and topped with a reception and refreshments at 4 PM.

The Horace Mann Carnival is coming up soon and the Mann PTO could use neighbors’ help in making this annual event a big success. Consider donating auction items (including your time and skills) or prizes, baked goods, and more. For auction items, contact Kristin Clark at clarkkristin@yahoo.com; for the 2025 Mann Carnival Wishlist, see https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MA2A7VUXV5JV... . Most important, mark your calendar and plan to attend!

In honor of Arbor Day and to continue restoring the Northside’s tree canopy, we invite neighbors to join in a tree-planting effort at Oakland Cemetery. Gather at 12:30 PM at the Brown Street entrance for refreshments and socializing, Planting will begin at 1 PM, and tools and instructions will be provided. Please park at Happy Hollow Park, since space is limited at the cemetery. Sponsors for today’s event include the Iowa City Parks & Recreation and Forestry Departments, Heritage Trees of Johnson County, and the Northside Neighborhood Association. All ages welcome!

The Horace Mann Parent Teacher Organization invites all Northside neighbors to attend its annual Pancake Supper Fundraiser. Just $5 per person, and kids age 4 or younger eat free. Pancakes for a good cause: What could be more delicious? :-)

The Northside Neighborhood Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, March 24, and we hope to see as many neighbors there as possible for this important gathering. We will elect new Steering Committee officers, hear reports about various Northside events and projects, and discuss other Northside activities and priorities for the coming year. ALSO: Please bring along one or more pairs of new earbuds to donate to Mann students for use with electronic learning devices. Thanks much, see you there!

Big news! The Northside Neighborhood Association will receive a special award from the annual Historic Preservation Awards ceremony this year! Make plans to attend this event and celebrate this recognition of the Northside’s commitment to our neighborhood’s historic heritage.

Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) and FilmScene invite Northsiders to enjoy a free premiere film screening, discussion, and reception event that promises an engaging afternoon for the community. Included in today’s line-up will be a short film about the wall mural painted last year along the 200 block of Brown Street! The films will be shown at 12:30, followed by a short conversation with filmmakers and participants at 12:45, and topped with a reception and soup cook-off in the Chauncey lobby starting at 1 PM.

Beat the winter blahs and join your neighbors at The James for an informal Northside gathering. We’ll have light food and beverages, plus food and wine for purchase. This event is made possible through a grant from Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC). Note: Due to space limitations and the presence of alcohol, this event is intended for adult attendance. Hope to see you there!

Iowa City's Trick-or-Treat hours will be held on Halloween from 5:30 to 8 PM, Thursday, Oct. 31. To keep your little ghouls and goblins safe, stay visible (carry a flashlight or wear something lighted); avoid long, billowing fabrics; and make sure young children are accompanied by an adult or responsible teen. You’ll find more safety and sustainability tips here. Enjoy!

Renters! Homeowners! Landlords! Businesses! Make your home or business more comfortable, cheaper to heat, and more sustainable for the planet! Energy coaches from Johnson Clean Energy District (JCED) and local contractors will cover everything from simple fixes to the latest energy technology! Plus free coffee and donut! Come for an hour or stay all morning. See the full schedule at this link: https://johnsoncleanenergydistrict.org/home-energy-workshop/

For more than 20 years, the Iowa City Fall Gallery Walk has taken over downtown and filled your favorite businesses with wonderful works of art. This free event is open to everyone to enjoy a self-guided tour of shops, galleries, and other locations that have curated featured artists and pieces of art. Several Northside organizations are featured on Friday’s walk, including rsvp, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! Complete Gallery Walk details can be found at https://downtowniowacity.com/events/gallery-walk/.

Summer of the Arts’ popular Music on the Move series is back for 2024 with a wider variety of performers and locations. We encourage Northsiders to turn out for three events here in the ‘hood, all on Tuesdays starting at 6:30 PM: In North Market Square Park (Blake Shaw now rescheduled for Sept. 3 due to weather) and July 23 (The Feralings), and in the Northside Marketplace (N. Linn St.) on August 6 (Crystal City Trio). Bring a chair and rock out with your neighbors!

All Northside families and friends are invited to attend Horace Mann Elementary School’s Annual Talent Show. Stop by and enjoy Mann students’ many talents in the performing arts and more!

For more than 20 years, the Iowa City Spring Gallery Walk has taken over downtown and filled your favorite businesses with wonderful works of art. This free event is open to everyone to enjoy a self-guided tour of shops, galleries, and other locations that have curated featured artists and pieces of art. Several Northside organizations are featured on this year’s walk, including the James Theatre, which will be showing pieces by @carlosmaldonadoart, a local artist who captures the unique energy of all your favorite Northside businesses. John’s Grocery and Brix will be there with food. Complete Spring Gallery Walk details can be found here.

This volunteer-run event is a chance for you to bring in an item that needs fixing and learn about repair from a volunteer. Come any time with your items. You'll sit with our fixer team who will help you learn about making repairs. Short demonstrations will be held throughout the event:
9:30 AM: Preparing tools for winter - Holly Hotchkiss
10:30 AM: Canning basics (Michal Eynon-Lynch)
11:30 AM: Restoring cast iron and stainless steel cookware (Tobey Epstein)
12:30 PM: Button sewing basics (Harper Sherwood-Reid)