Get ready to rewind the clock and celebrate community, creativity, and Pride at Halfway to Pride: Flashback!

This high-energy, all-ages drag show brings together beloved returning performers Utica Queen and Auntie Heroine, plus an incredible lineup of local talent for an afternoon full of joy, nostalgia, and fierce performances.

We are so excited to share the incredible local talent joining us at Halfway to Pride, hitting the stage alongside Utica Queen and Auntie Heroine:

• The Queen of Purple and your emcee for the afternoon — Lexi Belle

• The Comedy Queen and host of Star Search at Studio 13 in Iowa City — Beep Beep

• The reigning Miss Basix, serving glamour and excellence — Nevae Love

• Your fave DJ LadyJ, will be in the ring keeping the energy high all afternoon!

Grab your tickets and let’s party in style at Halfway to Pride: Flashback!

Every second Wednesday, The Ideal and The Olympic both throw their doors wide for a double-header of open jams. Two stages. Two vibes. One night built for wandering musicians and the folks who love them.

Buy the $10 cup and you’re suddenly leveled-up at both venues, with drink deals that follow you wherever your guitar case or drumsticks roam:

• First draft beer on the house
• $5 draft beers
• $7 Old Fashioneds
• $7 Espresso Martinis
• $5 Jameson shots

Bring your instrument, your crew, or your craving for a night that feels like musical pinball. Drift between The Ideal and The Olympic, jump into whichever groove is calling, and let the whole block become your stage.

📅 Every Second Wednesday
📍 The Ideal Theater & Bar + The Olympic Southside Theater
🎟 Free entry | $10 cup unlocks all drink discounts

Pay tribute to the gods of grunge.

Grunge wasn’t just music — it was a generation’s rebellion in flannel and feedback. On January 9, Smells Like Nirvana resurrects that raw (teen) spirit at The Olympic, ripping through Bleach, Nevermind, In Utero, and beyond with no click tracks, no backing tracks, and no apologies. With Paul Wandtke at the helm, this Chicago-based tribute act gives us the distortion, the heartbreak, and the tragic beauty of the band that started it all - Nirvana.

Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Show: 6:30 PM

⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Cedar Rapids. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen and The Beatles at The Olympic South Side Theater under the gentle glow of candlelight.

General Info
📍 Venue: The Olympic South Side Theater
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Cedar Rapids
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here

Tentative Program

• Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

• Blackbird - The Beatles

• Help! - The Beatles

• Come Together - The Beatles

• Yesterday - The Beatles

• All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

• Love of My Life - Queen

• Another One Bites the Dust - Queen

• I Want to Break Free - Queen

• We Are the Champions - Queen

• We Will Rock You - Queen

• Radio Ga-Ga - Queen

• Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Performers

• String Quartet - Listeso - Cedar Rapids

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

Show: 8:45 PM

⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Cedar Rapids. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Carols on Strings at The Olympic South Side Theater under the gentle glow of candlelight.

General Info
📍 Venue: The Olympic South Side Theater
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Cedar Rapids
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here

Tentative Program

• 12 Days of Christmas

• Angels from the Realms of Glory

• Angels We Have Heard On High

• Away in a Manger

• Carol of the Bells

• Deck the Halls

• Ding Dong! Merrily on High

• Do You Hear What I Hear

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

• Good King Wenceslas

• Greensleeves (What Child Is This)

• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

• In the Bleak Mid-Winter

• Joy to the World

• O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)

• O Come All Ye Faithful

• O Holy Night

• O Little Town of Bethlehem

• Silent Night

• The First Noël

Performers

• String Quartet - Listeso - Cedar Rapids

Doors: 6:00pm

Show: 7:00pm

Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, there’s no way to understand just how dramatically instant fame
can mess with your head. In winning American Idol in 2018, Maddie Poppe experienced all types of
emotions — from elation to self-doubt. In these last four years, Maddie has grown tremendously, as both
a person and an artist. The Iowa native has evolved from folksy singer-songwriter into a multi-faceted
powerhouse artist and musician. Maddie, now 25, can still very much bowl over a crowd with only her
honeyed voice and acoustic guitar. But she’s upped her game by tapping into a modern sound that blends
R&B, pop, and Americana, and by committing herself to writing her own songs.
In Spring 2019, following Maddie’s coronation on American Idol, her debut album Whirlwind released.
By summer, the record hit #2 on the charts. Whirlwind featured four radio singles, including two
top-25s – “Made You Miss” and “Not Losing You”. The year saw Maddie win a People’s Choice Award,
guest-star on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Live With Kelly & Ryan and Good Morning
America, and tour in support of Ingrid Michaelson. During the height of the pandemic, Maddie released a
holiday EP titled Christmas From Home. In Fall 2021, Maddie hit the road for her first headline tour
dates. This year, Maddie has been constantly creating, both lyrically and musically. She is joined by an
all-star team, including Nashville’s Adam Sickler, and hit songwriters like Willie Morrison,
Fraser Churchill, and Thomas Finchum.
This Spring, Maddie released her irresistible new single “One That Got Away”. The song focuses on the
dissolution of a friend’s longtime relationship, predicting that the guy who foolishly dumped her will
realize he threw away something great. But the track — a soulful jam with shades of Bruno Mars and
Maroon 5 — can also be seen as a commentary on Maddie’s own experience in the music industry.
Unlike the tracks selected for Maddie on her debut record, each new song on Maddie’s upcoming EP will
be rich in her own voice. “I'm very proud of Whirlwind, but I feel like this new project speaks truer to me
and my story,” she says. “When you’re just starting out like I was then, it can feel like 100 different
people are trying to tell your story. Now, I’m finally telling it in my own voice.”
For 2025, Maddie is gearing up for a national tour featuring her new music and biggest hits. She’s excited
to introduce her fans to the special sound she’s created, shaped by the diversity of her favorite artists (Lily
Allen, Sheryl Crow, and Corinne Bailey Rae are all in rotation on Maddie’s Spotify).
“I'm thrilled to release new music, but even more excited to play these songs live,” Maddie says. “Almost
everything I'm writing is upbeat and will be so much fun to perform with the energy of a live audience.
For a long time, I simply thought of myself as the singer-songwriter, hometown girl from Iowa. Along the
way I learned to spread my wings and branch out. I truly feel I've become the artist I was meant to be.”

Save the date - November 12th for the annual Make Your Mark end of year celebration! More details to come.

With ImpactCR, young professionals don’t just come to exchange business cards; they come to create opportunities for learning and development, support civic engagement and to cultivate the future business and community leaders of the Cedar Rapids Metro.  ImpactCR aims to empower young professionals to discover their “why” and provide them with the tools to create a lasting, positive impact on their community and in life. We're open to all industries, skill sets, and specialties. Our goal is to build a vibrant, inclusive community that's not just about work but about living and playing too.

Pints and Politics is a year-round gathering featuring The Gazette, presenting sponsor Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors, and special guests from across the state across all party lines. National, state, and local issues are covered, with opportunities to zone in on the latest headlines.

P&P attendees participate in audience polls, submit questions, and enjoy time with some of their favorite journalists, columnists, and guests! This beloved event and lively conversation invite attendees to learn more about the issues impacting their community.

Date/Time: Thursday, November 6. Doors will open at 5:30 PM with the event following from 6-7:30 PM
Location: The Olympic Southside Theater - 1202 3rd St SE #200, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, 2nd floor – elevator and stairs are available
Tickets: $5+processing. Tickets are sold online now or at the door.
Refreshments: The Olympic will have a cash bar open and available to order from!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual SouthSide Blues Fest! Get ready for an unforgettable night as the Avey Grouws Band returns to CR to headline this amazing event at The Olympic Southside Theater. Get ready to groove to some incredible blues music including The Cedar County Cobras and KAT Blue & The True Believers.

VIP & GA Tickets are available here.

Doors: 6:30pm

Show: 8:00pm

THEY'RE COMING FOR YOU.....”
From the graveyard to the stage comes an
unforgettable music experience known as
“The Rocking Dead”.
Six talented musicians from beyond the grave
(Including 3 members of the Iowa R&R Hall of
Fame) will take you on a trip to celebrate the music
and memories of many late, great singers
and their songs.
In what can only be described as a “Bombastic
Tribute Show” these boys and ghouls will raise the
dead by playing your favorite songs from the
legendary singers that have passed on to
Rock & Roll Heaven.
With an ever growing list of artists to honor, be sure
to catch “The Rocking Dead” on a stage near you.

RIP, but the MUSIC NEVER DIES!

Dress your best for the Costume Contest!

Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons

Show: 6:30 pm

⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Cedar Rapids. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at The Olympic South Side Theater under the gentle glow of candlelight.

General Info
📍 Venue: The Olympic South Side Theater
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Cedar Rapids
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here

Tentative Program

• Coldplay - Clocks

• Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

• Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime

• Coldplay - Fix You

• Imagine Dragons - Eyes Closed

• Imagine Dragons - Nice to Meet You

• Coldplay - The Scientist

• Coldplay - feelslikeimfallinginlove

• Imagine Dragons - Follow You

• Imagine Dragons - Bad Liar

• Imagine Dragons - Believer

• Coldplay - Sky Full of Stars

• Coldplay - Viva la Vida

Performers

• String Quartet - Listeso - Cedar Rapids

Candlelight: Halloween Classics

Show: 8:45 pm

⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Cedar Rapids. Get your tickets now to discover music inspired by Halloween at The Olympic South Side Theater under the gentle glow of candlelight.

General Info
📍 Venue: The Olympic South Side Theater
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show and close 5 minutes prior to the start. Late arrivals will not be permitted
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Cedar Rapids
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here

Tentative Program

• Thriller - Michael Jackson

• Funeral March of a Marionette - Charles Gounod

• String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor (Dresden Quartet), Op. 110: II. Allegro Molto - Dmitri Shostakovich

• Tubular Bells (Theme from The Exorcist) - Mike Oldfield

• Stranger Things (Theme) - S U R V I V E

• Beetlejuice (Theme) - Danny Elfman

• The Addams Family (Theme) - Vic Mizzy

• Halloween (Theme) - John Carpenter

• Prelude from Psycho - Bernard Herrmann

• Ghostbusters (Theme) - Ray Parker Jr.

• Danse Macabre - Camille Saint-Saëns

• Night on Bald Mountain - Modest Mussorgsky

• Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Richard O’Brien and Richard Hartley

• Medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas - Danny Elfman

Doors: 6:30pm

Show: 7:30pm

Jimmy Pardo, called “The fastest mind in comedy,” is a seasoned stand-up comedian and host of the award-winning podcast Never Not Funny. In addition to being featured on such seminal shows as The Tonight Show, Conan, The Late Late Show, and his own half-hour special on Comedy Central, Jimmy is also known as a podcasting pioneer for being one of the first comedians to start one in 2006.

A lifelong dream of hosting a radio show similar to the ones he listened to while growing up in the Chicago suburbs is the inspiration behind his success as a host of his podcast Never Not Funny and hosting such TV shows as Science Channel’s critically acclaimed “Race To Escape“, National Lampoon’s “Funny Money” for Game Show Network, five seasons of AMC’s “Movies at Our House,” and episodes of NBC’s Late Friday, VH1’s “The Surreal Life” and “The Playboy Morning Show.”

Pardo’s love for music (he has attended close to 500 rock concerts) and many years in the music business come in handy for his web series Jimmy’s Records & Tapes, currently in its fourth season on YouTube.

Renowned for his quick-witted, improvisational style, Pardo uses his material as the jumping-off point of his act, with the ultimate goal being to have a conversation with the audience. This makes his performances a whirlwind of crowd work, top-of-the-head references, stories, and asides, making each show a one-of-one, inimitable experience – which can be heard in his three comedy albums: Uno, Pompous Clown and Sprezzatura, which landed on many year-end ‘best of” lists.

Currently, Pardo continues to host the Never Not Funny podcast and Jimmy’s Records & Tapes from the cozy confines of his Sherman Oaks studio. When he’s not in the studio, you can catch him at one of his road gigs, and or in and around Los Angeles.

Join us October 16 for the Recycle Gala!

This unique event – hosted by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS – features a runway show with recycled attire designed by local artists, businesses, and community members.

Join us at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids for a night of fun celebrating recycled wear! This fabulously funky show includes music, a live auction, drinks & hors d’oeuvres!

Doors open at 6 PM, show begins at 7 PM.