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Only 2 more days to save $5 on your 2025 Downtown

Only 2 more days to save $5 on your 2025 Downtown Block Party cup + wristband!

Pre-purchase yours now for just $10 and get ready to sip & stroll through the biggest event of the summer this Saturday, June 28 from 3:00–10:00 p.m. 🌞

This year’s cup—sponsored by @rdgusa—is the only container that allows you to enjoy beer or wine in the streets from our amazing downtown bars and restaurants. Plus, your wristband—sponsored by @tcosalon—is your key to drinking legally in the event zone. 🍷🍺

Local spots will be set up outside serving special food and drink offers. All of the activities, games, live music, and entertainment are totally FREE and open to the public. Cups are only required for 21+ to take their drink to the streets to enjoy amongst the 14 blocks of free programming.

It’s going to be a hot one! Make sure you stay hydrated by grabbing water at any restaurant or stop by Target, CVS, or Bread Garden Market.

🎟️ Prices increase to $15 at the door, so grab yours now and join us in the streets.

Learn more & pre-purchase at: www.downtowniowacity.com/events/downtown-block-party

💥 BODY SLAMS. BIG ENERGY. RING-SIDE ACTION. 💥

@scwpro wrestling is back at the Downtown Block Party this Saturday, June 28, at the Washington & Linn Street intersection by @daydreamscomics! Don’t miss this hard-hitting highlight of the night featuring top talent from SCWPro and the @blackandbravewrestling, co-founded by @wwe superstar Seth Rollins (Colby Lopez) and Marek Brave! 💪

🕔 5:00–7:00 p.m. — Live Wrestling Matches
📸 7:00–8:00 p.m. — Meet the Wrestlers + Photo Ops
💥 8:00–8:30 p.m. — Match Finale Showdown

Get ready for high-flying stunts, crowd-pumping action, and an electric atmosphere from Eastern Iowa’s premier wrestling promotion since 2003!

The wrestling matches are FREE to watch. You only need a ticket to take your drink to the streets.

See the full schedule and pre-purchase your cup and wristband at:

www.downtowniowacity.com/events/downtown-block-party/

🎹 It wouldn’t be the Downtown Block Party wit

🎹 It wouldn’t be the Downtown Block Party without Dueling Pianos! A crowd favorite and a true staple of the event, this high-energy, all-request show is back and ready to rock the streets thanks to our sponsor @hillsbank 🎶

Two incredible performers, one stage, and endless audience requests—get ready to sing, dance, and laugh the night away!

Bring your best song requests, belt it out with your friends, and dance like nobody’s watching.

The Downtown Block Party is coming in hot, and thi

The Downtown Block Party is coming in hot, and this year, we’re bringing the heat with head-to-head competitions, street games, and just the right mix of friendly rivalry and pure fun.

Think you’ve got what it takes to win it all? Sign up to compete in epic events like the Tug-of-War Tournament, Pickleball Games, or our fast-paced Blitz & Bullet Chess Tournament. 💪♟️🎾

Just here to vibe and play casually? Drop in anytime for street basketball, street hockey with @goheartlanders, a speed puzzle challenge with @diversions.ic, or yard game favorites like Cornhole, Four Square, Smashnet, Popdarts, and an 18-hole mini golf course. 🧩⛳️🏀

With four city blocks full of games, entertainment, and spectacles, there’s something for everyone this Saturday, June 28th at the Downtown Block Party! Don’t miss your shot—register to compete or just come ready to play.

📍 Sign up for Tug-of-War or Pickleball at:
👉 www.downtowniowacitymarket.com

🎉 See the full schedule and learn more:
👉 www.downtowniowacity.com/events/downtown-block-party

The 8th Annual Downtown Block Party is officially

The 8th Annual Downtown Block Party is officially one week away!

Get ready to take over the streets of Downtown Iowa City on June 28th for a night packed with live music, street games, silent disco, local food + drinks, tricycle races, rollerskating, and more FREE fun than you can handle.

Save $5 and pre-purchase your event cup and wristband to take your drink to the streets. All programming and activities are free!

A big thank you to this years sponsors for making this summer festival possible: @greenstatecu @hillsbank @tcosalon @ibevcedarrapids @raisingcanes @chase @iowaspeedway @rdgusa @toyotaiowacity @riversidecasino @learninggrovenorthliberty @lionheartearlylearningic

Put your mind to the test and dive into some frien

Put your mind to the test and dive into some friendly competition at this year’s Downtown Block Party. This part of the party is all about puzzles, strategy, and games that bring out your inner challenger—from fast-paced chess matches to giant games and hands-on fun for all ages.

♟️ Blitz & Bullet Chess Tournaments with the Iowa Chess Association.

Think fast, move faster. These high-speed chess tournaments are perfect for sharp minds and quick thinkers. Open to all skill levels, the Blitz & Bullet matches give players the chance to win prizes and earn bragging rights. Prefer to take it slow? Pull up a chair at the casual play tables and enjoy a friendly match with a new opponent.

🧩 Puzzle & Gaming Plaza with @diversions.ic

Get your game face on and head into a playful zone packed with brainy fun! Try your hand at the Speed Puzzle Tournament solo or with a team and race against the clock for a shot at the leaderboard and some sweet prizes. Take on CornChecks, a hilarious, life-sized blend of checkers and cornhole that’s just as fun to watch as it is to play. Or kick back with oversized yard games and classic tabletop board games.

Bring your thinking cap and get ready to play!

Yesterday marked the final day of @textilesinc und

Yesterday marked the final day of @textilesinc under the leadership of longtime owner Ritu Jain—closing out an incredible 34-year chapter in Downtown Iowa City.

Ritu has been a catalyst for progress, collaboration, and creativity in our downtown, and a true force in shaping our retail community. From mentoring fellow business owners and creating cornerstone retail events like the Shop Crawl and Sidewalk Sales to helping launch the Retail Caucus, Ritu’s impact has been both deep and lasting. That first meeting, sparked by her determination to bring retailers together, laid the foundation for many of the support systems our district relies on today.

Ritu has never been short on energy or ideas. She’s the visionary behind initiatives like the Tree Huggers art project, kids’ window painting, and countless other creative efforts that helped position downtown as a vibrant and welcoming destination to visit and shop.

Last month, we were proud to honor Ritu with a Person of Impact award at the ICDD Annual Meeting, recognizing her decades of dedication to local business, community building, and making downtown thrive.

While we say goodbye to this inspiring era, we’re excited to share that Textiles will soon reopen under new ownership. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you, Ritu, for 34 years of fashion, heart, and transformative impact.

Artwork by @kierstencarts

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s First Round conversation about ICDD’s 2026–2036 SSMID renewal and expansion. It was an energizing evening at @trumpetblossom as we discussed the future of our district and what continued investment through the Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) means for our community.

Special thanks to our speakers:
– Jennifer Miller from @uihealthcare, who shared thoughtful insights on the integration of the downtown medical campus and its role in the district’s future
– Karen Kubby of @beadologyiowa, SSMID Renewal Committee Co-Chair, who reflected on the creation of the SSMID in 2012 and why its renewal is a critical step forward
– Bill Nusser of @handsjewelers, a founding member of ICDD, for hosting and helping shape this important conversation

Over the next year, ICDD staff and members of the SSMID Renewal Committee will be connecting with downtown property and business owners to talk about petition signing and the collective impact of this model. Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved and learn how we’re working to keep Downtown Iowa City clean, safe, vibrant, and thriving for years to come.

Learn more here:
https://downtowniowacity.com/icdd-ssmid-renewal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyURjRNDv_Q

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