For the past 18 years, Mission Creek Festival has kicked off every spring with a celebration of music and literature in downtown Iowa City. During the three-day festival, the Englert Theatre, Gabe’s and Riverside Theatre become the grounds for over 20 musical performances by indie artists like Snail Mail and Mars Hojilla, retro-inspired rock band The Heavy Heavy, garage punk band Greg Wheeler & the Polly Mall Cops and more.
Mission Creek Festival embraces independent musicians, seasoned writers and everything in between. On Saturday, stop by The Chauncey, The Tuesday Agency, Prairie Lights, Public Space One or The James Theater for the Lit Fair and Lit Walk. You can do more here than just learn about indie publishing minutia like the differences between Fonograf Editions and Sarabande Books; you can also write and even participate in the “Readers Write” workshop hosted by The Sun Magazine in honor of their 50th anniversary. In the spirit of community, Mission Creek welcomes the public to attend free author readings without a festival ticket.
The Specs
- For more to do outside of Iowa City, check out our Best Things to do in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
- Full festival tickets are $110 plus fees.
- Full festival members tickets are $80 plus fees.
- Full festival student tickets are $55 plus fees.
- One day tickets are available starting at $50.
FAQs
- Wristbands are required for all ticketed events.
- The Englert Theatre and Hancher Auditorium will be open to all festival attendees throughout the weekend. Other venues will be subject to different capacity limitations.
- All ticket sales are final.
- Age restrictions may be enforced at certain venues.
