Lani Krull/Little Village

Good venues can serve as essential third spaces for neighbors to come together and witness, celebrate and commiserate. They’re also easy to take for granted. Each time you buy a ticket and attend a performance, you’re helping to increase the viability of your favorite spaces and keep Iowa’s arts economy strong. These top-notch spots are just the start. Illustrations by Lani Krull

Des Moines

West Des Moines Public Library 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
Val Air Ballroom 301 Ashworth Rd
Des Moines Community Playhouse 831 42nd St
Fleur Cinema & Café 4545 Fleur Dr
Noce 1326 Walnut St #100
Temple Theater 1011 Locust St
Des Moines Public Library 1000 Grand Ave
Hoyt Sherman Place 1501 Woodland Ave
Franklin Event Center 4801 Franklin Ave
Beaverdale Books 2629 Beaver Ave
Varsity Cinema 1207 25th St
xBk Live 1159 24th St
Des Moines Civic Center 221 Walnut St
Wooly’s 504 E Locust St

Iowa City

Coralville Center for the Performing Arts 1301 5th St, Coralville
ArtiFactory 120 N Dubuque St
Public Space One North 229 N Gilbert St
The James Theater 215 N Gilbert St
Gabe’s 330 E Washington St
The Englert Theatre 221 W Washington St
Prairie Lights 15 S Dubuque St
FilmScene on the Ped Mall 118 E College St
Riverside Theatre 119 E College St
Iowa City Public Library 123 S Linn St
Trumpet Blossom Cafe 310 E Prentiss St
Public Space One South 538 S Gilbert St
FilmScene at the Chauncey 404 E College St
Porchlight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St
The Black Angel 630 Iowa Ave
Hancher Auditorium 141 E Park Rd
Wildwood 4919 Walleye Dr SE
Wilson’s Orchard & Farm 4823 Dingleberry Rd NE #1

Cedar Rapids

NewBo City Market 1200 3rd St SE
CSPS 1103 3rd St SE
McGrath Amphitheatre 475 1st St SW
The Olympic South Side Theater 1202 3rd St SE #200
Paramount Theatre 123 3rd Ave SE
Old Neighborhood Pub 608 16th St NE
Tailgators 3969 Center Point Rd NE

Waterloo/Cedar Falls

The Loft 710 Jefferson St #4, Waterloo
Octopus 2205 College St, Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls Community Theatre 103 Main St, Cedar Falls

Dubuque/Maquoketa

Convivium Urban Farmstead 2811 Jackson St, Dubuque
Bell Tower Theater 2728 Asbury Rd #242, Dubuque
The Lift 180 Main St, Dubuque
Codfish Hollow Barnstormers 5013 288th Ave, Maquoketa

Quad Cities

Raccoon Motel 315 E 2nd St, Davenport
The Last Picture House 325 E 2nd St, Davenport
Common Chord 129 Main St, Davenport
The Atlas Collective 1801 5th Ave, Moline, IL
The Black Box Theatre 1623 5th Ave, Moline, IL
Circa ’21 1828 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL
Rozz-Tox 2108 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL
Playcrafters Barn Theatre 4950 35th Ave, Rock Island, IL

This article was originally published in Little Village’s March 2026 issue.

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