Events

New Years Eve & January Dubuque Area Activities & Events

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Dirty Fishnet Stockings

Sunday, December 31

7 PM-2 AM @ Hotel Julien Dubuque

Experience a rockin’ New Year’s Eve with the rockabilly band, Dirty Fishnet Stockings.

Book your stay at Hotel Julien Dubuque to experience food, drinks, accommodations, party favors, and entertainment in the area. Three different room packages are available. Visit HotelJulienDubuque.com/Happenings.

The Beatelles World Famous Female Driven Beatles Tribute Show

Sunday, December 31

7 PM @ The Ohnward Fine Arts Center (Maquoketa, IA)

The Beatelles feature four powerhouse female vocalists performing the songs of John, Paul, George, and Ringo with harmonious perfection. Admission: $30-$35. Visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.

Dueling Pianos
Sunday, December 31

8 PM @ Diamond Jo Casino Mississippi Moon Bar
Dueling Pianos ends the year on a high note by playing groovy tunes to help the crowd sing the night away. This performance is a lively and entertaining way to ring in the New Year in style. Ages 21+. Visit MoonBarRocks.com.

Sinatra and Friends
Sunday, December 31

8 PM @ The Grand Opera House
Spend New Year’s Eve with Brian Anthony’s Sinatra and Friends. Featuring Hunter Fuerste’s American Vintage Orchestra and the music of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, and old “blue eyes” himself. Anthony keeps these legacies alive and well in his sweetly nostalgic performances. A veteran vocalist of ensembles like Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Anthony provides homages to the Swing Era for contemporary audiences. Admission: $39-$45.Visit TheGrandOperaHouse.com.

Reflections in the Park
Through Monday, January 1

5-10 PM @ Louis Murphy Park
Hillcrest Family Services’ annual lights festival celebrates their 28th anniversary. Visitors will see many new displays and have the option to participate in the featuredMemory Lane, an opportunity to remember your loved ones in a special way. Discounted tickets are available at all DB&T banking centers. Admission: $12 per vehicle. Visit Hillcrest-FS.org.

Early Explorers: “C” is for Coral

Tuesday, January 2

10-11 AM @ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium 

Early Explorers is open to children ages 2-5 along with a parent or caregiver. Programs include a variety of hands-on activities, including a craft and a game. A parent and/or caregiver can attend the program for free with the toddler. Admission for members, $8 per toddler; non-members, $10 per toddler. Visit RiverMuseum.org.

DRUMLine Live

Wednesday, January 3

7 PM @ Five Flags Center

DRUMLine Live, the show-stopping attraction created by the musical team behind the hit movies, Drumline and Drumline: A New Beat, embodies the soulful, high-stepping style of the Historically Black College and University marching band experience. With its riveting rhythms, bold beats, and ear-grabbing energy, DRUMLine Live is a high-octane musical roller coaster ride that is guaranteed to touch every emotion in your body. Visit FiveFlagsCenter.com.

Wild West Wednesday

Wednesdays, January 3-31

7-11 PM @ Dubuque County Fairgrounds

Join us for country dance music and fun Wednesday nights at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds. Visit DBQFair.com.

Dubuque Fighting Saints Hockey

January 5, 6, 19 & 20

7:05 PM @ ImOn Arena

The arena is ready to rock for another exciting season of USHL Hockey, featuring our own Dubuque Fighting Saints. Visit DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

First Fridays

Friday, January 6

Various Locations in Dubuque

First Fridays is downtown Dubuque’s monthly visual art series, hosted by galleries, museums, and venues, celebrating Dubuque’s great visual arts scene. Admission is free.

Dubuque Winter Farmers Market

Saturdays, January 6-April 27

9 AM-12 PM @ Kennedy Mall West Concourse

Over 30 regional vendors offer seasonal produce, eggs, meats, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, starter plants, herbs, baked goods, and more. Market Tokens are available for purchase at the Winter Market Information Booth. Bring your own reusable shopping bags and drop off clean egg cartons, glass canning/mason jars (only), and plastic grocery bags. Visit WinterMarketDBQ.com.

Winter Games

Monday & Tuesday, January 8-9

Dubuque (Sundown Mountain, Camp Albrecht Acres, and ImOn Ice Arena)

Cold weather, snow, ice, mountains…nothing can stop our athletes from speeding

down the slope, running through the snowshoe course or skating around the rink.

Dubuque plays host to more than 200 athletes, unified partners, and 100

volunteers for the two-day Winter Games. Events include Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing, Speed Skating. Visit SoIowa.org.

Harlem Globetrotters

Tuesday, January 9

7 PM @ Five Flags Arena

Get ready for a slam-dunk extravaganza as the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters make their triumphant return. This is your chance to witness the record-breaking stars of basketball live as they bring an unforgettable blend of dribbling, spinning, and dunking on the court as they take on their fierce rivals, the Washington Generals. Visit FiveFlagsCenter.com.

JDCF Winter Reading Book Club

Wednesday, January 10 & 24

6:30-7:30 PM (Virtual)

Announcing Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation’s (JDCF) reading list for the Winter 2024 online book discussion. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, our reading and discussion for January, February, and March will focus on land, water, and The Driftless Area. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World, by Simon Winchester, is the book for January. Discussion will be facilitated by Andy Townsend. Online registration will open in December. Admission is free. Visit JDCF.org.

Homeschool Days: Winter Survival

Thursday, January 11

10 AM-4 PM @ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Various stations throughout the campus will teach outdoor survival skills. All outdoor activities are weather-dependent, so in case of inclement weather, all stations will be inside. Admission for members is free; non-members, $9.95. Visit RiverMuseum.org.

Dubuque Audubon eBird Presentation

Thursday, January 11

6-7 PM @ EB Lyons Interpretive Center, 8991 Bellevue Heights Road

David Shealer, professor at Loras College, will give a demonstration on eBird. With its launch in 2002 as a joint project by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, eBird allows birders to enter when, where, and how they went birding, entering checklists of all birds seen and heard during their outings (both past and present). You can access this accumulated birding data, looking up which birds have been seen and where they’ve been seen. Admission is free. Visit AudubonDubuque.org.

Illinois Libraries Present: Speculating About Our AI Future

Thursday, January 11

7-8 PM (Virtual)

Join us for a panel discussion featuring three best-selling science fiction writers, Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, and Martha Wells. They will discuss the promise, perils, and possible impacts that artificial intelligence (AI) will have on our future, as well as AI in contemporary and future science fiction writing. Visit GalenaLibrary.org.

Charity Concert for the Boundless Trailer

Friday, January 12

7:30 PM @ Heritage Center, John and Alice Butler Hall

Join us for the “Band Together” Charity Concert featuring Cade Thompson, presented by the Boundless Trailer. Red Street Records artist Cade Thompson is a contemporary Christian music artist with a sound that appeals to believers and mainstream pop audiences alike. Thompson has made waves across the Christian music community, and he earned his first Top 20 Billboard charting single with “Every Step of the Way.” Funds raised through the concert’s ticket sales will go toward supporting the mission and vision of the Boundless Trailer as the nonprofit prepares for another year of distribution trips. Admission: $20-$40, plus fees. Visit Dbq.Edu/HeritageCenter.

DSO’s Ultimate Rock Hits

Friday & Saturday, January 12-13

8 PM @ Mississippi Moon Bar
The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra (DSO) joins with local rock bands to present an amazing symphonic rock experience. Past performances have included covers of legendary songs from groups like Aerosmith, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. Visit MoonBarRocks.com.

Ice Fest

Saturday & Sunday, January 13-14

10 AM-4 PM @ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Activities throughout the day include sledding, snowshoes, ice harvesting, and more. There will be indoor crafts and games for kids as well. S’mores ingredients and beverages will be available to purchase. Visit RiverMuseum.org.

Wonder of Winter Art Exhibit

Thursdays-Sundays, through January 14

1-4 PM @ Galena Center for the Arts, 971 Gear St. (Galena, IL)

Both the Regional Artists Gallery and Special Exhibit space will be filled with wintery art and home decor, all of which is available for purchase. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Visit GalenaCenterForTheArts.org.

School’s Out Day Camps

Monday & Tuesday, January 15-16

9 AM-4 PM @ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Explore something new at one or more of our popular day and overnight camps focused on history, culture, biology, and STEM-topics. Camps are available year-round for school-aged children and take place on weekdays when the Dubuque Community School District is not in session. These full-day camps are for students in K-5th grade. Students are required to bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Scholarships are available for those in need of assistance. Admission: members, $50 per student/session; non-members, $60 per student/session. Visit RiverMuseum.org.

Shine a Light on Winter

Thursday, January 18

5:15-6:45 PM @ Galena Public Library (Galena, IL)

Winter does not have to be avoided, escaped, or endured. It is an invitation to enter within and discover the warmth and the light that we need to feel whole. Come learn and discuss strategies and resources that can help us thrive and embody balance in our daily lives. Presented by Thom Dennis and Becky Mayne, Midwest Medical Center. Visit GalenaLibrary.org.

Blood Done Sign My Name Featuring Mike Wiley 

Monday, January 22

7:30 PM @ Heritage Center, John and Alice Butler Hall

In Blood Done Sign My Name, Mike Wiley brings to life the recollections of Tim Tyson’s award-winning memoir surrounding the 1970 murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in Oxford, NC, and the events that followed. Tyson, who was 10 at the time, recounts how the conflagration of events shaped his life and offers an opportunity to examine our own roles in the complex and often confusing racial fabric of America. His one-man show is a compelling dramatization of the true-life account of this 1970 racial murder. Visit Dbq.Edu/HeritageCenter. 

Bonfire on the Bluff

Saturday, January 20

6-8 PM @ Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve, 870 South Pilot Knob Road (Galena, IL)

In partnership with the Casper Creek Natural Cemetery, JDCF will be hosting an illuminating experience at Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve in Galena. The back-up date for inclement weather is January 27th. Come get warm by the bonfires and experience a magical winter wonderland as luminaria lanterns light up the night overlooking the Mississippi River and through the natural cemetery. Admission is free; donations are gladly accepted. Visit JDCF.org.

“Go Your Own Way” – The Music of Fleetwood Mac

Saturday, January 27

7 PM @ The Ohwnard Fine Arts Center (Maquoketa, IA)

Amy Friedl Stoner returns to the stage with a new show chronicling the hits and heartbreak of rock superstars Fleetwood Mac. Admission: adults, $25-$28; students, $15-$18. Visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.

GIT Improv

Saturday, January 27

7:30 PM @ Bell Tower Theater

GIT Improv offers improv comedy at its best. Every performance is a brand-new adventure as these talented comedians create a unique show right before your very eyes using suggestions from you and your fellow audience members. Admission: $24. Visit BellTowerTheater.net.

An Evening with Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

Saturday, January 27

8 PM @ Heritage Center, John and Alice Butler Hall

The Heritage Center welcomes country music hall of famer, five-time Grammy Award winner, and AMA Lifetime Achievement honoree Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives to Dubuque. Over the course of 40-plus years as a country and bluegrass solo artist, Stuart has released more than 20 major label albums and scored platinum sales, hit singles, and just about every honor the industry could bestow. Known for his traditional style and eclectic combination of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music, Stuart is considered one of the genre’s most historically minded “new” traditionalists. Visit Dbq.Edu/HeritageCenter.

Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Youth Ensembles Winter Concert

Sunday, January 28

5 PM @ Five Flags Theater

The DYSE String Ensemble, Philharmonia, Wind Ensemble, and Youth Orchestra present their winter concert. The DSYE is an educational outreach program of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. For more information, contact 563-557-1677.

Rees & Ventris Art Exhibits

Through Sunday, January 28 @ Voices Studio

Eternal Elegance: An Exploration of Beauty and Light by Timothy Rees, and Landscapes of Eastern Iowa by Evan Ventris, are a perfect blend of traditional techniques with a touch of modern sophistication. Their collective creations are set to illuminate Voices Studios in an exclusive set of works that embody beauty, landscapes, and the human spirit, demonstrating a profound and harmonious merger of past and present artistic expressions. Visit VoicesStudios.org.

Distinctively Dubuque

Wednesdays, January 31-February 28

5:30-8:30 PM @ Varied Locations in Dubuque

Distinctively Dubuque is a five-night course hosted by high-energy presenters with in-depth knowledge of the Greater Dubuque area and is designed for individuals who are new to the region within the last five years. Location for each course varies. Admission is free. Visit GreaterDubuque.org.


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