Live Music & Events Featuring Various Artists
September 1-30 @ O So Good Winery, 2093 20th Ave., SE (Dyersville, IA)
Come for live music, food, and events throughout the month. Gather with friends and have a fun evening with a favorite glass of wine or try something new. Visit them at the Dubuque Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Checkout the website for all upcoming events. Visit OSoGoodWinery.com.
Early Explorers: R is for Raptors
Tuesday & Saturday, September 2 & 6
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 and active activities, including a craft and a game. A parent and/or caregiver can attend the program for free with the toddler. Visit RiverMuseum.org.
Wild West Wednesdays
Wednesday, September 3, 10, 17 & 24
7-11 PM @ Dubuque County Fairgrounds
Come for country dance music and fun. All ages. Visit DBQFair.com.
Drinks & Dinos
Thursday, September 4
@ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Gather with friends and coworkers for an evening of cocktails and mocktails. Help us give the summer exhibit, “Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic,” a BONE voyage send-off. Ages 18+. Visit RiverMuseum.org.
East Dubuque Cruisin’ Thursdays
Thursdays, through September 25
5-9 PM @ Sinsinawa Ave. (East Dubuque, IL)
Open to all years of classic, muscle, and unique cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Great food, closed street, open containers, and live music. Visit Facebook.com/EastDubuqueCarShow.
Medicinal Uses of Herbs
Thursday, September 4
6-7 PM @ Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Educational session. Presenter: Briana Cushman, clinical herbalist. Visit DubuqueArboretum.net.
First Fridays
Friday, September 5
@ 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. Visit FirstFridayDubuque.org.
Expressions of the Soul
Friday, September 5
8 PM @ Voices Studios
Voices Studios presents Expressions of the Soul: Art, Voice, and Vision (through 9/20/25), featuring Steve Parlato’s anchor exhibit, They Are Not Disposable, a 16-portrait series honoring Black Americans lost to racial violence. Other artists will be showcased as well throughout the month. Enjoy film screenings, panels, spoken word, and live music. Visit VoicesStudios.org.
Dubuque Farmers Market
Saturdays, through October 25
7 AM-12 PM @ Iowa Street at 11th through 13th Streets
Rain or shine, the market stretches over three city blocks. October operating hours will be 8 AM-12 PM. Visit DubuqueFarmersMarket.org.
Dubuque Dragon Boat Festival
Saturday & Sunday, September 6-7
8 AM–5 PM @ Miller Riverview Park
Teams from multiple states and Canada compete in 40-foot-long boats, shaped like dragons and holding 21 people of all ages, racing on the mighty Mississippi. Visit DubuqueDragonBoat.org.
Bloktoberfest
Saturday, September 6
Noon–5 PM @ Millwork District
Bloktoberfest returns to the Millwork District. Enjoy live music, local beer, street food, art, and makers—all in celebration of creativity, movement, and Dubuque culture. All proceeds from sponsorships and events support local nonprofits. Visit BloktoberfestDubuque.com.
Reed Timmer: Dominate the Storm
Saturday, September 6
7:30 PM @ Five Flags Theater
Dr. Reed Timmer is an extreme meteorologist and storm chaser specializing in intercepting the planet’s most powerful storms to collect valuable scientific data. Visit FiveFlagsCenter.com.
Bush
Saturday, September 6
8 PM @ Q Casino + Resort Back Waters Stage
After three decades, over 24 million records sold, a Grammy Award nomination, one billion streams, and a procession of No. 1 hits, Bush stand tall as rock outliers. Visit BackWatersStage.com.
River Museum: Grandparent Day
Sunday, September 7
@ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Grandparents receive $10 off admission at the box office. Just let the box office staff know that you are a grandparent. Visit RiverMuseum.org.
Concert Featuring Faye the Pianist
Sunday, September 7
3-5 PM @ Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
A genre-bending musician and artist, Faye’s eclectic sound blends classical and blues influences. Visit DubuqueArboretum.net.
Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Monday, September 8
7:30 PM @ University of Dubuque, Heritage Center
Where rock anthems sit comfortably alongside the great tunes from the mountains of Scotland. It’s bagpipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers who have been rocking the world. Visit DBQ.edu/HeritageCenter.
Millwork Night Market
Second Thursdays, through October 9
5-8 PM @ Jackson Street between 7th and 9th
Shop the Millwork Night Market the second Thursday of every month to find the Driftless Region’s best local food, art, and entertainment. Visit MillworkNightMarket.com.
Iowa’s Prairies: Remnants, Relics & Restoration
Thursday, September 11
7 PM @ EB Lyons, Mines of Spain
Join natural resources ecologist Tony Vorwald as he discusses the natural history and restoration of remnant prairies, oak savannas, and oak woodlands in Jackson and Dubuque Counties. Visit AudubonDubuque.org.
Windsor Park Open House & Music on the Lawn
Tuesday, September 9
1-6 PM @ Windsor Park, 801 Davis St.
Tour Windsor Park between 1-3:30 PM, then stay for live music on the lawn with Ron Lubbers from 4-6 PM. Personal lawn chairs recommended. For more information, email CTatro@StoneHillDbq.com.
JA Golf Classic
Friday, September 12
8 AM-2:30 PM @ The Meadows Golf Club
The JA Golf Classic is an annual 18-hole scramble tournament that raises funds to support Junior Achievement’s programs focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Visit Heartland.JA.org.
Food Festival Fridays
Friday, September 12
11:30 AM-1:30 PM @ Washington Park
Join area food vendors for a lunchtime food fest. 365ink brings the perfect side dish to your chicken sandwich, pizza, or coffee: local, live music. Visit DubuqueMainStreet.com.
Dubuque Home Show
Friday through Sunday, September 12-14
Friday, Noon-6 PM; Saturday, Noon–6 PM; Sunday, 11 AM-4 PM @ Grand River Center
Meet with local and national vendors face-to-face, offering valuable insights and guidance to help turn your vision into reality. Visit DubuqueHomeShow.com.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Friday & Saturday, September 12, 13, 19 & 20, 7:30 PM; Sunday, September 14 & 21, 2 PM @ The Grand Opera House
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Visit TheGrandOperaHouse.com.
Piano Man: A Tribute to Billy Joel & Other Great Artists
Friday, September 12
7:30 PM @ Bell Tower Theater
This four-piece band performs with high energy and musical expertise. Fronted by one of the best pianists in the Midwest and supported by a stellar rhythm section this group is a must see. Visit BellTowerTheater.net.
The Great Draw: A Street Art Competition
Saturday, September 13
8 AM-4 PM @ 11th Street between Main & Locust Streets
Create a chalk pastel work of art among other artists and compete for prizes. This is an opportunity to see street paintings by local artists of all ages. The public is invited to view the street painters in action. Visit TheGreatDraw.com.
Dubuque Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 13
11 AM-5 PM @ Q Casino + Resort’s Back Waters Stage
Music, food, drinks, entertainment, and games, including the Wiener Dog Races and Stein Holding Contest. Donations accepted for Camp Albrecht Acres. Visit DbqOktoberfest.org.
Rick Lindy & the Jukebox Legends
Saturday, September 13
7 PM @ Ohnward Fine Arts Center (Maquoketa, IA)
Rick Lindy is a versatile vocalist while the band has a great theater act that tells historical back stories of the songs and artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, and more. Visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
Art Show & Sale
Sunday, September 14
1-5 PM @ Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Visit DubuqueArboretum.net.
Music in the Gardens
Sunday, September 14
5-7 PM @ Packard Pavilion, Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Enjoy live music from SecondHand News. Visit DubuqueArboretum.net.
She Unites
Wednesday, September 17
6:30–7:30 PM @ The Innovation Lab, 210 Jones St.
Come together for an evening of socialization and education. She Unites features rotating speakers talking about anything and everything pertaining to women in a chill environment. Visit SheUnitesIowa.com/events.
Team Stonehill Alzheimer’s Social
Friday, September 19
6-9 PM @ Backpocket, 333 E. 10th St.
Join Team Stonehill for a silent auction and social to raise funds for the Dubuque Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Food and drink will be available for individual purchase from Backpocket. For more information, email CTatro@StoneHillDbq.com.
George Janko
Saturday, September 20
7 PM @ Five Flags Theater
A stand-up comedian, social media influencer, and host of The George Janko Show, Chicago native George Janko has made waves in comedy, acting, and music. Visit FiveFlagsCenter.com.
Open Mic Night
Saturday, September 20
7 PM @ Historic District Coffee House, 1699 Iowa St.
It’s an open mic event, featuring mostly music, but also storytelling and poetry. Visit UUDbq.org/Connection/CoffeeHouse.
Organist Colin Andrews
Sunday, September 21
3 PM @ University of Dubuque, Heritage Center
Colin Andrews has been recognized as a musician of great versatility, power, and artistry as well as the recipient of many awards as he tours worldwide as a solo recitalist. Visit DBQ.edu/HeritageCenter.
Student Oceans Conference
Wednesday & Thursday, September 24-25
@ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
This is an intensive two-day watershed workshop hosted by the River Museum’s conservation and education departments. The conference offers hands-on learning, real-world applications, and collaboration with peers and professionals in environmental science, agriculture, and conservation. Visit RiverMuseum.org.
BRITBEAT
Saturday, September 27
7:30 PM @ University of Dubuque, Heritage Center
BritBeat celebrates the music of the Beatles with the world’s #1 award-winning immersive multimedia Beatles-themed concert backdrop. Visit DBQ.edu/HeritageCenter.
Comedian Andy Beningo
Saturday, September 27
7 PM @ Ohnward Fine Arts Center (Maquoketa, IA)
Come for a night of comedy and laughs. With opening act Des Mulrooney. Visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
Pressed Flower Pumpkin
Monday, September 28
1-3 PM @ Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Workshop. Visit DubuqueArboretum.net.
Preacher Lawson
Tuesday, September 30
8 PM @ University of Dubuque, Heritage Center
Preacher Lawson is best known for his appearance on season 12 of NBC’s hit series, America’s Got Talent. He continues to perform at sold-out venues around the country.
Visit Dbq.edu.
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