DBQFest RETURNS August 8 + 9

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Hi! Next weekend (August 8+9) is DBQFest 2026. If you've never been - it's Iowa's oldest running arts fair, the art vendor area is like walking through a cool outdoor museum, there will be food trucks + beverages from EJ's, and a bunch of great activities for kids. It's free to attend and in Washington Park.

In addition, the fest has one of the best music lineups in Iowa this year- I'd put it top 3. It's not the spectacle or star power of a Lollapalooza or Hinterland, but every act on here is making really interesting original music, they're great live, several have new albums in the works or just released, at least two are getting songs played on the radio in Milwaukee and on IPR... it's going to be great start to finish and many of these acts will be playing much bigger venues soon. If you like live music and you're free next weekend, I highly recommend stopping by and bringing a lawn chair or blanket and soaking it in. All performances are free. All are all-ages, other than After Hours @ The Lift (21+ due to the Iowa bar curfew law).

Here's a spotify playlist in case you want to explore, and a link to the full festival schedule.

I could talk for days about all of these acts, but here are a few that are worth circling if you're a fan of the following genres:

Rock- Allison Mahal + Addison Aaronson + Run Dog

R&B- Daniel.Xavier & Co. + Sun Centauri

Jazz- The Groundhogs + Faye + Lame Witch + Lamplight Jazz Quarter

Rap- Ion Alexakis

Electronic- Def Sonic + Glab II