Friday night brings free art, a Latino gala and Panda Fest before Saturday’s fall festivals, bilingual science and Renaissance Faire events.
Updated Oct. 2, 2026.
IOWA — The Oct. 2–4 weekend is underway with free art, cultural festivals, live theater, bilingual science and family events across Des Moines and the Quad Cities.
Friday night options include First Friday at Mainframe Studios, the Iowa Latino Gala, Windsor Heights’ outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus and the opening night of Panda Fest in Altoona. Saturday adds ¡Ciencia para todos!, the Greater Quad Cities Renaissance Faire, Windsor Heights Fall Fest and Nahant Marsh’s Fall Festival.
Organizer pages reviewed Friday, Oct. 2, continued to list the events below as scheduled. Admission varies by event, with several free options and others requiring tickets or separate registration.
Friday night: free art, Iowa Latino Gala and Hocus Pocus
Mainframe Studios First Friday runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
Mainframe Studios will open its artist studios from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines.
The monthly event is free and includes open studios, exhibitions, live music, food and drinks across five floors of the building.
For First Friday, Mainframe offers free overflow parking on Crocker Street between 7th and 8th streets, across from Beckley Automotive. A complimentary shuttle runs between the lot and Mainframe from 4 to 9 p.m.
Current parking information is available through Mainframe Studios.
Iowa Latino Gala runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Loft DSM
The fifth annual Iowa Latino Gala will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at The Loft DSM, 100 Indiana Ave. in Des Moines.
The Hola Center of Iowa fundraiser features food representing several Latin American countries, live cultural performances, music, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets are required, and current availability is linked through the official Iowa Latino Gala page.
Windsor Heights shows Hocus Pocus at Colby Park
Windsor Heights will begin Fall Fest weekend with an outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus at approximately 6:25 p.m. Friday at Colby Park.
The city continues the celebration Saturday. The WHAMM 5K begins at 9 a.m., and parking at Colby Park will be limited. A free shuttle will run from 7900 Hickman Road approximately every 15 minutes from 2 to 8:30 p.m., with the final shuttle leaving the park at 8:15 p.m.
The current schedule and parking information are available through the Windsor Heights Fall Fest page.
Panda Fest runs through Sunday in Altoona
Panda Fest begins Friday at the Outlets of Des Moines, 801 Bass Pro Drive NW in Altoona, and continues through Sunday.
- Friday: 4–10 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
The outdoor festival includes Asian food vendors, street food, cultural performances, activities and merchandise vendors. Tickets are required.
Related: Panda Fest Iowa 2026: tickets, hours and food in Altoona
Saturday: free bilingual science and two Davenport festivals
¡Ciencia para todos! offers free admission from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Science Center of Iowa will host ¡Ciencia para todos! from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at 401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Des Moines.
Admission is free. The evening includes bilingual science programming, cultural performances, robotics, hands-on activities and food available for purchase from local vendors.
Related: ¡Ciencia para todos! brings free bilingual science night to Des Moines Saturday
Renaissance Faire returns to Credit Island Saturday and Sunday
The Greater Quad Cities Renaissance Faire returns for its final weekend at Credit Island Park, 2200 W. River Drive in Davenport.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Admission: $20 per day through the local tourism listing.
- Parking: Free.
- Weather policy: Rain or shine.
Entertainment included with admission features live-action jousting, sword fighting, music and magic, along with artisan vendors and food.
Current event information is available through Visit Quad Cities.
Nahant Marsh Fall Festival has free admission Saturday
Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave. in Davenport, will hold its annual Fall Festival Fundraiser Saturday.
Admission is free, although some activities may require a ticket or suggested donation. The confirmed lineup includes a petting zoo, inflatable activities, carnival games, geode cracking, arts and crafts, live music, live raptors, food trucks and other activities.
The festival supports environmental education and conservation programs at Nahant Marsh. Current details are available through the Nahant Marsh event page.
Real Women Have Curves has its final Saturday night performance
Real Women Have Curves, Josefina López’s play about five Latina women working in an East Los Angeles sewing factory, continues its final weekend at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Ave. in Moline.
The remaining performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are required.
Related: Playcrafters’ “Real Women Have Curves” explores five Latina lives in Moline
Sunday: final Renaissance Faire, theater and a free Iowa City program
Sunday is the final day of both the Greater Quad Cities Renaissance Faire and Playcrafters’ run of Real Women Have Curves. Panda Fest also continues in Altoona until 8 p.m.
Steven Pico speaks at Iowa City Public Library at 1 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library will host intellectual freedom advocate Steven Pico from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at 123 S. Linn St.
The free public program opens the library’s Intellectual Freedom Festival and focuses on Pico’s decades of advocacy involving students’ rights and access to library materials.
Event information is available through the Iowa City Public Library calendar.
Events and ticket availability may change as the weekend continues. Hola Iowa will update this guide as organizers post new information.
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