Climate Fest: September 22 - September 26, 2026

The City's 7th annual Climate Fest is a celebration of the many ways our community takes action to address climate change. From an expansion of the City’s compost facility to the GROW Solar group buy program, we continue to make progress towards our climate action goals. Check back for more information on each day as we get closer to Climate Fest.

• Tuesday, Sept. 22: Community Conversation on Building a Climate-Ready Future; 5-6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 23: Birds & Bees Urban Habitat Tour; Noon-1 p.m. OR 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 24: “Planet Soil” Film Screening + Live Score Concert; 5:30-7 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 25: Save Our Surplus: Community Garden Glean; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 26: EVs at the Market + Solar Social; 7:30 a.m.-Noon

See details for each day below!

Tuesday, Sept. 22: Community Conversation on Building a Climate-Ready Future; 5-6:30 p.m.

Addressing climate change requires collaboration across all sectors of our community. Hosted by the Community Foundation of Johnson County, this conversation will highlight the important sustainability work already underway here in Johnson County. The panel will include professionals from a range of local nonprofit organizations and businesses. Join us at the Englert to hear about recent accomplishments and current projects and to learn about future opportunities to get involved in the sustainability space.

The event will also include the opening of a week-long installation curated by our wonderful partners in the arts. This year, local creatives were tasked with producing pieces inspired by the many living creatures that thrive in soil and make composting possible. This project is the first of several Climate Fest activities that celebrate the recent expansion of Iowa City’s compost facility. To learn more about the facility and the creatures that make composting possible, stop by our film screening later in the week!

The Englert is just one of the thirteen organizations that will receive Climate Action Grant funds in the coming year. The Englert will upgrade its house and theatrical lighting systems to LED lights, which use far less energy than traditional incandescent lights. This lighting upgrade is part of a larger capital project the Englert plans to complete this year that includes various additional upgrades that will greatly increase the energy efficiency of the building.

Wednesday, Sept. 23: Birds & Bees Urban Habitat Tour; Noon-1 p.m. OR 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Birds and bees alike depend on native prairie plants to survive. The University of Iowa has helped increase the amount of native habitat for Iowa City’s flying friends by planting pollinator gardens throughout the downtown campus. This year, UI was recognized for their work when they received an esteemed Bee Campus designation. In a parallel effort, the Iowa City Bird Club provides recreation and education opportunities to teach about the countless bird species that call Iowa City home. The club also played an integral role in Iowa City’s recent Bird Friendly Community designation.

Meet us at the One Earth Mural for a walking tour of UI’s downtown campus that highlights its many pollinator gardens and local bird species. As an added bonus, the Campus Arborist will be present to identify local tree species and speak about UI’s Tree Campus designation. Choose between two tours, one during the lunch hour and one following the end of the workday. Both will follow the same route and feature similar content. Registration is limited to 20 participants per tour. Sign up online in the near future (hyperlink coming soon)!

Please note that the walk includes some hills and stretches with limited shade. Participants should dress comfortably, wear appropriate walking shoes, and be prepared to be outdoors for the full hour. If you unable to participate in the tour but interested in learning more, check out UI’s Campus Nature Walk map for a self-guided tour!

Thursday, Sept. 24: “Planet Soil” Film Screening + Live Score Concert; 5:30-7 p.m.

This summer, the City’s Compost Facility received its first expansion since curbside composting was launched in 2017. In celebration of this milestone, join us for a special screening of PLANET SOIL: The Power of the Underground. Directed by Mark Verkerk, “PLANET SOIL is a groundbreaking documentary that unveils the vital, yet often overlooked, world beneath our feet.” Ranging from microscopic organisms to common backyard critters, this symbiotic ecosystem makes composting possible.

Thanks to local musician Dan Padley, this screening at the Iowa City Public Library will be truly one of a kind. Padley will perform an improvisational score alongside the film, immersing audience members in a symphony of soil sights and sounds!

The recent Compost Facility expansion increased both the physical footprint and organic material processing efficiency of the facility. The compost area was expanded from five to seven acres, and the purchase of a self-propelled, ride-over windrow turner will decrease processing times. As a result, the capacity for incoming organic material will increase from 15,000 to 20,000 tons per year. This will allow the City of Iowa City to begin offering composting programs to more of the Landfill’s service area. This project was made possible by a $4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Check out the trailer for Planet Soil!

Friday, Sept. 25: Save Our Surplus: Community Garden Glean; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Gleaning is an age-old practice that helps provide fresh local foods to the community, and we’re partnering with Table to Table to bring that practice to some of Iowa City’s community gardens. Volunteers will harvest surplus produce from participating garden plots to prevent food loss. By doing so, we ensure that the resources invested in growing crops don’t go to waste. Gathering to glean is a good reason for a celebration, so we will close this event with a potluck of snacks and a jam with the Fabulous Yahoo Drummers! Come for the party even if you are unable to come for the glean.

This event will be an early kickoff for Food Waste Prevention Week, which takes place from September 28 – October 4, 2026. This national movement is committed to “reducing food waste to address food insecurity in our communities, save families money, and support a healthier environment.” Iowa City Resource Management staff will also be on hand to answer questions and provide information about their Love Food, Fight Waste campaign and other local resources.

A recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency found over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is not consumed. As a result, food is the most common type of material sent to landfills across the country. Sending food to the landfill not only wastes the resources that went into growing, transporting, and preparing that food, but it also contributes to our greenhouse gas emissions as it breaks down. The best way to prevent food waste from reaching the landfill is by reducing food waste at the source. This means only buying the food you need and donating quality food that you won’t be able to eat. Unavoidable food waste items, such as bones, eggshells, or coffee grounds, should be composted to avoid the greenhouse gases produced when organic material breaks down in the landfill.

Saturday, Sept. 26: EVs at the Market + Solar Social; 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Since 2020, EV registrations in Johnson County have continued to grow, from just a few hundred vehicles to several thousand. E-bikes, pickup trucks, mopeds, and more can now be seen cruising Iowa City streets. Are you going to be next to join the EV revolution? Stop by the eastside of City Hall to talk with EV owners about why they love their cars. City staff will also be onsite to provide information on local EV initiatives and resources. If you have an EV and want to participate, please visit the National Drive Electric Month website to sign up, as space is limited.

Happening at the same time and location as EVs at the Market is the Solar Social! This past year, the expansion of the GROW Solar group buy program has created opportunities to add more than 100 kW of rooftop solar capacity to households and businesses throughout eastern Iowa. In addition, the City recently acquired mobile solar trailers to support community resilience and the ability to generate clean energy on a hyper-local level. Celebrate these milestones and more at the Solar Social! Enjoy an affogato treat from Kindred Coffee and take home a sample of coffee beans roasted with solar power.

Take a free bus to the market and car show: All routes stop within a half mile walk to the Farmer’s Market. 

Climate Fest 2025 

Thursday, Sept. 25 - Silver (and Green!) Screen

Climate Fest hosted a double feature of two short films with powerful messages. The first, Born Curious, explores the life of an outdoor enthusiast and explorer born in Queens. Director Julia de Guzman describes the film as “comedic and lyrical, tense and heart- warming and will inspire even the most timid among us to live braver and bolder every day.”

The second film, Green Buffalo, follows members of the Lower Sioux Indian Community from southwest Minnesota as they seek to build affordable housing, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and foster community resilience using hempcrete, a revolutionary building material.

The films started at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Dream City, one of the recent Climate Action Grant awardees that has used the funding to install energy efficient equipment in its commercial kitchen utilized by local entrepreneurs as a business incubator. In between screenings, attendees got to learn more about related efforts locally from United Action for Youth and the Great Plains Action Society.

Both films are available free online.

Wednesday, Sept. 24 - Resilience Hub Hang Out

Resilience Hubs are community-centered spaces that offer support based on neighborhood needs. Unlike emergency shelters, they operate year-round to build long-term community strength but can also provide key services during community disaster and recovery efforts. In 2024, Iowa City embarked on a planning process in collaboration with two community organizations, the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and the Bike Library, to envision the unique role each might play as a Resilience Hub. In 2025, both have begun implementing those plans, with solar panels installed at the Bike Library and emergency power generators on the way for NCJC.

Residents could learn more about Resilience Hubs and future plans at the Bike Library on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 5-8 p.m. Attendees could get started on their own home preparedness kit with an assortment of free supplies, pick up one of the Resilience Hub zines created by Neighborhood Centers staff and Bike Library volunteers, check out the new rooftop solar array, and leave inspired to help make Iowa City more ready for disruptions like extreme weather events.

More fun at the Bike Library:

On Sunday, Sept. 20, riders participating in the annual Farm Cycle fundraiser, which highlights local food resources and area bike routes, departed from the Bike Library for the ride. Iowa City’s Climate Action and Outreach staff were on hand from 9-10 a.m. with free sunscreen and heat awareness info.

Tuesday, Sept. 23 - Read Aloud at the Lagoon Shelter House

In Tending Iowa’s Land, local researcher and writer Cornelia Mutel offers a collection of essays and personal stories from experts and everyday people that probe the challenges and explore the pathways to a regenerative future for our natural environment.

Volunteer readers helped give voice to these stories on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Lagoon Shelter House alongside the Iowa River. Listeners got to meet with organizations helping put sustainable principles into practice. Cambus Routes 31 and 32 have stops on N Riverside Dr. The Lagoon Shelter House is adjacent to the Iowa River Corridor Trail and pedestrian bridge, a 15-minute walk from the Downtown Transit Interchange.

Monday, Sept. 22 - Solar Art Show and Tour

In 2025, 300 newly installed ground-mounted solar panels at the Iowa City Municipal Airport came online, powering the terminal, runway lights, and ambulatory hangar with clean energy. In the summer months, the power production even exceeded the airport’s needs, flowing onto the grid to help supply nearby structures with the additional energy. That’s worth celebrating!

On Monday, Sept. 22, from 4-6:30 p.m., residents were invited to visit the airport to see an art exhibit featuring pieces by local artists made with and inspired by solar energy and curated by Public Space One. Attendees got to create solar art, get an up close look at the airport array on one of two tours (at 4:30 and 6 p.m.) led by the industry experts who helped build the array, and learn more about the solar capacity of their own homes using a handy online portal.

Saturday, Sept. 20 - Drive Electric Car Show

Since 2020, EV registrations in Johnson County have more than tripled, growing from a few hundred vehicles to several thousand, including a new all-electric Ford Lightning for the City’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps team to use while providing free home energy audits to Iowa City residents!

On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, adjacent to the Farmers Market, all were invited to visit the EV Car Show to get an up-close look at many different models.

Friday, Sept. 19 - Pocket Park Celebration

On Friday, Sept. 19, Climate Fest kicked off with a special celebration of National Parking Day, joining other cities across the nation as they convert parking spaces into pocket parks to help reimagine how we use urban spaces. Participants enjoyed the free lemonade stand in the Pop Up Parking Space Pocket Park from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the corner of Washington Street and Van Buren Street.

In Iowa City, this celebration had special meaning, as every parking ramp and meter plays a part in supporting Fare Free transit service: earlier this year when City Council voted to continue Fare Free service, they also voted to raise parking rates to help keep the buses free. Since beginning in 2023, the Fare Free transit program has helped increase bus ridership in Iowa City 68% and reduced total vehicle miles driven within the city by nearly 1.8 million miles! That not only cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions, it also makes streets safer for biking and walking by reducing the number of cars on the road.

Climate Fest Walk and Roll Weekly Bonus Item

Climate Fest 2025 featured a special gift for anyone who came to an event by bike, on foot, by bus, or in an EV. These active and alternative modes of transportation are an important strategy in Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to help build a more connected, vibrant community while also reducing emissions.

Climate Action Grants Info Session

Are you involved with a local nonprofit and community-based organization? Iowa City’s Climate Action and Outreach division invites you to a free info session about their Climate Action Grant program! Learn about the application process from recent awardees and get inspiration for a climate action project of your own. Join us on Thursday, February 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Wright House of Fashion, 910 S Gilbert St.

• Who: Nonprofit and community-based organizations in Iowa City
• What: A free info session about Iowa City’s Climate Action Grant program
• Why: To learn about the application process and get ideas for potential climate action projects
• When: Thursday, February 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Where: Wright House of Fashion, 910 S Gilbert St

Volunteer Community Bike Count 

Volunteers will work in pairs at assigned intersections to observe and record information about the usage of bikes. This effort will help guide decisions about future bike facilities on city streets, including a pilot project for a bollard-protected bike lane.

• September 9-11
• 7-9 a.m.
• 4-6 p.m.

If one of the dates is rained out, data collection will move to the following week. 

All volunteers will receive data collection training ahead of the event on Wednesday, August 27 at Noon on Zoom. Those who sign up after that date will receive a link to the recorded training. 

Volunteers can sign-up with a partner or individually. Individual sign ups will be paired with a partner based on shift preference. Volunteers must be age 18 and older or accompanied by a legal guardian.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, fill out the online volunteer form.

Bike to Work Week Breakfast

In honor of Bike to Work Week, the City of Iowa City will be serving fresh locally made cinnamon-apple empanadas at Chauncey Swan Park at 405 E. Washington Street from 7-9 a.m.

This event will happen rain or shine, so  make sure to pedal on over to the park for a spoke-tacular breakfast courtesy of the City's Climate Action Office and the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County. 

Granola bars as well as coffee and orange juice will also be served. Bringing reusable mugs or cups from home to fill up is encouraged and celebrated!

• Wednesday, May 14, 2025
• 7-9 a.m.

While at the event, participants can also practice loading and unloading their bikes on a demo rack attached to Chauncey Swan ramp meant to give cyclists a feel for using the bike racks mounted to all city buses.

This year, Bike to Work Week takes place from May 12 through 18 as part of May’s National Bike Month. Commuting to work has seen an increase in popularity over the years. Not only does bicycling provide a healthful and fun way to travel, it also saves money and provides a way to commute.

For more Bike to Work events, visit Bike Iowa City's website. 

Neighborhood Energy Blitz 

Iowa City’s Neighborhood Energy Blitz is back on Saturday, April 25, 2026! This annual event helps residents increase energy efficiency in their homes and moves the City towards our emissions reduction goals.

Volunteers are needed for two shifts. The morning shift will deliver energy saving kits to households in and around the Wylde-Weeber and Bryn Mawr Heights neighborhoods. The afternoon shift will pick up any kits left outside and collect used lightbulbs and batteries for recycling.

• Morning shift: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Afternoon shift: 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

A training for all volunteers will take place via Zoom on Thursday, April 16, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Those who cannot join the call live can watch the recording at a later date.

The rain date for this event is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026. Shift times will remain the same.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up online now! For questions or more information, contact ClimateAction@iowa-city.org.

National Transit Equity Day

Transit Equity Day is a day dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday, Feb. 4. Join the Climate Action Division, Human Rights and Equity, and the Iowa City Public Library as we hold two events in honor of Rosa Parks and her unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights.

Inclusive Transportation: Book Discussion, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, Noon - 1p.m.

Join us on International Day of CO2 Emission Reduction for the first of two events around the book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities by Veronica O. Davis. 

• Iowa City Public Library in Meeting Room A
• Discussion will be facilitated by the Climate Action team

Inclusive Transportation: A virtual conversation with author Veronica O. Davis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, 6-7 p.m.

Celebrate Black History Month with a virtual conversation with author, Veronica O. Davis. This conversation will be facilitated by Climate Action Commissioner, Angie Smith.

• On Zoom, prior registration is required. 
• Did you miss the virtual discussion? You can find it on YouTube here. 

Climate Fest 2024

The City's 5th annual Climate Fest celebrated the many ways our community has taken action to address climate change.

Monday, Sept. 23, 2024: CoCoRaHS Training, 4:30-6 p.m.

Citizen scientists needed for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)! Climate change is impacting rainfall in Iowa City. Join a corps of volunteers working to collect precipitation data that can be used by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researchers.  

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024: Fare Free at Big Grove, 5-8 p.m.

Join us in celebrating one year of fare free transit in Iowa City! Pit your wits against transit questions in a lively game of trivia, share your favorite reason to take the bus on a collaborative comment wall, and raise a glass to toast our hardworking bus drivers. Enjoy fun activities and games for all ages and hobnob with Bus Buddies!

• Play Transit Trivia to win a prize; hosted by Christopher's Bar Exam
• Share "Why I Ride" on a collaborative community art installation
• Grab free Climate Action and Transit swag
• Hop on the Iowa City Public Library's Bookmobile 

Wednesday Sept. 25, 2024: Music & a Movie

Community Sing at Chauncy Swan Park, 6-6:30 p.m.

Sing with Family Folk Machine as they lead a Community Sing at Chauncey Swan Park.

The Scale of Hope at The Chauncey FilmScene, 7-8 p.m.

Before and after the film, League of Women Voters will assist with voter registration int he FilmScene lobby, and freewill donations from filmgoers will go to the group to support them in their important work. Check out FilmScene's new reusable popcorn containers, purchased with grant support from Iowa City's Climate Action and Outreach division

Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024: Level Up Your Plan

Craft your personal electrification plan in  ICPL's Digital Media Lab using a handy online portal from Rewiring America, you will be able to generate a personalized plan for your household. Drop in anytime between 3-6 p.m. to meet with coaches from Johnson County Clean Energy District, who can help answer questions about their experience with heat pumps, solar panels, induction stoves, heat pump water heaters and more! Climate Action staff will assist attendees with questions about tax rebates and incentives. Grab a  cup of cocoa or tea brewed on an induction cooktop!

Friday, Sept. 27: Nonprofit Nerd Out at the Senior Center, 2-4 p.m.

Fighting food waste, protecting water and prairies, increasing affordable housing and transportation, growing healthy food- Iowa city nonprofits are truly inspiring agents of change! But what inspires them? Find out at the Nonprofit Nerd Out. This unique tabling event includes fun-informative mini presentations from local organizations. Come away newly inspired and connected to the great work happening in our community. Connect with local nonprofits, grab free swag, explore opportunities, events, and more!

Confirmed organizations include:

• 100Grannies
• Backyard Abundance
• Bur Oak
• Climate Advocates
• Crowded Closet
• Empowered Solutions Collective 
• Food and Water Watch
• Habitat for Humanity
• IC Compassion/Global Food Project
• Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition 
• Table to Table

Saturday, Sept. 28: EVs at the Market, 7:30 a.m.-Noon 

Driving an electric vehicle is convenient, less expensive than driving a gas car, and fun! Whether you already own an EV and want to share the love or you are EV curious and want a chance to talk to real, local drivers, this event is for you! The electric vehicle show will run alongside the Iowa City's Farmers Market downtown as part of National Drive Electric Week.

All Month long: Bus Stop Mosaics 

Bus shelters in Iowa City neighborhoods get a beauty treatment for the month of September: a celebration and reminder of the role of transportation in our climate future. Enjoy the artwork designed by Erica Danner and installed by volunteers from Sept. 1- Sept. 28.

• Muscatine Ave/Court Street - Buzz Stop
  • Collaborative decorating by the Morningside-Glendale and Longfellow Neighborhood Associations
• North Van Buren Street/East Jefferson Street - Butterfly Stop
  • Decorated by the Iowa City Public Library staff and teen volunteers
• East Court Street/South Westminster Street (Court Hill Park entrance- Under the sea Stop
  • Decorated by Climate Action and Outreach staff and community Climate Ambassadors 
• Lakeside Drive/Nevada Ave - Petal Stop
  • Decorated by City staff Climate Ambassadors and community Climate Ambassadors 

To review the City's bus routes/stops visit the digital map.

Check out the locations of Climate Fest events on this Google Map here. 

Questions about Climate Fest? Email ClimateAction@Iowa-City.org.