In the Thick of It: Community Activity Highlights for February 2025
You can get a copy of the full guide to classes and programs in our Community Center, which includes our Recreation Center, Library, Aquatic Center, Gerdin Conference Center and other spaces, published three times each year, in person at the Community Center, 520 W. Cherry St., or online. These highlights of the coming month are published on the third Thursday of each month. You can sign up to have this emailed to you at northlibertyiowa.org/subscribe.
News & Updates
The Library will be closed on Feb. 17 for Presidents Day. The Recreation Department, including aquatics, will be open regular hours.
In Case You Missed It
Personal trainer Megan Turner helps community members meet their personal health goals, which can help people feel better, prevent and reverse chronic diseases, increase mood and energy level, increase sleep quality, improve depression and lower anxiety and stress. She offers 45-minute sessions Monday and Wednesday evenings and Friday mornings. Megan will contact enrollees to schedule sessions.
RegisterOn the Horizon
Euchre Tournament
March 8, 9 a.m., Community Center, $20 per team
Join us for the Recreation Department’s fourth Euchre tournament. The tournament’s format is dependent on the number of teams entering (we have done pool play, bracket play and total points). Entry includes breakfast and payouts for the top three winners.
City Slate Events
There’s always something free and fun to do in North Liberty. The City Slate offers events all year long, and is made free with the support of Centro, Inc., Collins Community Credit Union, Corda Credit Union, The Eastern Iowa Airport – CID, Hills Bank, MidWestOne Bank, South Slope Cooperative, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Urban Acres Real Estate and Veridian Credit Union. More at northlibertyiowa.org/cityslate.
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
Feb 16, 11 am and 1:30 pm, Community Center Gym, Free
Join Ms. Frizzle and her class as they find their way across the galaxy while learning as much about teamwork as they do about the solar system in a live, one-hour performance. TheatreWorksUSA’s family musical is based on the popular book series published by Scholastic.
Other Upcoming Events
Scouting Annual Chili Supper
Feb. 1, 4:30-7 p.m., Gerdin
Troop 216 host their annual chili supper — a meal with dessert and all the fixings! — with both meat and vegetarian options.
Snuggie Crawl
Feb 1, 7 p.m. – 12 a.m., Various locations in North Liberty, $65
The comfy, night out on the town presented by McGrath Toyota of Iowa City will take 350 snugglers wearing the as-seen-on-TV hit of the 2000s to North Liberty’s establishments. Move from location to location on your own schedule. Shuttles will be on a continuous loop between the bars from 7 p.m. until midnight, so crawl to each stop whenever you wish! Just be sure to hit them all to take advantage of the food and drink specials, games, and your chance to win prizes.
Purchase Tickets
North Liberty Bike Swap
Feb. 15, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Gerdin, Free
A one-day event that connects the community with cycling stuff to sell with people who want to buy it hosted by The City of North Liberty and Sugar Bottom Bikes. Expect to see vendors ranging from local bike shops to enthusiasts looking to unload their old gear, to local events and organizations looking to spread the word about themselves! Admission is free to anyone and everyone. Just show up, walk in, and shop some awesome bike stuff!
Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
Pied Piper with Orchestra Iowa
Feb. 13, 9 a.m., Library, Free
Join Orchestra Iowa’s talented string, percussion, woodwind and brass chamber ensembles as they introduce preschool-aged children to the instruments of the orchestra! Focused on fun and learning, Pied Piper concerts offer children the opportunity to enjoy an up-close and personal chamber concert. The concert lasts about 30 minutes. February is Percussion!
Doodlebugs with the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m., Library, Free
That’s “Sew” Sonia. Sonia Delaunay turned colors and shapes into artwork to wear, artwork to drive, even artwork for the stage. Today her avant-garde designs will inspire our own fashionably fabulous forms.
School-Aged Youth
UAY Teen Hangout
Mondays, 4 – 7 p.m., Ranshaw House, Free
United Action for Youth hosts free art and music workshops. Make art, record music or hangout with friends. Open to all junior high and high school students. Reach out to Kylie at UAY with questions at [email protected].
NL Wrestling Club
Mondays, 6 or 7 p.m., Garner Elementary, $75
Youth wrestling, a true club for wrestlers of all abilities and experience levels in the North Liberty Community as a feeder program to the Liberty High School & North Central Junior High. Beginner level class for all ages. No prior wrestling experience needed. Club taught by Derek Coorough.
Super Tuesday: Lego
Feb. 4, 4:30 p.m., Library, Free
Build a Lego castle, Lego monster, Lego planet, whatever Lego creation your heart desires! Get creative with us and show off your building skills at our Lego free building program.
Taekwondo for Youth & Adults
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5-6 p.m., Community Center, $40
WTF/UI Taekwondo teaches respect, discipline, and self-control. Learn kicks, hand strikes and forms for respective levels. A sparring coach is available to students who want it. Beginner and advanced levels provided by instructor Nick Messersmith.
Tweendom: DIY Charm Bracelets
Feb. 11, 4:30 p.m., Library, Free
Create charming winter-themed bracelets for yourself or someone special! Join us for a fun, creative session making custom love and winter-inspired charm bracelets.
Teen Tuesday: Video Game Tournament
Feb. 18, 4:30 p.m., Library, Free
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just playing for fun, join us for an epic video game tournament! Compete with friends on our Nintendo Switch and PS5 for bragging rights and snacks.
Tween After Hours: Treasure Hunt Edition
Feb. 28, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Library, Free
Scream, shout, and run around with us after hours at the library! Bring your friends for an evening packed with food, fun, and adventure. Enjoy exciting games, creative crafts, and a thrilling scavenger hunt. Make your own compass and parrot, don your best pirate gear, and embark on a quest for hidden treasure. Arrr you ready for an unforgettable night? Registration opens January 28.
Adults & Senior
Blended Learning Lifeguard Class
Feb. 1 (5 – 9 p.m.), March 1 and 2 (9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.), Aquatics Center, $175
Become an American Red Cross-certified lifeguard and eligible to work at the pool with our hybrid learning class, where enrollees view videos and pass some prerequisites prior to in-water learning.
Body Blast
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6 – 7 p.m., Community Center, $24
A motivating workout featuring 25 minutes of low-impact aerobics to ramp up your heart rate, 20 minutes of strength training with free weights to increase strength and tone and 15 minutes of abdominal work. Sign up for the full class or drop in to an in-person or online class.
55+ Tuesday Gathering
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Library, Free
Join us for a weekly social gathering that will feature rotating activities and friendly conversation – board games, puzzles, art, book discussions, and more!
Writers Group
Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., Library, Free
Are you a writer who wants to connect with other writers? Novelists, poets, nonfiction writers, fanfiction writers, and any other kind of writer you can think of—come on down! We’ll talk about current writing projects, do writing exercises, and eat snacks!
Small Biz in Small Libraries: All About Brand Strategy
Feb 19, 6 pm, Ranshaw House, 515 Community Drive, Free
Are your investment pitches falling flat? Is your website failing to convert? Are your social videos struggling to increase awareness? Most likely, you have a gap that needs to be closed with your target audience. Strategic storytelling is the best way to close this gap. Guest speaker Trevor Britton of Trampoline Strategies will share how storytelling principles create more effective communication for your brand, highlight common messaging pitfalls to avoid and offer inspiring examples of success using storytelling principles. Britton’s best practices for brand storytelling will show you how to transform buyers into believers.
Cozy Canvases with Big Picture Art Studio
Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m., Library, Free
Join us for a delightful evening of creativity and warmth. No matter your skill level, you’ll have a wonderful time connecting with other participants and creating your own masterpiece. All materials are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and a cozy winter spirit. Participants may bring beer, wine or seltzers, and a non-alcoholic mocktail and snacks will be provided.
Hapkido Jiujitsu
Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 8 – 9 p.m., Gerdin, $60/$100
Martial arts class with strong roots from both Korea and Japan. An all-encompassing system that uses both hard and soft movements/techniques. Ground fighting and weapons are also part of the curriculum. Students will learn nerve, blood, and bone strikes. This is a combat-oriented style class is instructed by Paul York.
Taekwondo for Adults
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5-6 p.m., Community Center, $40
WTF/UI Taekwondo teaches respect, discipline, and self-control. Learn kicks, hand strikes and forms for respective levels. A sparring coach is available to students who want it. Beginner and advanced levels provided by instructor Nick Messersmith.
Families
Bring a Friend Sunday Swim
Feb. 2, 1 – 3 p.m., Aquatics, Regular price
For every regular-priced admission, get a second admission free!