Brucemore Holiday Mansion Tours
Through Sunday, Dec. 31
Time is running out to revel in the splendor of Brucemore mansion wrapped in historic style for the holiday season. With 13 decorated trees and garlands galore, the 19th-century mansion is decked out on all four floors. Visitors will see glowing Christmas trees, a dining room set for Christmas dinner, stunning mantel arrangements, lush garlands winding along the grand staircase, and other holiday cheer throughout the 21-room Queen Anne-style mansion. Gifted to the National Trust in 1981, three families have called the magnificent estate their home. Tickets are available in the Visitor Center.
Brucemore Holiday Mansion Tours -- Brucemore mansion, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; Brucemore.org; Daytime: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today (12/28) to Saturday (12/30); 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday (12/31); $12 adults, $5 ages 6 to 18 Evening: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. today (12/28); $20 at the door
Art Bites: A Walk Through the Woods
Wednesday, Jan. 3
Join Kate Kunau, associate curator at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, to view the new installation in the permanent Grant Wood gallery, “Grant Wood: From Farm Boy to American Icon.” With 28 of the museum’s iconic Grant Wood artworks on loan to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, the Cedar Rapids museum will bring out some of the artist’s lesser-known pieces for display. Registration is not required for this free program. The Whitney exhibition runs March 2 to June 10, and includes “American Gothic,” on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Art Bites: A Walk through the Woods -- 12:15 p.m. Wednesday (1/3), Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave. SE; free admission, crma.org
Bryan Bowers
Jan. 4
With more than five decades of performing, earning championships and honors along the way, world-renowned autoharp player Bryan Bowers is a powerful presence in the music world. The Virginia native transforms material that moves him into a show combining humor, virtuoso musicianship, and down-home storytelling for all ages. “I want to have a good time and I want people to have a good time, no ‘woe is me’ trip. I want the joy of bringing people together and communicating,” Bowers said. “If I can say it like I see it, I can bring joy.”
Bryan Bowers -- 7 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 4, Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 4980 Gordon Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids; $20, free under age 12, Peoplesuu.org