Here are 4 things to do this weekend in Johnson County, including Oktoberfest fun in Amana

As usual, there’s a lot to do this weekend in Johnson County.

There’s the two-week Iowa City Book Festival with events this weekend that include a performance of "Beowulf" at the James Theater and a panel discussion that includes former Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton.

On Sunday, the next installment in the Witching Hour Festival is a performance by the Nakatani Gong Orchestra, which will incorporate Iowa City community members.

Meanwhile, music performances and brews round out the first weekend of October.

Here are four other things to do this weekend in Johnson County.

Oktoberfest at the Amana Colonies

All weekend, Amana Colonies is hosting Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest is an annual festival in Germany that has become a celebration of beer with cities around the world hosting their own.

Food contests, live music, a parade and drink samplings are some of the events lined up for Oktoberfest in Amana.

On Friday, visit the Amana Heritage Museum at 11 a.m. for an official keg-tapping with beer, wine and snacks served in the courtyard. Entrance to the museum is free, complete with a special "History of Oktoberfest" exhibit. Check out the first-ever yodeling contest at the Festhalle Barn at 6:30 p.m.

Throughout the day will be live performances:

• Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchman from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions Express from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

• Amana Colony Folksingers from 7-8 p.m.

• Die Tiefen Keller Kinder from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

The Oktoberfest games continue Saturday with Brezel Schmeissen, a game that involves “pretzels” and “plungers,” at 12:45 p.m., a bratwurst-eating contest at 2 p.m., a keg toss and log-sawing competition from 2-4 p.m., and more.

Here are the live performances for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday

• Bavarian Musikmeisters from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Ken & Mary Turbo Accordions Express from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

• Amana Colony Folksingers from 5-6 p.m.

• Bavarian Musikmeisters from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Eli Alger & The Faster Horses from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday

• Collegium Tubum from 11-11:45 a.m.

• Bavarian Musikmeisters from noon to 2 p.m.

• Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchman from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Festhalle admission is $10 for one day, or $15 for two days. Sunday is free admission. The parade in Amana begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. This year's theme is "a little German in all of us."

Visit the Amana Colonies’ website for more information about Oktoberfest.

Backpocket Brewing's Oktoberfest in Cedar Rapids

Over in Cedar Rapids, another Oktoberfest celebration is happening.

Coralville’s Backpocket Brewing has partnered with NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids to host Oktoberfest. If you’re up for some weekend fun outside of Johnson County, the free celebration will host an afternoon’s worth of activities, including a children’s yodeling contest, a stein-holding competition and a live performance by Czech Plus Band.

Backpocket Brewing will serve its Oktoberfest beer, Hawktoberfest, at the event.

Oktoberfest at NewBo City Market is on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market is located at 1100 Third St. in Cedar Rapids.

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra at the Englert Theatre

The unique sounds of a steel pan instrument that most often conjure images of beach life and tropical environments will be brought to Iowa City under the hands of notable steel pannist Jonathan Scales.

Scales is a composer based in New York City who is behind seven albums. In 2017, Scales represented America as a musical ambassador through the Department of State in a multi-week concert tour that included Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia, according to the musician’s website.

The steel pannist is the founder of Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, featuring E’Lon Bruce Jordan-Dunlap, better known as E’Lon JD, on bass and Maison Guidry on drums. The group defines itself as a “steel pan jazz fusion” for the “modern ear.”

The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra made history with NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts in 2020 by being the first featured musicians to use steelpans in their performance.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Englert Theatre. General admission tickets are $27. Visit the Englert Theatre’s website to purchase tickets.

Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra at the James Theater

The best jazz musicians and composers in the state will be coming to the James Theater on Sunday for an evening of music excellence with Iowa ties.

The Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra is led by University of Northern Iowa assistant professor and jazz composer Mike Conrad. Its mission is to showcase the best jazz musicians and composers in Iowa and play original music by Iowa writers.

Members of the band include professor of trombone at UNI Anthony Williams, guitarist Steve Grismore of the University of Iowa, and Dave Rezek, a Des Moines trumpeter.

The Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra’s performance starts at 7 p.m. Sunday. General admission tickets are $20. Visit the James Theater’s website to purchase tickets.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Things to do this weekend in Johnson County include Oktoberfest