Marion, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Ringling Bros. Circus, Les Miserables, Norah Jones

There’s plenty to do in Marion in the days ahead, and if you want to travel into to Des Moines or around the Cedar Rapids metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

Here are some selected events, with a full list of Des Moines metro events available here.

This Weekend

Les Miserables:

Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schö's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

The Civic Center, Des Moines. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus:

The fun begins as soon as the audience enters Ringling Bros. Presents BARNUM BASH with a rockin’ Pre-show party happening directly on the arena floor. Party goers can learn fresh dance moves from Ringling Bros. clown DJ Dean, style in glitzy costumes, learn balancing and juggling skills, meet and take photos with circus stars, and even step behind the curtain for an exclusive backstage experience which includes an up-close look at the most exotic animal menagerie only at BARNUM BASH.

Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Thursday, Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets.

Halloween Open House:

You’re Invited to Our Halloween Open House Friday 10/5—Refreshments while you shop & a Halloween Craft for the Kids! Saturday 10/6—Appearances by the Cedar Rapids Roller Girls & Sparkles The Clown! Sunday 10/7—Special Effects Make Up Demonstrations!

Website: http://www.crballoonsetc.com 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson:

An exhilarating and white-knuckled look at one of our nation’s founding rock stars, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson recreates and reinvents the life of “Old Hickory,” from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as our seventh Commander-in-Chief. It also asks the question, is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he’s really, really hot? The musical received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 2011.

7:30 p.m., Theatre Cedar Rapids. Website: http://www.theatrecr.org Cost: $15.00 - $30.00.

Band on the Run 5K Run/Walk 

A 5K Run/Walk will be a part of the Appetite for Marion festivities. Spanda Inc. is presenting Band on the Run 5K Run/Walk which begins at 4 p.m. on Oct. 6 and will feature a fun route starting and ending in Uptown Marion. The Run/Walk benefits Vision in Motion, a local program of Spanda, Inc. is an outpatient, occupational therapy clinic specializing in vision therapy and helps the under-insured in need of critical vision rehabilitation. For more information about Band on the Run 5K Run/Walk.

Saturday, Oct 6, 4:00 p.m. Website: http://www.spandainc.com/

Cityview Martinifest:

 Sample the metro's finest martinis at this year's Martini Fest! Try specialty martinis from all of your favorite West Glen retailers. For all beer lovers, for the first time there will also be a Summit Beer Garden at Cabaret.

West Glen Town Center, West Des Moines. Friday, 5 pm. - 9 p.m. Tickets.

Upcoming

Norah Jones: Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Norah Jones just released her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts. Since coming on the scene in 2002, Jones has sold over 36 million albums worldwide. Her three studio albums have each topped the Billboard top 200 album charts in the U.S. and gone to No. 1 around the world.

The Civic Center, Des Moines. Thursday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. Tickets.

Bill Maher:

For the past 17 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last eight years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him twenty-six Emmy nominations.

The Civic Center, Des Moines. Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Tickets.

Celtic Thunder:

Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has been hailed as BILLBOARD’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for their most current disc, Heritage.

The Civic Center, Des Moines Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets.