Art Church Iowa

06/09/2026

I don’t do a lot of plein air but it’s always a fun challenge. I’ll tighten this up in the studio when I get home. It’s more meaningful when there’s an experience behind the art. ZJ Paintings

06/06/2026

Saturdays in Malvern until Aug1, 2026.
Saturday June27th Independence Day Celebration moves to Fairview Hills Golf Course.
*Saturday July4th Break.
Mills County Chamber of Commerce

🚨🎸 MNL COMMUNITY ALERT 🎸🚨

The 2026 Malvern Summer Concert Series is back, meaning Heritage Park will once again become the most dangerously wholesome place in southwest Iowa every Saturday night this summer.

For eight weekends, downtown Malvern transforms into a beautiful mix of:
🎶 live music
🌈 rainbow umbrellas
🍔 food lines
🚴 bike riders from the Wabash Trace
🪑 aggressive lawn chair strategy
and people yelling “OH MY GOD I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU SINCE HIGH SCHOOL” across the park.

📍 Heritage Park – Malvern, Iowa
🗓 Saturdays • 6:30PM–9:30PM
🛍 Market runs during concerts
🚫 No concert or market July 4th

🎶 2026 Lineup:
• June 6 - Jack Davis opens for JB Acoustic
• June 13 – Ridin’ High
• June 20 – Eric Nelson Trio & Two Dollar Pistols
• June 27 – Touch of Grey + fireworks at Fairview Hills
• July 11 – Matt Woods with Dustin Arbuckle
• July 18 – Blue House & The Rent to Own Horns
• July 25 – Jason Walsmith Band
• August 1 – Matt Cox & The Marauders

Huge thanks to Zack Jones, who got this whole thing rolling, along with sponsors Malvern Bank, .A.B.A. and the countless volunteers for helping create one of the best small-town summer traditions in Iowa.

And thanks to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail people from all over the region now pedal into town every weekend looking for:
☕ Wabash Coffee Co.
🍔 Classic Cafe & Catering, Malvern IA
🍦 The Salty Heifer Cafe
🍕 Mezzo Bar
🍻 Tee’d Up Tavern
🎨 Fine Arts on Fifth
🏡 Art House
🚂 Malvern depot
Mulholland Grocery

Honestly, the Concert Series has become the one time every week where the entire town collectively decides:
“You know what? Maybe life isn’t that bad.”

MNL has also confirmed:
✅ Lawn chairs will begin appearing at approximately 2:17 PM for a 6:30 concert
✅ Somebody will dance barefoot before sunset
✅ Somebody else will bring an entire cooler like they’re crossing the Oregon Trail
✅ At least one couple will get in a minor fight because one person wanted to leave earlier
✅ Somebody from out of town will say “Wait… Malvern does THIS every weekend?”
✅ The rainbow umbrellas remain undefeated

See you in the park.

06/03/2026

. If you’re a Foodie, this is good to see in Iowa. Places to check out

Iowa's food scene is having a major moment! For the first time in state history, five James Beard Award semifinalists are putting Iowa on the national culina...

05/23/2026

Airbnb video tour of Art Church Iowa one block from Malvern Concert Series & Market.
Great weekend getaway. Experience small town Iowa at its best. Support locally owned businesses within walking distance. Located in the heart of the 63mi Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

https://www.airbnb.com/h/artchurch

Art Church Iowa was originally a Presbyterian Church built in 1873. Today it is a de-sanctified creative space space for full time artist, Zack Jones. Malve...

05/07/2026

You keep saying you want the kids to stick around.

Then if you do build new homes, it’s another subdivision on the edge of town that requires a car to survive.

The data has been screaming for years that the next generation is not interested in being confined to car centric places, but instead wants to live in a walkable community with opportunities for a rich social life. Sort of like a college campus.

So what will it take to change your development patterns?

04/26/2026

Four giant trolls just showed up in Iowa…

One is tucked away in western Iowa.
Three more are hiding along the Mississippi River.

They’re massive.
They’re made from recycled wood.

This might be one of the most unique road trips in Iowa right now.

👇I put together a guide showing where to find them 👇
(Check the comments for the link)

📸 Brian Abeling / Iowa Road Trip

04/24/2026

Midwest Dilemma at ArtChurchLive