Things to Do in Lansing, IA in November 2026
Election Day, Veterans Day, student music honors, Thanksgiving, and a Main Street shopping Saturday — your hometown guide to a grateful month on the river.
November is when Lansing slows down and settles in. The bluffs above the Mississippi trade their October color for bare oak and early frost, eagles start gathering along Pool 9, and the town turns its attention to the things that matter most — civic decisions, honoring veterans, cheering on local students, and sitting down together for Thanksgiving.
Here’s everything worth putting on your calendar this month, listed in date order, plus a few Driftless favorites you can enjoy any day of November.
🌾 November at a Glance
The whole month on one screen. Scroll down for times, places, and details.
- Mon · Nov 2City Council Regular Meeting
- Tue · Nov 3General Election Day
- Wed · Nov 11Veterans Day Program at Kee High
- Mon · Nov 16UIC Band Festival
- Mon · Nov 16City Council Session
- Thu · Nov 19OPUS Honor Choir
- Nov 19–21Iowa All-State Music Festival
- Thu · Nov 26Thanksgiving Day
- Sat · Nov 28Small Business Saturday
🍂 November 2026 Events in Lansing
In strict date order, from the first council meeting of the month to Main Street’s holiday kickoff.
Lansing City Council Regular Meeting
The council meets the first and third Monday of every month to work through ordinances, utilities, and day to day city business. Residents are welcome in person, and a Zoom option is offered for anyone who can’t make it to City Hall.
2026 General Election Day
Iowa’s general election puts federal, state, and county offices on the ballot. Polls are open statewide from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Allamakee County voters cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling place.
📌 Not registered yet? Iowa allows Election Day registration at the polls with proof of identity and residence.
Veterans Day Program at Kee High
Eastern Allamakee students honor area service members with their annual student led Veterans Day program, featuring musical tributes from district ensembles and guest speakers. Veterans, families, and neighbors are encouraged to fill the gym and say thank you.
📌 Last year, doors opened at 10:00 AM with the program starting at 10:15 AM. Confirm 2026 timing with Eastern Allamakee Schools.
Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) Band Festival
Select Kee High band students travel to perform alongside the strongest high school musicians in the Upper Iowa Conference. It’s a big honor for our young players — give them a shout of support when they get home.
Lansing City Council Mid-Month Session
The council’s second meeting of the month typically covers infrastructure reports, budget items, and public comment. If something in town is on your mind, this is the place to be heard.
OPUS Honor Choir
Chosen young vocalists from the district head to Ames for OPUS, the statewide honor choir that recognizes standout junior high singers. Being selected puts these students among Iowa’s top young voices.
Iowa All-State Music Festival
The highest individual honor an Iowa high school musician can earn. Kee High band and vocal students who earned spots at the competitive October auditions spend three days rehearsing in Ames with the All-State Band, Orchestra, and Chorus.
Thanksgiving Day in Lansing
Expect most shops and offices to close for the holiday. Watch your church bulletin for community services and shared meals, and if you’d rather let someone else do the cooking, riverfront taverns and restaurants shift to winter hours this month — call ahead before you go, especially with a big family table.
Small Business Saturday on Main Street
Skip the big box chaos and start your holiday list downtown. Lansing’s independent storefronts, gift shops, and local makers roll out holiday specials and one of a kind regional goods — and every dollar stays right here in town.
🍁 Anytime in November
No date required. These Lansing favorites are ready whenever you are.
Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center
Late migrating waterfowl and resident bald eagles gather along Pool 9 as the river cools. The center’s observation decks overlook the Mississippi, and inside you’ll find exhibits on Driftless geology, wildlife, and river history.
Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library
Stock up on winter reading, grab an audiobook for the drive to Ames, or use the public computers and WiFi. The library hosts programs for all ages throughout the year — call to ask what’s on the November schedule.
Late-Season Trout on Clear Creek
The cold air doesn’t stop the spring fed streams of Allamakee County. Clear Creek stays fishable for dedicated anglers who want a quiet, frosty morning on the water with the bluffs all to themselves.
🧣 Plan Your November in Lansing
- Watch the weather. November in the Driftless can bring the first snow. School and public schedules can change on short notice, so check with the organizer before heading out.
- Call ahead. Many restaurants and shops move to winter hours this month, and holiday weeks shift things further.
- Bundle up by the river. Wind off the Mississippi makes overlooks and observation decks feel colder than the forecast.
- Cheer on local students. November is honor season for Kee High musicians — congratulate them when they’re back from Ames.
About This Event Guide
This guide does not list every event happening in Lansing this November. Hosting something we missed? Submit it through tiv360.com/contact-the-inventors-velocity/.
Event dates, times, locations, and details can change without notice — especially with November weather — so please confirm with the organizer before you go.
Lansing-Iowa.com is not affiliated with, and does not represent, any of the organizations or events listed on this page.
🍂 Event details confirmed October 2026.
