Cedar Rapids is buzzing with summer fun! Think cotton candy, Ferris wheels, and games galore! From the Freedom Festival to local fairs, there’s something for everyone.

This list of events will be growing all summer long, so make sure to keep an eye out for new additions!

Festivals

Juneteenth Festival | NewBo City Market
June 15 | 11:00 am

Bring your family to celebrate this significant holiday with an array of live performances by talented local artists. This event is part of the AAMI’s Juneteenth Commemoration.

Fairfax USA Days | Fairfax, IA
June 21 & 22

Enjoy free kids’ attractions like the Choo-Choo Train and the popular rock-climbing wall. New this year is “After Dark in the Park,” a Super Science Foam Extravaganza at the Fairfax ball field on Friday from 7 PM to 10:30 PM, followed by a Street Dance at the Legion Hall with the band Rattlebox. Saturday kicks off with the Annual American Legion Breakfast and door prizes. The Street Market is back, so vendors are welcome. Don’t miss the USA Days Freedom Parade at 11:30 AM, featuring classic cars, horses, and tractors! Enjoy a firefighter lunch at the fire station, a performance by the Amen Choir at the ball diamond, an all-day kids’ carnival, and one of Iowa’s best fireworks displays.

4th Annual Root Beer Festival | The History Center
June 22 | $5.00/per person

Musical entertainment, one free root beer or root beer float; kids can enjoy a bounce house and admission includes access to museum exhibits.

Freedom Festival Balloon Glow | Jones Park, Cedar Rapids
June 22 | 12:00 pm

Explore various vendors from 12 PM to 9 PM. Afterward, from 1 PM until 6 PM, immerse yourself in the Volta Youth Music and Arts Festival! BirdChild will perform at 7 PM. Witness the sunset and savor moments with loved ones. Delight in local performers and experience the mesmerizing glow of balloons at dusk.

Volta Youth Music & Art Festival | Jones Park, Cedar Rapids
June 22 | 1:00 – 6:00 pm

The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy is excited to collaborate once more with the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, this time commencing the cherished Balloon Glow event! Prepare for dynamic performances by our Rock Academy Bands, alongside beloved local acts! Our Youth Academy artists will also exhibit and sell their art alongside the lively Bohemian Betty. Bring a seat, secure your Freedom Festival Button, and relish in the festivities, enhanced by the ever-delightful Cedar Rapids food trucks!

Summer Festival | NewBo City Market
June 22 | 3:00 – 8:00 pm

This event is free and open to everyone. Come and enjoy live music, a variety of shows, food from different vendors, a bouncy house for kids, and much more.

Freedom Festival Parade | Downtown Cedar Rapids
June 29 | 10:00 am

Experience the ultimate trio of joy—candy, friends, and music—at the 2024 Freedom Festival parade.

Midsummer Garden Arts Fair | Ellis Park, Cedar Rapids
June 29 | 7:00 – 8:00 pm

The festivities will kick off at 7:00 PM, though attendees are encouraged to arrive earlier to set up their lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic gear. In the unfortunate event of rain, the fair will be relocated to Overlook Pavilion in Ellis Park.

Freedom Festival Car Show & Pancake Breakfast | Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
July 4 | 8:00 am

Explore a captivating collection of the region’s most genuine and distinctive automobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles! Admission is complimentary!

The pancake breakfast is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, offering you the chance to savor your meal within the welcoming atmosphere of the ImOn Ice Arena! Each meal costs $10 (or $5 with a Freedom Festival button, reducing it to $5 per meal), and features delightful servings of pancakes, sausage links, bananas, granola bars, and orange juice!

4thFest Parade | Coralville
July 4 | 10:00 am

The 4thFest parade, the area’s largest Independence Day celebration, features marching bands, floats, and plenty of excitement each year!

Freedom Festival Fireworks | 3rd Ave Bridge
July 4 | 5:00 – 10:00 pm

Experience one of the state’s most spectacular firework showcases! The fireworks commence at dusk. Enjoy live music on the stage, savor culinary delights from food vendors, sip on refreshing drinks, and explore the kids’ fun zone!

CR Pride Festival | NewBo City Market
July 6 | 12:00 – 6:00 pm

Monarch Fest | Indian Creek Nature Center
July 13 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

At Monarch Fest, the whole family can enjoy a day filled with fun activities, including learning about Monarch butterflies and other pollinators, participating in butterfly releases, creating milkweed seedballs, and adopting a caterpillar to raise and release at home.

Kinder Fun | Ackerman Winery
July 13 | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Bring your little artist to our Family FUN Room at the back of the store anytime between 11 AM and 4 PM to create their own flying butterfly. The $10 fee includes all supplies, a kid’s snack, and a soft drink.

Additionally, we have a guessing game with a grand prize, our popular Dachshund Scavenger Hunt, and a new activity: BUILD YOUR OWN BOX FORT.

We will also be screening family-friendly videos in our back room, where kids can enjoy their own snack packs for $5.

Mother Nature’s Fireworks | Wickiup Hill Learning Center
July 16 | 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Join a Wickiup Naturalist for a family-friendly program to catch, release, and observe fireflies. Learn about these fascinating insects and see them up close on our trails near the Learning Center. Limited spots are available.
*Cost: $5.00 per adult, $2.50 per child. Register online by July 15th.

Swisher Fun Days | Swisher, IA
July 27

Hoover’s Hometown Days | West Branch, IA
August 9-10

A festival for residents and visitors that blends various activities, honoring the unique heritage of West Branch, Iowa, the hometown of Herbert Hoover, while celebrating and supporting our vibrant small-town community.

Palo Fun Days | Palo, IA
August 17

Boom-Fest | Downtown Vinton
August 24 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Artisans, crafters, farmers market vendors, and food sellers gather on the downtown streets of Vinton, creating a vibrant atmosphere. With kids’ activities and live entertainment, this family-friendly street fair offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Spark in the Park Cultural Festival | Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center
September 8 | 12:00 pm

Join us for a free community festival! Embrace our diversity and discover new healthy habits. Enjoy activities for all ages, savor international cuisine, experience cultural performances, see fashion demonstrations, and much more!