Experience the Magic: Must-Attend Summer Events in Iowa

Summer is all about living your best life. Whether you’re rolling solo or bringing the crew, Iowa’s statewide festivals, concerts and events are the perfect excuse to plan one last epic weekend before the sun officially sets on the warm-weather season.

Lakes & Land

Clay County Fair, Spencer

We’re Iowa – of course our corn is the best in the country. Try it for yourself at Sweet Corn Days in Estherville, a celebration that showcases the local sweet corn harvest and features fun activities like corn-eating contests, live music and family-friendly entertainment.

Head a little further south to find one of Iowa’s most unique events – Hobo Days in Britt. Known for its quirky traditions like the Hobo King and Queen contest, Hobo Days celebrates the town’s unique hobo heritage with a parade, live music, games and activities.

You can’t visit Northwest Iowa without hitting the Clay County Fair in Spencer. It’s nicknamed “The World’s Greatest County Fair” and is especially known for its blue-ribbon competitions, variety of food options and innovative exhibits that highlight the state's agricultural heritage.

Mark your calendar:

August

Sweet Corn Days, Estherville (July 31-Aug. 3)
Hobo Days, Britt (Aug. 7-9)

September

Clay County Fair, Spencer (Sept. 6-14)

Loess Hills & Beyond

Lenox Stock and Saddle Club Rodeo

The Loess Hills area is famous for breathtaking landscapes, charming small towns and agricultural attractions, which is exactly what you can expect to find with these summer events. The Sidney Rodeo is an annual showcase of exciting professional competitions like bull riding and barrel racing.

About two hours north, the Tri-City BBQ Fest in Denison is a flavorful celebration of barbecue culture that features a competitive cook-off and delicious food vendors, plus a variety of entertainment options, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts and families alike.

Mark your calendar:

July

Lenox Stock and Saddle Club Rodeo, Lenox (July 24-26)
Sidney Rodeo, Sidney (July 29-Aug. 2)
Highway 141 Garage Sale, Grimes to Mapleton (July 29-Aug. 2)

August

Operation T-Bone, Audubon (Aug. 1-3)
Rooster Trail Ride, Mineola (Aug. 8-10)

September

Tri-City BBQ Fest, Denison (Sept. 19-20)

Capital Country

Summer in Capital Country brings some of Iowa’s biggest and most exciting events. In July, the National Balloon Classic in Indianola is a mesmerizing hot air balloons extravaganza where balloon pilots compete for prizes while spectators enjoy live entertainment, food vendors and family-friendly activities for a magical experience.

Of course, it doesn’t get more authentically Iowan than the Iowa State Fair. Grab some flavorful food on a stick, check out thrilling rides, see big name acts at the Grandstand or get a close-up look at the famous Butter Cow.

If concerts are your thing, check out Hinterland Music Festival and its diverse lineup of major artists like Lana Del Ray, Kasey Musgraves, Tyler, the Creator and many more performing in the beautiful Saint Charles countryside.

Music lovers and foodies alike can’t miss the World Food and Music Festival. This vibrant event in downtown Des Moines features delicious cuisine from all over the world plus live performances and cultural demonstrations.

For thrill seekers, claim your seat at the Knoxville Nationals, which is recognized as the country’s premier sprint car racing event. In fact, Knoxville is known as the Sprint Car Capital of the World and welcomes passionate fans from across the country flock each summer for this event.

Mark your calendar:

July

National Balloon Classic, Indianola (July 25-Aug. 2)

August

Hinterland Music Festival, Saint Charles (Aug. 1-3)
Knoxville Nationals, Knoxville (Aug. 6-9)
Meskwaki Powwow, Tama (Aug. 7-10)
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines (Aug. 7-17)
Adel Sweet Corn Festival, Adel (Aug. 9)
World Food & Music Festival, Des Moines (Aug. 22-24)

September

Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival, Des Moines (Aug. 21-22)

Driftless Area

For classic summer fun, take a trip to Dyersville to experience the nostalgia of America’s favorite pastime at the Field of Dreams. The Ghost Players games are a tradition at the iconic baseball field, where visitors can soak up the magical atmosphere and play catch with the players.

If you’re looking for some cultural celebration, look no further than Nordic Fest in Decorah and the Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, both of which feature traditional food, music and exhibits.

Art lovers should head to ARTapalooza in Cedar Falls, which showcases talented artists from throughout the Midwest who specialize in a wide variety of arts forms including ceramics, glasswork, sculptures, jewelry, photography and more.

Mark your calendar:

July

Nordic Fest, Decorah (July 24-26)
Field of Dreams Ghost Players, Dyersville (July 5 & 19, Aug. 2 & 16)

August

Iowa Irish Fest, Waterloo (Aug. 1-3)

September

ARTapalooza, Cedar Falls (Sept. 7)

Storied & Scenic

With a history rooted in arts and culture, Southeast Iowa boasts exciting events nearly every weekend throughout the summer. AsianFest in Cedar Rapids showcases delicious food, performances and activities.
The Great Jones County Fair in Monticello is known as “the five best days of summer.” Iowa City Latino Fest celebrates diversity with music and dance.

Davenport’s musical heritage is highlighted along the Bix 7 road race route and via the Bix Jazz Festival. The Truckers Jamboree in Walcott honors the trucking industry with live music and family activities. LeClaire’s Great River Tug Fest in presents a thrilling tug-of-war competition across the Mississippi River. Hoover Hometown Days in West Branch pays tribute to President Herbert Hoover.

Finally, the summer season wraps up with the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant and celebrating the region’s agricultural history.

Mark your calendar:

July

Truckers Jamboree, Walcott (July 10-12)
Great Jones County Fair, Monticello (July 16-20)
Iowa City Latino Fest, Iowa City (TBD)
Bix 7, Davenport (July 26)
Bix Jazz Festival, Davenport (July 31-Aug. 2)

August

Great River Tug Fest, LeClaire (Aug. 7-9)
Hoover Hometown Days, West Branch (Aug. 8-9)
Bike Van Buren, Van Buren (Aug. 16-17)
Boomtown, Vinton (Aug. 23)
Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, Mt. Pleasant (Aug. 28-Sept. 1)

September

AsianFest, Cedar Rapids (Sept. 20)

Statewide - RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI (July 19-25) needs no introduction, but we’ll give you one anyways! The world’s oldest, longest and largest recreational bike touring event spans the entire state over seven days. This year’s event, the 52nd RAGBRAI, starts in Orange City and ends in Guttenberg. If you want to experience a variety of communities, what better way than to hop on a bike and explore for yourself?

Find More Summer Fun

The Ultimate Iowa Summer Bucket List

Iowa's County Fairs

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