Fall Iowa Festivals

Iowa Irish Fest - Waterloo, IA - Aug 2 to Aug 4, 2024
Classes include Dance Workshops with professional Irish dance companies, The Guinness Experience with National Guinness Brand Ambassador and the Whiskey Masters Classes. Festgoers are also able to get active through several sporting events including the Rugby tournament, the Highland Games, sheep herding, Gaelic Football & Hurling and so much more! Don’t forget about the Family Fun Area! In this area, families can enjoy interactive activities including Irish language classes, playing Irish instruments, learning about the rich history of the Irish, the Bill Riley Talent Show Search and so much more! There’s something for everyone at Iowa Irish Fest!

World Food and Music Festival - Des Moines, IA - Aug 23 to Aug 25, 2024
Features foods from around the world. Entrees are $5 or less and tastes are $1. There will also be live music, cooking demonstrations, and wine and craft beer. Admission is free.

Irish Hooley Musical Festival of Dubuque - Dubuque, IA - Aug 24, 2024
The mission of the Irish Hooley is to promote Irish/Celtic music and culture in Dubuque.. For generations, the highlight of Irish social life was the Hooley with music, dance, song, good conversation and merriment.

Epiphany Parish Festival - Mason City, IA - Aug 25, 2024
Epiphany Parish, 302 Fifth Street SE, Mason City, will hold its annual Parish Festival. Mass in the Grass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Food will be available. Festival activities have in the past included: kid’s games, laser tag, dunk tank, pig races, obstacle course, junk food walk, bingo, bags tournament, 5 card stud, silent auction, pie and quilt auction, raffle, bake sale, pie eating contest

FRYfest - Coralville, IA - Aug 30, 2024
At this one-day event, you live, eat and breathe the Iowa Hawkeyes. With activities ranging from the “World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow” to the signature Hawkeye Pep Rally, there is no shortage of activities to experience in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing. Over 15,000 members of Hawkeye Nation typically attend. There is a tradeshow and block party too!

Labor Day Celebration - Graettinger, IA - Aug 31 to Sep 2, 2024
annual event to celebrate Labor Day includes antique tractor pull, flower show, parade, 5K, coed softball and volleyball tournament.

Septemberfest - Schaumberg, IA - Aug 31 to Sep 2, 2024
Arts & crafts show, craft beer & wine tent, carnival, 3 stages of live entertainment, Taste of Schaumburg, parade, fireworks and more at the municipal center on Schaumburg Ct. Free admission

Fly Iowa - Boone, IA - Aug 31, 2024
Free air show with various planes and nationally known stunt pilots, youth aviation activities, historical displays, food vendors and entertainment

ArtSplash - Sioux City, IA - Aug 31 to Sep 1, 2024
A family oriented celebration of visual and performing arts at Riverside Park with live entertainment and food. Fun includes bungees, inflatables, balloon sculpture, face painting, arts and crafts, plus a juried art show for various media

Fayette Watermelon Days - Fayette, IA - Sep 6 to Sep 8, 2024
FREE Kid’s Games, FREE Inflatables, FREE Lazer Tag, FREE Face Painting, FREE Watermelon, FREE Balloons from Mr. Nick, Fireworks, Sky Lantern Launch, Parade, Live Entertainment, Car Show, Vendor Fair and much more!

St Ansgar Fall Festival - St Ansgar, IA - Sep 7, 2024
Handmade goods, crafts, art, original handiwork, vintage, antique, seasonal produce, food and other vendors will be set up on Fourth Street (business district) in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Activities start at 10:00 am. Local shops will have in-store promotions and special events, including an Iowa wine tasting.

ARTapalooza - Cedar Falls, IA - Sep 8, 2024
A juried fine art show on the streets and sidewalks of the downtown area, plus artist demonstrations, live entertainment, and children’s activities.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Ottumwa, IA - Sep 12, 2024
At the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, people carry flowers representing their connection to Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently has no cure. The hope is that with fundraising to fight this disease, there will one day by those we honor for surviving Alzheimer’s.

Dubuque Oktoberfest - Dubuque, IA - Sep 14, 2024
Rain or shine under the tri-states’ largest festival tent. Great food and beer plus live music, food, dancing, wiener dog races. Proceeds benefit Camp Albrecht Acres.

Adventureland Oktoberfest - Altoona, IA - Sep 14, 2024
General admission tickets are $45+ each online. Rain or shine event. 21+ only. This is the last day Adventureland is open for the year!

National Cattle Congress - Waterloo, IA - Sep 18 to Sep 22, 2024
Visit the entertainment capital of Eastern Iowa. 4H and other agriculture exhibits, food, rides, and more!

Tri City BBQ Fest - Denison, IA - Sep 20 to Sep 21, 2024
A battle of brisket, bands and beer from three cities: Omaha, Des Moines and Sioux City. BBQ competition, beer tent, carnival games & rides, car show, three historical tours, petting zoo, shopping and more. Free admissions!

Mason City Harvest Festival - Mason City, IA - Sep 20 to Sep 21, 2024
FREE family fun. Inflatables, games, balloon art, kids tractor pull, prizes (all free) and FREE live music. Pork chop dinner for $10

Beaverdale Fall Festival - Des Moines, IA - Sep 20 to Sep 21, 2024
A fall festival that has been going on for 100 years. Activities include carnival, car night, horse rides, dog parade, street games, food, shopping and more.

Ely Fall Fest - Ely, IA - Sep 22 to Sep 28, 2024
Farmers’ Market, hayrack rides, car show, fireworks, street dance, live music and more. Sports and contests include beanbag and kickball tournaments as well as a 5K run and 1 mile fun run/walk. Kids activities include inflatables, pumpkin decorating and more.

Octagon Art Festival - Ames, IA - Sep 22, 2024
An outdoor event in the Main Street Cultural District with free admission to original artwork featuring visual arts, children’s art areas and performing arts.

Oktemberfest - Marshalltown, IA - Sep 26 to Sep 29, 2024
An entire weekend of fun for Marshalltown families. Color run, classic car show, parade, carnival, big wheel races, facepainting, dance, Little Miss and Mr. Oktemberfest, clowns with balloon animals and more.

Des Moines Oktoberfest - Des Moines, IA - Sep 27 to Sep 28, 2024
There’s a ceremonial keg tapping, beer maiden contest, stein holding contest, and polka dancing in Des Moines, in addition to the beer gardens and German food. Prizes for those who dress up! The golden keg is tapped on Friday at 3 PM. The Stein Holding competition and Polka Lessons take place on Saturday. Advance tickets are $7 for a single day or $13 for two-day admission. Entry includes a commemorative mug, access to the Craft Beer Village, Hofbrau Rooftop Bier Garden, entry into Silent Disco DSM and entertainment from 16+ bands and DJs. Price is $10 at the door. Location: 101 4th St, Des Moines, IA

Kalona Fall Festival - Kalona, IA - Sep 27 to Sep 28, 2024
Food, entertainment, children’s activities including pony rides. There is also demonstrations, a talent show, wine sampling, chainsaw sculptures, antique show and arts & crafts.

Iowa Oktoberfest Downtown Waterloo - Waterloo, IA - Sep 27 to Sep 28, 2024
Looking for a fun weekend come to Waterloo and check out the Iowa Oktoberfest! Grab a boot from Anton’s Biergarten, a enjoy a beer from the Beer Hall, or swing over to Newton’s for a shot of Jagermeister. Drinks, food, games, contests, and live music begins Friday at 4:00 and the festivities will run through Saturday evening! Have a BEARD? Enter the beard contest or just dress for the occasion and you may win a prize! Lots of FUN planned so bring your friends! For updates and for the event schedule please visit them on Facebook or at www.IowaOktoberfest.com ; Nicht lange schnacken, Kopf in Nacken!

Waverly Oktoberfest - Waverly, IA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
This family friendly event will features live music, food and beverage gardens including Iowa craft beers, and fun and games for youth and adults. Friday and Saturday in downtown Waverly.

Amana Oktoberfest - Amana, IA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
Amana, a national historic landmark built by radical Pietists primarily from Germany, celebrates Oktoberfest with a beer keg tapping (Friday at 2 PM), parade (Saturday), live entertainment, games and activities for both adults (like the keg toss!) and kids (pumpkin toss!). Other contests such as log sawing, brat eating and the timber trek. Sample fudge and caramel at the Chocolatehaus. Free demonstrations at the Woolen Mill. Edelstein Treasures for kids. Festhalle admission is $10 for one day and $15 for two days.

Northside Oktoberfest - Iowa City, IA - Oct 5, 2024
Includes brewfest, Sodafest, local food venders, live music, beaked chicked dance, adult contests, a stage with children’s entertainment and a harvest market. They indicate tickets for the Brewfest will sell out in advance. Proceeds go to the American Heart Association and the Iowa Children’s Museum.

Burlington Lions Club Oktoberfest - Burlington, IA - Oct 5, 2024
The club’s signature event on the first Saturday in October. German food including bratwurst and sauerkraut. Bavarian musicians. Games including Stein Hoist. Authentic attire contest.

Manning Oktoberfest - Manning, IA - Oct 5, 2024
German food, polka music, dance lessons and Hausbarn tours. 5 PM keg tapping with Home Brew contest followed by German music and dancing from 7-10:30 PM.

Pumpkinfest - Anamosa, IA - Oct 5, 2024
A true Main Street Festival that has drawn thousands to Anamosa since 1989. Activities include dozens of food and craft vendors, kids’ games, one of the largest parades in all of Iowa, and GIANT pumpkins.

Fall Arts and Crafts Festival - McGregor, IA - Oct 5 to Oct 13, 2024
McGregor holds three annual arts and crafts festivals. The fall festival features over 40 artists in tents both indoors and outdoors. Grab something from a food vendor and relax in the park while live music from local musicians continues throughout the day

Fall Festival - Keosauqua, IA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Part of the Scenic Drive Festival throughout SE Iowa that weekend. Family friendly activities including craft vendors, food vendors, carnival rides, live entertainment, car show, pedal pull and local shops.

Scenic Drive Festival - Van Buren County, IA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Held on the second weekend in October during the peak of the fall foliage season. The largest event of the year in this scenic Southeast Iowa community. Arts and crafts, flea market, car show, tractor show, parade, fun run and more.

Madison County Covered Bridge Festival - Winterset, IA - Oct 12 to Oct 13, 2024
The world famous Bridges of Madison County are on display for this annual fall festival. Enjoy the changing colors as well as live music

Antique Fall Festival - Walnut, IA - Oct 12 to Oct 13, 2024
Enjoy autumn and antiques with dealers setup indoors and outdoors.

Fort Dodge Oktoberfest - Fort Dodge, IA - Oct 19, 2024
Held at River Hops Brewing

Remsen Oktoberfest - Remsen, IA - Oct 26, 2024
It’s their 40+ annual celebration of the community’s Luxembourg & German heritage. The event historically includes beer keg tapping, all you can eat German feast, and children’s Bavarian costume and dance contest. Always held on the last Saturday in October.

Art on the Prairie - Perry, IA - Nov 9 to Nov 10, 2024
An art festival showcasing 100+ Iowa artists, musicians and writers in the Cultural and Historic District.

Ottumwa Oktoberfest - Ottumwa, IA - Oct 4 to Oct 7, 2023
Brats and beer, chicken barbecue, parade, and carnival. The annual Rotary Chicken Barbecue kicks off activities with a barbeque. Advance tickets $8. Features a Kiddie Parade, Oktoberfest Parade, and a marching band competition.

Fall Harvest Festival - Waterloo, IA - Sep 23 to Oct 22, 2023
For 2023, various fall activites from mid-September to late October. Normally: Vendors, live entertainment, car show, trolley rides, family fun zone, artists & authors, quilting & rug hooking demonstrations, scarecrow contest display and more! $5 per person ages 14+, free for children under 14 and Arboretum members.

Bar-B-QC - Davenport, IA - Sep 23 to Sep 24, 2023
Barbecue for lunch and dinner, live music, and craft beer tasting on Saturday

Maximum Ames Music Festival - Ames, IA - Sep 21 to Sep 24, 2023
More than 40 acts are scheduled to perform at the downtown Ames music festival.