The Cedar Valley hosts festivals of all kinds, bringing art, music and culture to life for people to enjoy. Here are 10 Cedar Valley festivals to put on your radar. 

1. Maple Syrup Festival

Each March at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center, Cedar Falls locals enjoy unlimited pancakes topped with syrup made right there at their sugar shack, where they hold syrup-making demos, served with sausage and local coffee or milk. 

2. Waverly Art Walk

In May at Kohlmann Park, the Waverly Art Walk is a popular juried fine arts and crafts show. Artists sell their creations in booths along the Cedar River, ranging from jewelry and pottery to painting and photography. The event includes live music, food vendors and art activities. 

3. Heartland Days

Hosted in June, Heartland Days is New Hampton’s largest event of the year. Kicking off with a parade, the festival is full of music, food and family-friendly activities like mechanical hog riding, a tractor pull, corn hole and a car show. 

4. Fairbank Island Days

Fairbank’s annual June celebration brings together live music, a carnival, a beer garden, a parade, a car show, a tractor pull, a triathlon and a pageant for a weekend of fun. 

5. Celebrate Indee

What better place to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day than Independence? Held on July 3 and 4, Celebrate Indee has musical performances, activities for all ages, food and drinks, and, of course, a fireworks display over the Wapsipinicon River. 

6. Iowa Irish Fest

Iowa’s biggest celebration of Irish culture brings music, dancing and traditions to Waterloo each August. The three-day festival features food vendors, representing Ireland and diverse flavors from other parts of the globe. 

7. My Waterloo Days

Celebrating the best of Waterloo, My Waterloo Days has been held each summer for the past 40 years. It’s a free and family-friendly event, featuring food and drink vendors, live music, games, a parade, and fireworks. 

8. Lost Woods Music Festival

This music festival is only in its second year but is becoming a new favorite in Cedar Falls. At a secret location in the woods, several Iowan musical acts perform from afternoon until after nightfall. 

9. ARTapalooza

More than just a juried art show, ARTapalooza is an opportunity for Cedar Falls residents and visitors alike to shop local from over 50 art vendors, listen to live music and get creative with art activities for the kids. The event is held the first weekend after Labor Day. 

10. Waverly Oktoberfest

Celebrating beer and German culture, the Waverly Oktoberfest has live music, a cornhole tournament, a keg toss, stein hoisting and a roster of beers to choose from. It also features food vendors and games for the family. This Cedar Valley festival takes place on the grounds of Kohlmann Park.