The best festivals in Iowa this spring and summer range from food-centric events to those that support marginalized voices. Here are 11 you won’t want to miss in 2026.
Now more than ever, having fun and coming together with your community is essential, and one of the best ways to do that is through local events. Luckily, we’re in no short supply of them. Winter 2025-2026 has seen some magical festivals bring Iowa to life, and the fun isn’t stopping there. This spring and summer are slated to have a variety of festivals for folks from all walks of life.
Don’t know where to start finding fun festivals? That’s where we come in. We’ve done the digging for you and rounded up 11 spring and summer festivals in Iowa, ranging from celebrating nature to lifting up marginalized voices. Many are free to attend, and don’t forget that volunteers make Iowa great, so you can always throw your hat in the ring if you want to do more than just attend one of these fantastic festivals. With that said, here are your best bets for simultaneously having fun and meeting new people throughout the first half of 2026.
1. Iowa Disability Film Festival
When: Mar. 26-29
Where: FilmScene (404 E College St #100, Iowa City, IA 52240)
Cost: Varies
Everyone experiences life differently, and FilmScene, a nonprofit movie theater and organization in Iowa City, knows that well. Enter the Iowa Disability Film Festival, a four-day experience that FilmScene uses as a way to connect viewers with films that are made by and about folks with disabilities. FilmScene also takes its inclusivity one step further by offering descriptive audio, open captions, and ASL interpreters for every film shown throughout the festival. If that weren’t enough, movie tickets throughout the festival follow a pay-what-you-can payment scheme, allowing everyone access to diverse films.
2. Maple Syrup Festival
When: Mar. 28-29
Where: Indian Creek Nature Center (6665 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403)
Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for children
The Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids has long educated people about the land and the environment, and its annual Maple Syrup Festival is part of that programming. This festival shows folks how maple syrup is actually made (it’s more than just tapping trees!), and yes, it includes a meal consisting of pancakes and sausage smothered with all-natural maple syrup. You can even get discounted tickets ($10 for adults and $5 for children) if you purchase them before Mar. 27.
The best part? If you can’t make it to the two-day festival, you can still attend a separate tree-tapping experience throughout the rest of March. Just don’t forget to buy a bottle or two of authentic maple syrup on your way out—you’ll kick yourself if you don’t.
3. Cedar Rapids International Film Festival
When: Apr. 10-12
Where: Collins Road Theatres (1462 Twixt Town Rd, Marion, Iowa 52302)
Cost: TBD
Did you know Iowa had so many film festivals? This isn’t the last one on this list, but it is one you should pay attention to. The Cedar Rapids International Film Festival is in its 23rd year, and it’s only growing bigger each time. This film festival highlights work done by Iowans, as well as others from outside of Iowa whose work ties back to our beautiful state, and we particularly love that all filmmakers who enter into the festival earn free admission and time to speak with the judges. This film festival also spotlights student films in a lovely way, giving them time on Sunday to shine. Ticket prices have yet to be revealed for 2026, but this is one of the best festivals in Iowa to attend if you want to support local artists.
4. Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
When: Apr. 18-25
Where: Dubuque
Cost: TBD
The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is in its 15th year in 2026, and it’s been extended to an entire week of fun film experiences. Held throughout Dubuque, this festival takes over the city, with various venues, from theaters to restaurants and beyond, becoming hotbeds for discussions, panels, and more. And we can’t forget about the films themselves: More than 100 movies from across the globe will be shown throughout the week, so there will truly be something for everyone. Ticket prices have yet to be announced, but it should be a good time nonetheless.
5. Tulip Time
When: May 7-9
Where: Pella Historical Village & Vermeer Windmill (507 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219)
Cost: Free
Pella is the definition of small but mighty. It’s nowhere near as big as, say, Iowa City, but its culture shines through with such special events as Tulip Time. This annual flower festival sees 300,000 tulips bloom throughout the city, and the beauty doesn’t end there. Locals take this opportunity to dress in traditional Dutch garb, bringing a slice of the Netherlands and the country’s famous flower fields to the Midwest.
Tulip Time is free to attend since the flowers are planted throughout the area. The market is also free to enter. However, there are some additional exhibits throughout the festival that may be ticketed. The event’s website notes that tickets for these ones tend to range from $5 to $25, but you can have endless fun and fill your Instagram feed with stunning photos for free if you’d like. Did we mention there will be authentic Dutch dishes to try throughout the festival, too?
6. Marion Arts Festival
When: May 16
Where: 7th Avenue in Marion
Cost: Free
The Marion Arts Festival has been uniting artists of all kinds in Iowa for 34 years, and it’s back in 2026, with thousands of artists expected to set up shop for a one-day festival unlike any other. Wandering around and viewing everyone’s art is free, but we recommend supporting local artists and nabbing a piece or two that really strikes you. Live music will punctuate the day, and for the runners, there’s even a half-marathon and 5k the morning of the festival, making this one of the most diverse and fun festivals in Iowa.
7. Ice Cream Days
When: June 17-20
Where: Le Mars
Cost: TBD
Born-and-bred Iowans know that Blue Bunny Ice Cream comes from a small town right in our backyard. Le Mars is home to the prominent brand, and each year, the city also hosts Ice Cream Days, a multi-day bash that puts everyone’s favorite creamy dessert front and center. A full schedule for the 2026 festival has yet to be made public, but past years’ events have included parades, 5ks, concerts, pony rides, lots of ice cream, and so much more. This is undoubtedly one of the tastiest festivals in Iowa.
8. Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival
When: June 25-July 4
Where: Cedar Rapids
Cost: Free
Each year, the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival brings a full week of fun to the Cedar Rapids area, and while details for the 2026 event are mum outside of its dates, it’s sure to be a blast if past weeks are anything to go by. If you don’t know, this festival isn’t held in one place; it consists of events across Cedar Rapids that lead up to the Fourth of July. It’s also all about supporting local small businesses and putting local parks to good, fun use. With community at its roots for more than 40 years, the 2026 Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival should certainly be a good time.
9. Iowa City Jazz Festival
When: July 3-5
Where: Downtown Iowa City
Cost: Free
Hosted by the local nonprofit Summer of the Arts, the Iowa City Jazz Festival will be lighting up downtown Iowa City for three straight days in early July. Live music will fill the streets, and attendees will be able to peruse booths from local businesses and artists, as well as try dishes from local vendors. Plus, if you’re the type who likes a stiff drink at a concert, you’re in luck because there will be a full beverage garden on-site for the festival. Curious who all will be performing? Read the full program here.
10. Monarch Fest
When: July 11
Where: Indian Creek Nature Center (6665 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403)
Cost: Free
Also held by the Indian Creek Nature Center, the annual Monarch Fest is a celebration of its namesake butterfly. At this event, attendees can witness monarch butterflies up close and see them fly away once released into the world. And don’t worry about missing a release; there are three release times so that everyone gets to witness these magical creatures.
Attendees leave Monarch Fest having learned more about pollinators and experienced making milkweed seedballs that these butterflies particularly enjoy. Some attendees will even leave with their own caterpillars to raise and eventually release into the wild. If that weren’t enough, there are children’s activities, temporary tattoos, and more to keep everyone entertained and fulfilled.
11. Iowa Irish Fest
When: July 31-Aug. 2
Where: Downtown Waterloo
Cost: $43
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Irish Fest, which descends on downtown Waterloo (around Lincoln Park) each summer in a blaze of Irish glory. One ticket gets you into all three days, and you should love every second since there’s so much to do. According to the event’s website, some of the activities include traditional Irish dance lessons, tasting Irish drinks like whiskey, herding sheep, participating in highland games, and so much more. Don’t even get us started on all of the yummy food you can expect to enjoy here. You’ll leave tired, but you’ll be glad that you visited one of the coolest festivals in Iowa.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: The 8 most magical winter festivals in Iowa for 2025-2026
