Put These 5 Cedar Valley Events on Your Calendar
If you're looking for fun things to do in Waterloo and the region, be sure to attend the following festivities.
If you are a resident of the Cedar Valley, several downtown festivals and events are well worth attending. Here is just a small sample of the fun things to do in Waterloo and the surrounding communities of the Cedar Valley:
In This Article
Fourth of July Celebrations in Shell Rock & Independence
The City of Shell Rock presents an annual Fourth of July Celebration with attractions that include a KidZone, magic shows, live band performances, food vendors, a beer tent and a one-hour fireworks show. Fourth of July is also celebrated with pride in Independence, a town that nearly doubles in size for this popular event where the Riverwalk Parks are decked out with food, music, and of course, fireworks as the grand finale.
Art Walk in Waverly
The first Saturday of May is time for this annual event, with events staged at Kohlmann Park along the Cedar River. This springtime art celebration features more than 30 Midwest juried artists selling their works of basketry, jewelry, pottery, photography, paintings and furniture. There is also live music, food vendors and kids’ art activities.
Holiday Hoopla in Cedar Falls
Kicking off the Christmas season each year is Holiday Hoopla, with several activities taking place in the Cedar Falls downtown district. The season kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving with a visit from Santa, and other season-long highlights include Victorian street characters, live band performances, shopping deals and a fireworks show over the Cedar River.
Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo
This is a must-attend event when looking for fun things to do in Waterloo. Wear your tartan plaid and Celtic sweater to the annual Iowa Irish Fest that arrives in Waterloo for three days every August, drawing more than 50,000 people to the Cedar Valley. Activities include traditional Irish food, sports games, contests, Celtic music and workshops.
Hudson Days in Hudson
The three-day Hudson Days celebration occurs every mid-July with great food, fun activities and entertainment. Several live bands provide performances throughout the weekend, and other activities include a sand volleyball tournament, paintball, Big Wheel races and a kids pedal tractor pull.
Get to Know the Cedar Valley
Want to learn more about living and working in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metro Region of Iowa? Check out the latest edition of Livability Live the Valley.