Fairs, Festivals, Concerts & Markets — August Events in Eastern Iowa

We're in for another busy month! To help keep track of everything going on, we put together a list of big events happening in Eastern Iowa and beyond in the month of August. Here are some of the things to look forward to:

Mississippi Valley Fair

• Tuesday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 7th
• 2815 W Locust St in Davenport
• Concerts from Kid Rock, Nelly & Flo Rida, Jimmie Allen, Carly Pearce, Brantley Gilbert, and Dustin Lynch
• Featuring food, live entertainment, a beer tent, carnival rides, and more
• Find details on purchasing tickets HERE

Bonnie Raitt Concert

• Wednesday, August 3rd at 7 p.m.
• McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids
• With special guest Mavis Staples

Rock the Block

• Dates/Bands
  • Friday, August 5th - Belle Rangers
  • Friday, August 12th - Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
  • Friday, August 19th - Cedar County Cobras
  • Friday, August 26th - Fresh Fighters
• NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Iowa Irish Fest

• Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th
• Downtown Waterloo
• Featuring live entertainment, vendors, food, drinks, contests, workshops, a fun run, and more
• Purchase tickets HERE

Hoover's Hometown Days

• Friday, August 5th & Saturday, August 6th
• West Branch, Iowa
• Featuring a bags tournament, live music, a beer tent, food, Hoover-Ball, a parade, pony rides, kids' activities, fireworks, and more

Moonlit Movie Series

• Friday, August 5th at 7 p.m.
• Lowe Park in Marion
• Showing Encanto (2021)

What Cheer Flea Market

• Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th
• Keokuk County Fairgrounds in What Cheer
• "We have about 400 vendors taking up 750 spaces over 20 acres. We have vendors from 12 states. We are one of the biggest flea markets in the Midwest."
• Admission is $3 per person and free on Sunday - 12 and under are free all three days

Downtown Farmers Market

• Dates
  • Saturday, August 6th
  • Saturday, August 20th
• Downtown Cedar Rapids
• 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

DubuqueFest

• Saturday, August 6th & Sunday, August 7th
• Washington Park in Dubuque
• Featuring live music, local food, an art fair, and family activities

Machine Gun Kelly Concert

• Tuesday, August 9th at 7:30 p.m.
• Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines
• With special guests Travis Barker & Willow
• Purchase tickets HERE

Iowa State Fair

• Thursday, August 11th through Sunday, August 21st
• Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines
• Concerts from Skillet, Brooks & Dunn, Nelly, Demi Lovato, Alanis Morisette, ZZ Top, Comedian John Crist, Kane Brown, Disturbed, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood
• Featuring live entertainment, food, a demolition derby, carnival rides, kids' activities, a truck & tractor pull, games, competitions, and more
• Purchase tickets online HERE

St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival

• Friday, August 12th through Sunday, August 14th
• St. Jude Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids
• Featuring a carnival, sweet corn, food, a beer tent, a bags tournament, live entertainment, and more
• $5 daily admission for ages 11 to 59

Koe Wetzel Concert

• Friday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m.
• McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids
• Purchase tickets HERE

WILCO Concert

• Friday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m.
• Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids
• Purchase tickets HERE

Kernels Baseball

• Dates/Times
  • Tuesday, August 2nd at 6:35 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 3rd at 12:05 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 4th through Saturday, August 6th at 6:35 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 7th at 2:05 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 16th through Saturday, August 20th at 6:35 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 21st at 2:05 p.m.
• Purchase tickets HERE

Rock the Chalk

• Friday, August 12th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Clinton Street in Downtown Iowa City
• Featuring chalk art, free family activities, face painting, live music, and more

Festival of the Arts

• Saturday, August 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Amana Colonies
• "Amana Festival of the Arts showcases handmade works of art with 30+ vendors, demonstrations, food trucks, children’s activities, and more"

Movies on the Riverbank

• Saturday, August 13th at 7 p.m.
• McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids
• Showing Sing 2 (2021)

Music Under the Moon

• Saturday, August 13th at 7 p.m.
• Lowe Park in Marion
• Live music from Run Forrest Run – The Ultimate 90’s Party Band

Uptown Marion Market

• Saturday, August 13th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• City Square Park in Marion

Rockzilla Summer 2022 Tour

• Saturday, August 13th at 6:30 p.m.
• Q Casino in Dubuque
• Featuring Papa Roach, Falling in Reverse, Hollywood Undead, and Bad Wolves
• Purchase tickets HERE

Sam Hunt

• Sunday, August 14th at 7 p.m.
• Q Casino in Dubuque
• With special guests Warren Zeiders and Sean Stemaly
• Purchase tickets HERE

A Day to Remember Concert

• Tuesday, August 16th at 6:30 p.m.
• McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids
• With special guests Beartooth and Bad Omens
• Purchase tickets HERE

Lisbon Sauerkraut Days

• Thursday, August 18th through Saturday, August 20th
• Lisbon, Iowa
• Featuring a car show, a 5k, a parade, carnival rides, food, fireworks, live music, and more

Cascade Hometown and Country Days

• Friday, August 19th through Sunday, August 21st
• Pierce Street in Cascade
• Featuring a 5k, a car show, tournaments, live music, food trucks, a beer tent, a parade, and more

Monti Days

• Friday, August 19th through Sunday, August 21st
• Monticello, Iowa
• Featuring a bags tournament, an outdoor movie, a farmers market, food, live music, a beverage garden, and more

Palo Fun Days

• Saturday, August 20th & Sunday, August 21st
• Zeller Memorial Park in Palo
• Featuring a craft fair, a 5k, a truck & tractor pull, a bags tournament, live music, fireworks, and more

Bourbon and Blues Festival

• Saturday, August 20th from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar rapids
• Music from Molly Nova and the Hawk featuring Bryce Janey, Danielle Nicole, Carolyn Wonderland, and Shemekia Copeland
• Purchase tickets HERE

Drink Local Beer Festival

• Saturday, August 20th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Benz Beverage Depot in Cedar Rapids
• Purchase tickets HERE

Barks & Brew

• Saturday, August 20th from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids
• "Barks & Brew features your favorite local breweries and wineries providing tasting samples, live music, silent auction items, and OH YEAH...lots of adoptable dogs!"
• Purchase tickets HERE

Pitbull Concert

• Sunday, August 21st at 8 p.m.
• Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines
• With special guest Iggy Azalea
• Purchase tickets HERE

ZZ Top Concert

• Tuesday, August 23rd at 7 p.m.
• Five Flags Center in Dubuque
• With special guest Gov't Mule
• Purchase tickets HERE

Martina McBride

• Thursday, August 25th at 8 p.m.
• Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport
• Purchase tickets HERE

Summer's Last Blast

• Friday, August 26th & Saturday, August 27th at 6 p.m.
• Q Casino in Dubuque
• Featuring food trucks, drinks, live music, and more
• Event is all ages

Boom-Fest/Boomtown

• Boom-Fest
  • Saturday, August 27th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • 4th Street in Downtown Vinton
  • Featuring an arts and craft street fair
• Boomtown
  • Saturday, August 27th starting at 4 p.m.
  • Benton County Fairgrounds in Vinton
  • Featuring live music, food, a beer tent, and a fireworks display
  • Entrance to the fairgrounds is $5 per person and grandstand seating is $10 per person

Market After Dark

• Saturday, August 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Downtown Cedar Rapids