10 Iowa Spring Festivals to Add to Your 2026 Calendar [LIST]

We're thinking SPRING!

The first day of spring is coming up on March 20th, and we're already excited about the idea of warmer weather! Here are some of the big spring festivals happening across Iowa this March through May:

Bohemian Arts Festival, Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines

• April 10th & 11th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and April 12th from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• "A vibrant celebration of creativity and entrepreneurship" featuring small businesses and artisans showcasing their "unique, handcrafted products"

Iowa Eats Food and Drink Festival, Waterloo Convention Center

• Saturday, April 11th from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m.
• "The Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival is the region’s first and only event dedicated to showcasing Iowa’s incredible food, drink, chefs, authors, and agriculture-related products" - featuring food & beverage tasting, demonstrations, speakers, live entertainment, and more

Vintage Torque Fest, Dubuque County Fairgrounds

• May 1st & 2nd
• A "a vintage lifestyle event" that helps raise money for kids with congenital heart defects - features include live music, a swap meet, mini bike races, a vintage cycle exhibition, dirt drag racing, a demo derby, vendors, food, classic cars & motorcycles, and more

Maifest, Amana Colonies

• May 2nd & 3rd
• A "joyful celebration rooted in German tradition" featuring cultural performances, Maipole dancers, a parade, food trucks, a wine & beer walk, kids' activities, and more

Chalk the Walk, Mount Vernon

• May 2nd & 3rd
• "Iowa’s first and largest Madonnari Festival presents the work of more than 160 artist squares and a community piece, using the main street as the canvas."

Renaissance Faire - Spring Fling, Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines

• May 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, and 16th & 17th
• The spring edition of the renaissance festival at "Iowa’s only permanent Renaissance Village," featuring live entertainment on 9 stages, jousting, vendors, food, demonstrations, and more

Tulip Time, Pella

• May 7th through 9th
• An annual celebration of Dutch heritage featuring 300,000+ blooming tulips, a craft/vendor fair, parades, food, historical tours, and more

Beaux Arts Fair, Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport

• May 9th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. & May 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• One of the longest-running art fairs in the Midwest, "this art fair sprawls throughout a spacious area that accommodates 100 booths, plenty of free parking, music, food, and daily crowds of 8,000."

Marion Arts Festival, Uptown Marion

• Saturday, May 16th
• A "prestigious" annual festival showcasing around 50 local/national artists, plus a 5K/half marathon, the Empty Bowls Project, "live music, local food vendors, and engaging art activities for all ages"

Houby Days, Czech Village in Cedar Rapids

• May 16th & 17th
• A festival celebrating Czech and Slovak heritage featuring live music, a parade, a vendor fair, a kolach eating contest, food, and more

There are lots of other Iowa festivals scheduled for March through May of 2026, although not all of them have announced official dates yet. Here are some of the other big events to keep an eye on this spring:

• Maple Syrup Festival, Cedar Rapids
• Orange City Tulip Festival, Orange City
• Camp Paisley, Iowa Falls
• Mission Creek Festival, Iowa City
• Iowa Tulip Festival, Atkins
• Wild Lights Festival, Des Moines
• John Wayne Birthday Celebration, Winterset
• Tivoli Fest, Elk Horn
• Freedom FEASTival, Cedar Rapids
• Back Alley Bandfest, Keokuk
• Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, Des Moines
• Cinco de Mayo Festival, Fort Madison
• Celebrate CB, Council Bluffs
• Main Street Block Party, Coon Rapids
• Cascade Wing Fest, Cascade
• CRBS Benz Beer Fest, Cedar Rapids
• Vesterheim Syttende Mai, Decorah
• Iowa Renaissance Festival, Amana

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READ MORE: A Giant List of February 2026 Events Across Eastern Iowa