These 6 Iowa Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals
Festivals exist to spark excitement and let people dive right into what makes each region special, while pulling people together as a community. In Iowa, all sorts of festivals have sprung from the unique character of the towns where they are held. Some started as ways to spotlight farming traditions. Others began as a way to honor their Indigenous heritage. There is a genuine joy in how small towns flaunt their identity and roots. These six towns hammer home the point that when people in Iowa come together, they come up with festivals as unique as the very ground they stand on.
Tama - Meskwaki Annual Powwow
Every August, the Meskwaki Nation throws open its arms to guests for a four-day powwow right on its settlement near Tama. The event has a long history. The Meskwaki Annual Powwow grew from the Green Corn Dance and Field Days into a four-day celebration of the end of summer, first officially named “Powwow” in 1913. Now it is both a public showcase and a cultural showcase all at once. The Grand Entry takes place twice daily. Veterans step forward first, followed by royalty, and then the dancers as drum groups set the pace. After the entry, the program shifts to traditional dances. Dances include Men’s Traditional, with regalia that reflects older warrior clothing. They also include Women’s Shawl or Fancy, a style known for fast spins and bright colors. The schedule also features special events, from Tiny Tot dances to competitions where singers and dancers show off their skills. Beyond the arena, the schedule highlights a Fry Bread Contest and horse rides in the afternoon, along with evening programs on stage. The powwow brings together tradition and modern Indigenous culture, giving every visitor a chance to see the Meskwaki pride right before them.
Britt - National Hobo Convention/Hobo Days
Ever since 1900, Britt has been home to the National Hobo Convention, after the town first invited workers to visit in the summertime. Hobos were men and women who moved across the country by train, grabbing whatever jobs popped up. At the same time, they were shaping a community defined by its own lingo and customs. Britt didn't just remember that history; it made it matter, turning the convention into an annual festival honoring the drive and quick thinking of those rail wanderers. Now, the event goes by the name of Hobo Days, and always takes place on the second weekend of August. Anyone coming out can jump into the Hobo Jungle, where hobos and people just passing through swap stories. A parade runs through downtown, and the election of the King and Queen of Hobos, a tradition that honors respected representatives of the community, remains a highlight. Food is part of the fun, with a big pot of mulligan stew served to all. Music and storytelling fill the weekend while the Hobo Museum and the Hobo Memorial Cemetery connect the festival to the area's history.
Riverside - TrekFest
Riverside turned a quirky boast into a full-blown summer custom by officially dubbing itself the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. TrekFest kicked off in 1985, and it has been happening ever since. What started as a local curiosity has become a gathering that draws both fans of Star Trek and curious travelers. The festival opens with a parade that runs the length of Main Street. Floats pass by as townspeople and visitors dress the part of their favorite characters. The Intergalactic Pet Show adds a comic touch, giving animals a stage of their own. Baseball games provide a break from costumes and keep the weekend tied to Iowa tradition. The afternoons stay busy with things like contests, where fans show off their best uniforms. Trivia matches test how well people know the details of the series, and there are even things like a Guest Star Q&A Session at the Main Stage Hall to experience. Once it gets dark, live bands jump onstage and fireworks highlight the night’s finale. The Voyage Home History Center also helps preserve Riverside’s Star Trek legacy, though TrekFest remains the heartbeat tying the town to that final frontier.
Mount Pleasant - Midwest Old Threshers Reunion
Each Labor Day week, Mount Pleasant becomes the home of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. That first get-together in 1950 aimed to preserve old steam engines and farm tools. What started as a group of collectors now pulls in huge crowds every year, as tens of thousands come out to visit. The celebration traditionally starts on Wednesday with the Harvest Day Parade, as floats roll through town and lead visitors toward the reunion grounds. Each day at noon, visitors gather in the grandstand for the Cavalcade of Power. The Cavalcade opens with the hiss and rumble of steam engines, then moves on to tractors and other vintage machines before giving way to the raw muscle of horses straining against heavy loads. A steam whistle sounds across the grounds to mark the start. The Cavalcade depends on weather and the condition of the route, but when it runs, the display is unforgettable. When evening falls, the grandstand fills for concerts by national country acts. Across the field, teams get ready for the Don Carlson Memorial Horse Pull, where heavy weights slide across the dirt as horses strain and drivers urge them on, a classic Iowa spectacle.
Pella - Tulip Time Festival
What does it look like when a small Iowa town turns itself into a Dutch garden? On the first Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of May, the town jumps in headfirst with its Tulip Time celebration. Kicking off way back in 1935, this festival honors the town’s Dutch roots as people can see tulips blooming everywhere in sight. Sidewalks, parks, and everything in between are crowded with colors as thousands of tulips fill the town so that the town feels like a garden in full bloom. Afternoons bring the Grandstand Show, as crowds watch the Tulip Queen take the stage with her court. Performers step out in wooden shoes for dances that mimic village squares in the Netherlands. Later in the day, you will get a chance to see the Volks Parade, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, as it moves down Main Street, around Central Park. The evening parade stands out, glowing with lights as floats glide past and townspeople in costume scrub the streets in a lively Dutch tradition. Lighted floats move through downtown as dancers turn beneath the lamps, and tulips shine against the night. For three days, Pella becomes a place where tulips and tradition merge in a celebration found nowhere else in Iowa.
Indianola - National Balloon Classic
When July is winding down, Indianola hosts the National Balloon Classic, an event stretching for nine whole days, pulling in air balloon pilots from all over the nation. Over a hundred air balloons float up into the Iowa air while the celebrations are going strong on the ground. Flyin’ High opens the festival with a mass balloon launch. Music carries across the field as fireworks mark the first night. On another evening, a 3D drone show lights the air with patterns that shift and move above the crowd. Later in the week, the popular Nite Glow fills the grounds with fire as pilots ignite their burners to the beat of live music. Families sit on the hillside while food booths sit on the edge of the viewing areas. Children can have fun at the Kids Land section, where activities and games keep them entertained for hours. If you are lucky, you might be there during times skydivers join the spectacle, dropping from way up high and landing with pinpoint skill right in front of the main stage. On the festival’s last evening, the final Balloon Flight and Evening Competition signals the end as balloons go up one last time.
Iowa Festivities in Perspective
Iowa’s festivals show how heritage can grow into something lasting. In Indianola, the balloons rise and light the sky. In Tama, the powwow drums carry stories that go back generations. Each town celebrates in its own way, yet all share the same purpose. These gatherings bring people together and prove that community thrives when history and joy meet in the present.
