9 Big Eastern Iowa Events We’re Looking Forward to in 2025

There's a lot to look forward to this year! Here are some of my favorite Eastern Iowa events on the schedule for 2025:

Fork & Knife Feast - Epic Event Center, Marion

You're telling me I get to try food from 20 local restaurants in one night?! COUNT ME IN. The annual Fork & Knife Feast is the kick off event for Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week, and all of the participating restaurants are there to serve up samples of some of their Restaurant Week specials. You also get the opportunity to vote for your favorite food and beverages.

I attended my first Fork & Knife Feast in 2024, and my suggestions are:

1. Try not to eat anything throughout the day
2. PACE YOURSELF. If you want to try everything, you need to take it slow so you don't feel like you're going to keel over

Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week is scheduled for February 21st through March 2nd, 2025, and Fork & Knife Feast will be held on Thursday, February 20th.

Iowa City also has its own Restaurant Week, which is set for February 15th through 24th. Their 15th annual Top Chef: Downtown event is scheduled for Monday, February 24th.

SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day Parade - Downtown Cedar Rapids

Is there anything more fun than a St. Patrick's Day that falls on a weekend?! March 17th is on a Sunday this year, which likely means Downtown Cedar Rapids will be packed for the 49th annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day Parade (as long as the weather cooperates, of course). Whether you're in the parade or watching from the street, St. Patrick's Day in Cedar Rapids is always a blast. In the ten years that I've lived in Iowa, I've never had a bad one!

If you want to start the fun a little early, the 2025 SaPaDaPaSo Irish Hooley Fundraiser is set for Sunday, March 3rd.

Good Makers Market - Cedar County Fairgrounds, Tipton

Since I started going to the Good Makers Market a few years ago, I haven't missed a single one. That's because it isn't your typical vendor market. Not only are there tons of hand-picked vendors from across the Midwest, there is also live music and a wide variety of food trucks. Just be careful... it's super easy to spend a LOT of money. Trust me on that one! I've walked out of there with furniture, jewelry, clothes, handmade decor, art, dog treats, plants, and so much more!

There are two Good Makers Markets each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The dates for "Eastern Iowa's Hippest Market" in 2025 are:

• May 23rd & 24th
• August 29th & 30th

Iowa Renaissance Festival - Middle Amana Community Park

I love a good renaissance festival, and the annual one in the Amanas is getting bigger and better each year! It may not be as huge as the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines, but it's still a lot of fun. You can enjoy food, adult beverages, all sorts of vendors, and live entertainment, like comedy shows, music, magic, and jousting. Oh, and don't forget to wear a costume. That's the best part!

The 2025 Iowa Renaissance Festival has multiple weekends, both in the spring and the fall:

• May 24th - 26th
• May 31st & June 1st
• October 11th - 13th
• October 18th & 19th

If you'd also like to check out the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines, their 2025 dates are:

• May 10th & 11th
• May 17th & 18th
• August 30th - September 1st
• September 6th & 7th
• September 13th & 14th

Cedar Rapids Farmers Markets/Market After Dark - Downtown Cedar Rapids

There are lots of great farmers markets across the state of Iowa, but the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market is always a favorite! Who doesn't love spending Saturday mornings wandering through 200 vendors and picking up fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, local wine, and more? Oh, and don't forget to grab breakfast or lunch! It's no wonder that there are around 12,000 attendees each weekend! Here are all of the 2025 market dates (hours are 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.):

• June 7th
• June 21st
• July 5th
• July 19th
• August 2nd
• August 16th
• September 6th
• September 20th

The popular Market After Dark is also on the schedule for 2025, with the date set for Saturday, August 23rd. From 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 people come out for the event, which features around 120 vendors, live entertainment, art installations, and an open container environment for ages 21+. We can't wait!

Linn County Fair - Linn County Fairgrounds, Central City

If you haven't been to the Linn County Fair in a while, you may want to check it out this year! While the annual event is still full of 4-H/FFA events, it's grown to include so much more over the years. There are carnival rides and games, competitions, live entertainment, kids' activities, delicious food, a beer tent, a truck & tractor pull, and more. The fair also continues to get bigger acts for the Grandstand stage! In recent years they've welcomed country acts like Jo Dee Messina, Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins, Tracy Byrd, Joe Nichols, and Joe Diffie. The first concert revealed for 2025 is Dylan Scott, with another announcement on the way soon!

The 2025 Linn County Fair will run from Wednesday, June 25th to Sunday, June 29th, with Dylan Scott performing on Saturday, June 28th.

Great Jones County Fair - Jones County Fairgrounds, Monticello

Speaking of county fairs, one of the biggest in Iowa is the annual Great Jones County Fair. The GJCF is known for bringing in some MAJOR artists to play the Grandstand stage, including Pitbull, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, Nickelback, Carrie Underwood, and Jason Aldean, and that's just in recent years! Brenda Lee, Conway Twitty, Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn, Alabama, Reba, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash have all played in Monticello. You can check out the full history of performers since 1956 HERE.

The "Five Best Days of Summer" in 2025 will feature concerts from Hardy, Nelly, and Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, and Collin Raye. And, there is still one more announcement to come! The GJCF is set for July 15th through 20th.

Iowa Irish Fest - Downtown Waterloo

If you have a love of all things Irish, then this festival is the perfect event for you! It is currently the biggest Irish celebration in the state of Iowa, and features three days of live entertainment, food, drinks, classes and workshops, games, vendors, raffles, and so much more. You can sign up for a Guinness Experience Class, enter the "Best Legs in a Kilt" contest, attend Sunday outdoor Catholic Mass, watch classic Irish step dancing, and learn how to "hurl."

The 2025 Iowa Irish Fest will take place August 1st through 3rd.

Amana Oktoberfest - Amana Colonies

Last, but certainly not least, is the oldest Oktoberfest celebration in Iowa: Amana Oktoberfest! The three-day event includes an official keg tapping, a parade, live polka music, German dishes, beer, games, competitions, and kids' activities. There's a little something for everyone! Be sure to visit the hub of the festival over at the Festhalle Barn, but don't forget to check out additional events all over the Amana Colonies: the Market Barn, Millstream Brewing Co., Ox Yoke Inn, Ackerman Winery, the Visitors Center, and Hotel Millwright.

Amana Oktoberfest 2025 is happening October 3rd through 5th.

What local events are you looking forward to in 2025? Let us know in the comments or by sending us a message on our station app!