Summer flings: Festival season celebrates arts, culture, heritage, food & fun around Eastern Iowa

Seasonal celebrations spring into action this weekend, and stretch all the way through September, offering explosions of art in parks and streets, cultural and heritage festivals — and lots and lots of fireworks.

So here’s a guide to summer fun under the sun and stars. Don’t see your event here? Be sure to add it the listings at HooplaNow.com

And watch for a list of music events, coming soon.

MAY

TULIP TIME, Pella

May 3 to 5: Parades at 2:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dutch costumes and demonstrations, performances, tours, craft and vendor fair, quilt and flower shows, and tulip gardens — set in picturesque Pella, with parks and architecture reminiscent of historic Netherlands. Pella.org/visit-pella/tulip-time/

CHALK THE WALK, Mount Vernon

May 5 and 6: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. First Street turns into a giant canvas, as more than 500 artists will leave their mark there, using more than a half-ton of chalk. Last year’s first-place winner, Bryce Cox, will return as this year’s featured artist. Visitmvl.com/event/chalk-walk-2018/2018-05-06/

MAIFEST, Amana

May 5 and 6: Celebrate spring with food, music, Maipole dancers, demonstrations both days; Saturday highlights include parade at 10 a.m., World on Wheels food trucks from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., dance party with Dogs on Skis in Festhalle Barn from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Highlight Sunday: Wine, Beer and Chocolate Walk, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Festivalsinamana.com/maifest.html

AMANA AUTO SHOW

May 12: Classic cars and trucks on display; registration 10 a.m., awards 3:30 p.m., Millstream Brewing and Millstream Brau Haus, 741 47th Ave., Amana. Profits support Safe Haven of Iowa County. Facebook.com/Maifestautoshow/

SYTTENDE MAI, Decorah

May 17: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water St. Celebrating Norway’s Constitution Day; children’s parade at noon downtown, Nordic Dancers at 12:25 p.m., history programs, tours; (563) 382-9681 or Vesterheim.org

HOUBY DAYS, Cedar Rapids

May 18 to 20: Czech Village. Czech food, games, carnival, music, parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, folk dancing, crowning of royalty, morel mushroom contests, puppet show. Czechvillagecedarrapids.com/

MARION ARTS FESTIVAL

May 19: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., City Square Park. Juried art exhibits, 5K and half marathon, demonstrations, art activities. Marionartsfestival.com

STEAM AND GAS ENGINE SHOW, Cedar Rapids

May 19 and 20: Seminole Valley Farm Museum, 1400 Seminole Valley Rd. NE; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Technology of the late 1800s and early 1900s, vendors, crafters, hayrack rides, food, cooking demonstrations, spark show at dusk Saturday. $5 adults, free ages 12 and under. Seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

IOWA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, Middle Amana

May 26 to 28 and June 2 and 3: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Middle Amana Park, 27th Avenue and H Street. Historical re-enactments, jousting, entertainment, merchants, food, games, demonstrations, street theater. Admission: $12 adults, $6 kids, free ages 5 and under; passes available. Iowarenfest.com

JUNE

IOWA ARTS FESTIVAL, Iowa City

June 1 to 3: Downtown. Features local and national artists, food, kids’ activities, local and national musicians. Friday: Joan Osborne, 9 p.m.; Saturday: Parker Millsap, 7 p.m., Trampled by Turtles, 9 p.m.; Sunday: Soul Sherpa, 2:45 p.m. Free admission. Summerofthearts.org

MARION BBQ RENDEZVOUS

June 2: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Lowe Park, 4500 N. 10th St. Food, music, kids’ activities. Free admission, food tickets for sale; bring seating. Facebook.com/marion.bbq.rendezvous/

TANAGER PLACE SUMMER FEST, Cedar Rapids

June 2: 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., Rockwell Collins Sports Complex, 400 Collins Rd. NE. More than 75 free activities and entertainment for all ages, car and motorcycle show, crafts, inflatables, mascots, balloon glow at dusk. Tanagerplace.org/event

ROBINS ROUNDUP, Robins

June 8 and 9: Friday: 7 p.m. Kids Color Run, 8 p.m. Twilight 5K walk/run. Saturday: 10 a.m. Main Street parade, music, games, concessions, fireworks. Robinscivicclub.com

ST. LUDMILA KOLACH FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

June 8 to 10: St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW. Games, carnival rides, music, food. Stludmila.org

FREE MOVIE SERIES, Iowa City

June 9 to Aug. 25: Sunset, lawn outside Macbride Hall, downtown; rated G to PG-13, bring seating. Summerofthearts.org

JUNETEENTH, Cedar Rapids

June 15 and 16: Celebration of the end of slavery in America, with educational discussion, music, dance, food and fun. June 15 at the African American Museum of Iowa, 55 12th Ave. SE. July 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Viola Gibson Park, 1200 10th St. SE; free admission; Blackiowa.org/juneteenth/

LAWLER IRISH FEST, Lawler

June 15 to 17: Downtown Lawler. Irish, country, pipers, classic rock bands; food, games, kids’ activities, Irish dance, storytelling, 5K run, golf tournament, 1 p.m. parade Saturday, teen street dance. Lawleririshfest.com

WURST FESTIVAL, Amana

June 16: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food, music, games, contests, Wurst University, Dachshund Derby at 3 p.m. Festivalsinamana.com/wurst.html

CEDAR RAPIDS FREEDOM FESTIVAL

June 14 to July 4: Music, baseball, ski shows, Dock Dogs, inflatable 5K, food, games, movies, contests, Balloon Glow 6 p.m. June 19 at Brucemore; parade at 10 a.m. June 30 through NewBo and Czech Village; pancake breakfast, fireworks and more July 4. Freedomfestival.com

CEDAR RAPIDS BBQ ROUNDUP

June 21 to 24: McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. 30th annual event featuring award-winning barbecue vendors, live music, family entertainment. Mcgrathamphitheatre.com

FAIRFAX USA DAYS

June 22 and 23: 5K, food, street market, parade, kids’ rides, games, street dance; Thebankhere.com/usadays

LINN COUNTY FAIR, Central City

June 27 to July 2: 4-H and FFA exhibits, entertainment, vendors, grandstand music, races and contests, Friday fireworks. Thelinncountyfair.com

TREKFEST, Riverside

June 29 and 30: Hall Park. “Star Trek”-themed festival with kids’ games, trivia contest, music, food, star gaze 9:30 p.m. Friday, movie 11 p.m. Friday; 5K Saturday, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, demolition derby 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday ($10 admission), fireworks Saturday. Trekfest.org

JULY

CORALVILLE 4thFEST

July 1 to 4: S.T. Morrison Park. 5K run/walk, carnival, entertainment, contests, food; free concert July 3, opening band at 6:30 p.m., Rick Springfield at 8 p.m.; July 4 parade at 10 a.m., fireworks. Coralville.org/310/4thFest

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION, Independence

July 3 and 4: Riverwalk Parks, various sites, Independence. Music, games, food, parade, fireworks. Celebrateindee.com/july4th

DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR, Manchester

July 9 to 15: Exhibits, entertainment and more. Grandstand: Martina McBride, July 12, $45; Cheap Trick, July 13, $70 to $246.50. Delawarecofair.com

NORTH LIBERTY BLUES & BBQ

July 14: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Centennial Park, 1565 St. Andrews Dr. 5K, 10K, 1-mile fun run 9 a.m., kids’ activities 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., food and beverages 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., music at 1 to 10:30 p.m.; free admission. Northlibertyblues.org

TOUR DE BREW, Amana

July 14: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., 38-mile bicycle poker run beginning and ending at Millstream Brewery; food, music, beer and root beer, $27; Bikeiowa.com/Event/12362/tour-de-brew

REFLECTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR, Cedar Rapids

July 14 and 15: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Seminole Valley Farm Museum, 1400 Seminole Valley Rd. NE. Encampments, battles, dance, meet Mr. Lincoln, Saturday camp music at 7 p.m., cannon night fire, 9 p.m.; $5 adults, free ages 12 and under. Seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR, Monticello

July 18 to 22: Carnival, food, exhibits, grandstand concerts by Jason Aldean on July 19, $70 to $75; Luke Bryan on July 20, $83; Kid Rock and Ted Nugent on July 21, $55 to $65; Casting Crowns on July 22, $30 to $35. Greatjonescountyfair.com

SOLON BEEF DAYS

July 20 and 21: Music, games, contests, parade, food. Beefdays.com

KINDERFEST, Amana Colonies

July 21: Games, crafts, dog breed meet-and-greet, mini golf. Amanacolonies.com/city/amana-colonies/event/kinderfest-july-23-24/

JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR, Iowa City

July 22 to 25: 4H and FFA livestock and educational entries, games, talent contest, carnival, entertainment. Johnsoncofair.com

RAGBRAI XLVI

July 22 to 28: Annual bicycle ride across Iowa. Overnight in Sigourney on July 26 and Iowa City on July 27. Ragbrai.com

NORDIC FEST, Decorah

July 26 to 28: Norwegian food and crafts, sporting events, Nordic dancers, street dances, entertainment, 6:45 p.m. opening ceremonies Thursday, 10:30 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks at 10 p.m. Nordicfest.com

SWISHER FUN DAYS

July 27 and 28: Kids’ fun zone, street fair, games, 5K run, street dance, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks. Facebook.com/pg/swisherfundays/events/

ASIANFEST, Cedar Rapids

July 28: noon to 10:30 p.m., McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. Interactive “villages” of various Asian countries and cultures; live music, food, performances, fashion show. Asianfest.org

WALKER PICKLE DAYS

July 28: 5K, music in the park, food, kids’ activities, games, talent show, fireworks. Facebook.com/pg/pickledays/posts/?ref=page_internal

AUGUST

HOOVER’S HOMETOWN DAYS, West Branch

Aug. 3 and 4: Hoover-Ball championships, music, entertainment, rides, games, food, Hoover life celebration, parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Hanson Family Jugglers at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, fireworks. Hooverdays.org

NEWBO EVOLVE, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 3 to 5, NewBo District and other Cedar Rapids sites and venues. Celebrating the creative bohemian spirit through music, art, fashion, dance, food and technology. Celebrity talent: Adam Berinsky, Clint Harp, Carson Kressley, Alexis Ohanian, Adam Rippon, The Shadowboxers, Christian Siriano, John Waters. Three-day festival passes: $402.50 with tax. Concerts: Aug. 3 Kelly Clarkson, festival pass or $54.50 to $107.50; Aug. 4 Maroon 5, festival pass or $70 to $134.50. Gocedarrapids.com/newboevolve/

NEWBO ART FEST, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 5: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., NewBo District, Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids. During newbo evolve. Facebook.com/New-Bohemia-Arts-Festival-884742798252991/

IOWA STATE FAIR, Des Moines

Aug. 9 to 19: Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Midway rides, food on a stick, exhibits, livestock, music, contests. Grandstand concerts and the Butter Cow. Iowastatefair.org

ST. JUDE SWEET CORN FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 10 to 12: St. Jude Catholic Church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW. Food, festival, carnival rides, games, entertainment, beverage tent with bands, country store; $5, free ages 10 and under and 60 and over. Judesweetcornfest.com

AMANA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Aug. 11: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Market Barn area, 707 46th Ave., Amana. Juried fine art, folk art displays, demonstrations, sales, performances, food, kids’ activities. Amanaartsguild.com

SAUERKRAUT DAYS, Lisbon

Aug. 16 to 18: Food, carnival, music, contests, street dance, fireworks. Visitmvl.com/event/lisbon-sauerkraut-days-2018/

MODEL A DAY, Amana

Aug. 18: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., street to the Woolen Mill. More than 100 Model A cars, food, vintage fashion show, workshops, demonstrations, entertainment. Festivalsinamana.com/model-a.html

WORLD WAR II

REMEMBERED, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 18 and 19: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Seminole Valley Farm Museum, 1400 Seminole Valley Rd. NE. Visit with veterans, see artifacts; by donation, half goes to Honor Flight. Seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

HIAWATHA FUN FEST

Aug. 24 and 25: Games, music, zip line, Saturday fireworks, Guthridge Park, 704 Emmons St., Hiawatha. Facebook.com/HiawathaFunFest/

WOODFEST, Amana

Aug. 24 to 26: Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center, 3890 C St. Wood craft displays, demonstrations, sales, food; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Amanaartsguild.com

INDEPENDENCE BREWBQ

Aug. 25: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Riverwalk Parks, Independence. Barbecue vendors, live music, craft brew zone, bike ride. Brewbq.org

BOOMTOWN VINTON

Aug. 25: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Vinton, 4 p.m. to midnight at fairgrounds; entertainment, food, fireworks, 9:30 p.m. Grand Public Display; $10 parking, $10 grandstand seating, free lawn seating. Vintonboomtown.com

FRYFEST, Coralville

Aug. 31: Iowa River Landing. Hawkeye celebration with food, trade show, pep rally, evening outdoor concert TBA, Fryfest.com

SEPTEMBER

APFELFEST, Amana

Sept. 15: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Apple festival, featuring apple treats and sampling stroll.

Amanacolonies.com/event-calendar/?cal_date=20180915

LINCOLN HIGHWAY ARTS FESTIVAL, Mount Vernon

Sept. 15: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Main Street festival with 50+ artists, art demonstrations, kids’ art area, music. Mvaac.org

SWAMP FOX FESTIVAL, Marion

Sept. 29: Morning: uptown and City Square Park: fall market, 5K, pancake breakfast, parade. Evening at Lowe Park: music at the amphitheater, food, bingo, kids’ activities, fireworks. Cityofmarion.org/departments/parks-recreation/events/swamp-fox-festival