8 Quirky Small Town Festivals In Iowa That Outsiders Rarely Hear About
Step aside, pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween spooktaculars. Iowa, the heartland of America, is bursting with a vibrant, often hilarious, undercurrent of unique traditions.
While the rest of the world might be focused on more mainstream celebrations, a collection of Iowa’s charming small towns are quietly hosting festivals that are guaranteed to raise an eyebrow and spark a smile. These aren’t your average parades; they’re celebrations of the peculiar, the proud, and the downright peculiar.
So, buckle up, adventurers, because we’re about to uncover eight of Iowa’s most quirky and wonderfully obscure small-town festivals that are begging to be discovered.
1. National Hobo Convention Brings Century-Old Tradition To Britt
Every August, the tiny town of Britt transforms into a living museum of American hobo culture. Travelers arrive by various means (though fewer by freight train these days) to celebrate a lifestyle that once defined American wanderlust.
The convention features a coronation of a Hobo King and Queen, authentic mulligan stew cooked in cast iron over open fires, and the distinctive sound of ‘Hobo Jungle’ music filling the air. Local families have hosted the same hobo travelers for decades.
The Hobo Cemetery stands as a permanent reminder of this unique slice of Americana, with decorated graves of famous road travelers who found their final resting place in this welcoming Iowa community.
2. Railroad Enthusiasts Steam Into Pufferbilly Days
Boone’s annual Pufferbilly Days celebrates the town’s deep-rooted railroad heritage with a weekend that would make any train enthusiast whistle with joy. Named after the puffing billy steam locomotives that once chugged through town, this September festival transforms Boone into a railroad wonderland.
Children and adults alike marvel at model train displays while collectors trade railroad memorabilia at specialized markets. The highlight remains the grand parade featuring a restored steam engine that rolls through downtown.
Many locals dress in period clothing, from engineers with striped caps to Victorian-era passengers. A time-travel experience that honors Iowa’s crucial role in America’s railroad history.
3. Orange City Blooms With Dutch Days Celebration
Spring in Orange City brings an explosion of tulips and traditional wooden shoes during their annual Dutch Days festival. The streets become awash with vibrant orange as residents honor their Netherlands heritage with unmatched enthusiasm.
I still remember my first visit as a child, standing wide-eyed as the street scrubbers in traditional Dutch costumes cleaned the pavement before the parade. My grandmother bought me a pair of tiny wooden shoes that I proudly wore until my feet ached.
Visitors can sample authentic stroopwafels and poffertjes while watching intricate folk dances. The windmill tours and Dutch architecture throughout town maintain the European ambiance long after the festival ends.
4. Tama Pow Wow Celebrates Native American Heritage
The Meskwaki Settlement near Tama hosts one of the Midwest’s most authentic Native American cultural celebrations each August. Unlike commercialized powwows, this gathering primarily serves as a homecoming for tribal members, though respectful visitors are welcomed.
Elaborate regalia in vibrant colors swirls during traditional dances that have remained unchanged for generations. The rhythmic drumming creates a heartbeat that seems to connect everyone present to the earth beneath their feet.
Food stands offer traditional Native American cuisine like fry bread and wild rice dishes. Craftspeople demonstrate traditional skills including beadwork and quillwork, passing these precious cultural practices to younger generations.
5. Le Mars Scoops Up Fun At Ice Cream Days
The self-proclaimed “Ice Cream Capital of the World” celebrates its sweet legacy each June with a festival guaranteed to satisfy any sugar craving. Le Mars, home to Blue Bunny ice cream, transforms into a paradise of frozen treats where calories simply don’t count for one glorious weekend.
The ice cream eating contests draw competitive eaters from surrounding states. My nephew once managed to devour a pint in under two minutes, earning himself both a trophy and an impressive brain freeze that became family legend.
Beyond desserts, the festival features art shows, classic car displays, and live music. The ice cream history museum offers fascinating glimpses into the evolution of America’s favorite frozen treat.
6. West Point Serves Up Butter-Drenched Sweet Corn Days
Nothing says Iowa summer like corn dripping with melted butter, and West Point’s Sweet Corn Days celebrates this simple pleasure with unbridled enthusiasm. Local farmers donate thousands of ears of just-picked sweet corn that volunteers husk and boil in massive vats.
Festival-goers line up for the all-you-can-eat corn stations where the golden ears are dipped in melted butter before being handed over. The town square becomes a messy but joyful place where corn-eating techniques are discussed with the seriousness of fine dining.
Between corn-eating sessions, visitors enjoy a carnival, craft vendors, and the peculiar but popular corn cob toss competition. The festival culminates with the crowning of the Corn Queen.
7. RAGBRAI Transforms Overnight Towns Into Bicycle Parties
When thousands of cyclists on the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) roll into their designated overnight towns, something magical happens. These small communities, sometimes with populations smaller than the number of incoming cyclists, transform into impromptu festival grounds.
Local families open their yards for camping, churches serve pancake breakfasts, and main streets become bicycle parking lots. Each town tries to outdo others with unique welcoming traditions—from slip-and-slides on main street to themed costume parties.
I’ll never forget watching my grandmother, who hadn’t been on a bike in decades, joining the town’s welcoming committee on a borrowed tandem bicycle, laughing as she pedaled alongside visitors twenty years her junior.
8. Lisbon’s Sauerkraut Days Celebrates Fermented Heritage
For over 100 years, the small town of Lisbon has dedicated an entire weekend to celebrating the humble fermented cabbage. Sauerkraut Days features the world’s largest serving of sauerkraut, dished out free to anyone brave enough to partake.
The festival’s kraut-eating contest draws surprisingly fierce competition, with contestants consuming shocking amounts of the tangy treat. Beyond the signature food, visitors enjoy a carnival, craft fair, and the entertaining sauerkraut wrestling matches that leave participants smelling distinctively pickled.
German music fills the air as polka bands perform throughout the weekend. The parade features floats decorated with cabbage and the crowning of Miss Sauerkraut, who proudly represents the town’s unique heritage at events throughout the year.