Festival season is officially underway in Eastern Iowa

In the coming days, the Marion Arts Festival celebrates 24 years 'of fine art and flip-flops' on Saturday; the Iowa Renaissance Festival in Middle Amana beckons thee for the 25th gathering of jousting and jubilation; and Iowa City is cooking up a gumbo of music, art and global flavors all summer long. Then kick back and usher in the fall with Oktoberfest in Amana from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

Here's your guide to fair-weather fun. Don't see your group or town's summer festival on this list? Please add it to the calendar under the event search tab at HooplaNow.com

May

SYTTENDE MAI, Decorah

May 17: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. Celebrating Norway's Constitution Day with a children's parade at 1 p.m., history programs, tours, Nordic Dancers. (563) 382-9681 or Vesterheim.org

HOUBY DAYS, Cedar Rapids

May 20 to 22: Czech Village. Czech food, games, carnival, music, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, folk dancing, crowning of royalty, morel mushroom contests, puppet show. Crmainstreet.org/houby-days-buttons-now-on-sale/

MARION ARTS FESTIVAL

May 21: 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 21 and 22: Seminole Valley Farm Museum, 1400 Seminole Valley Rd. NE; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 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 28 to 30: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Middle Amana Park. Historical re-enactments, jousting, entertainment, merchants, food, games, demonstrations, street theater. Admission: $10 adults, $6 kids, free under age 5; passes available. Iowarenfest.com/

June

IOWA ARTS FESTIVAL, Iowa City

June 3 to 5: Downtown. Features local and national artists, food, kids' activities, local and national musicians. Friday: Aoife O'Donovan, 7 p.m., The Wood Brothers, 9 p.m.; Saturday: Buckwheat Zydeco, 9 p.m. Sunday: Dandelion Stompers, 2:30 p.m. Free admission. Summerofthearts.org

RHUBARBFEST, Amana

June 4: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Food, Main Street games, wine, contests, demonstrations, entertainment around town and shops; BrewBQ and the Blues, 5 to 9 p.m., Millstream Brewing. (319) 622-7622 or Amanacolonies.com/city/amana-colonies/event/rhubarbfest/

MARION BAR-B-QUE RENDEZVOUS

June 4: Noon to 9 p.m., Marion Square Park. Food, music, face painting. Free admission; bring seating. Uptownmarion.com

TANAGER PLACE SUMMER FEST, Cedar Rapids

June 4: 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., Rockwell Collins Sports Complex, F Avenue and Collins Road 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/summer-fest-2016/

ROBINS ROUNDUP

June 10 and 11: 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 10 to 12: St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW. Games, carnival rides, music, food. Stludmila.org/kolachfestival

ASIANFEST, Cedar Rapids

June 11: 2 to 10 p.m., McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. Interactive 'villages' of various Asian countries and cultures; live music, food, performances, fashion show. Asianfest.org

FREE MOVIE SERIES, Iowa City

June 11 to Aug. 20: Sunset, lawn outside Macbride Hall, downtown; rated G to PG-13, bring seating. Summerofthearts.org

LAWLER IRISH FEST

June 17 to 19: Downtown Lawler. Irish, country, pipers, classic rock bands; food, games, kids' activities, Irish dance, storytelling, 5K run, golf tournament, 11 a.m. parade Saturday, teen street dance. Lawleririshfest.com

WURST FESTIVAL, Amana

June 18: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food, music, games, contests, Wurst University. Amanacolonies.com/city/amana-colonies/event/wurstfest

CEDAR RAPIDS FREEDOM FESTIVAL

June 20 to July 4: Music, baseball, ski shows, Dock Dogs, inflatable 5K, food, games, movies, contests, Balloon Glow 6 p.m. June 28 at Brucemore, parade 10 a.m. July 2 through NewBo and Czech Village, Lego extravaganza, pancake breakfast, fireworks and more July 4. Freedomfestival.com

LINN COUNTY FAIR, Central City

June 22 to 27: 4-H and FFA exhibits, entertainment, vendors, grandstand music, races and contests, Saturday fireworks. Thelinncountyfair.com

CEDAR RAPIDS BBQ ROUNDUP

June 23 to 26: McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. Award-winning barbecue vendors, live music, family entertainment. Mcgrathamphitheatre.com

TREKFEST, Riverside

June 24 and 25: Hall Park. Details TBA at Trekfest.com

FAIRFAX USA DAYS

June 24 and 25: Fairfax Regional Sports and Park Complex, 625 Linn St. Friday: street dance, movie in the park at dusk. Saturday: street market, noon parade, music, fireworks. Thebankhere.com/usadays

July

CORALVILLE 4thFEST

July 1 to 4: S.T. Morrison Park. 5K run/walk, carnival, entertainment, contests, food; free concert Sunday, The Sidewinders, 6:30 p.m., Oak Ridge Boys, 8 p.m.; July 4 parade at 10 a.m., fireworks. Coralville.org

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION

July 3 to 4: Riverwalk Parks, various sites, Independence. Music, games, poker walk, Wapsi Warrior Challenge, 9 a.m. parade July 4, fireworks. Celebrateindee.com/july4th

NORTH LIBERTY BLUES & BBQ

July 9: Noon to 10 p.m., Centennial Park, 1565 St. Andrews Dr. Tenth anniversary event; food, games, music, headliner St. Paul and the Broken Bones from Birmingham, Ala., at 9 p.m.; free admission. Northlibertyblues.org

TOUR DE BREW, Amana

July 9: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 38-mile bicycle poker run from Millstream Brewery to Norway, Blairstown, West Amana and back to Millstream; food, music, beer and root beer, $25; millstreambrewing.com

REFLECTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR, Cedar Rapids

July 9 and 10: 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, Liberty Band of Marion 11 a.m. Saturday; free to $5. Seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

SOLON BEEF DAYS

July 15 and 16: Music, games, contests, parade, food. Beefdays.com

GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR, Monticello

July 20 to 24: Carnival, food, exhibits, grandstand concerts by Boston, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, $30 to $45; Carrie Underwood, 8 p.m. Friday, $65 to $70; Florida Georgia Line, 7 p.m. Saturday, $75; For King & Country, 6 p.m. Sunday, $20 to $30. Greatjonescountyfair.com

KINDERFEST, Amana Colonies

July 23 and 24: Games, crafts, nature walks, old-fashioned carnival games, fishing derby, photo contest, puppet show, face painters, balloon artists. Amanacolonies.com/city/amana-colonies/event/kinderfest-july-23-24/

RAGBRAI XLIV

July 24 to 30: Annual bicycle ride across Iowa. Overnight in Washington on July 29. Ragbrai.com

NORDIC FEST, Decorah

July 28 to 30: 50th annual festival with Norwegian food and crafts, sporting events, opening ceremonies, Nordic dancers, street dances, entertainment, 10:30 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks at 10 p.m. Nordicfest.com

WALKER PICKLE DAYS

July 29 and 30: Details to come, Walkeriowa.com

August

SWISHER FUN DAYS

Aug. 5 and 6: Kids' fun zone, street fair, games, 5K run, street dance, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks. Swisherfundays.blogspot.com

HOOVER'S HOMETOWN DAYS, West Branch

Aug. 5 and 6: Hoover-Ball championships, music, entertainment, rides and games, food, exhibits, Hoover life celebration, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks. Hooverdays.org

AMANA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Aug. 6: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Middle Amana Park. Fine art, folk art displays, demonstrations, sales, performances, food, kids' activities. Amanaartsguild.com

SAUERKRAUT DAYS, Lisbon

Aug. 11 to 13: Food, carnival, music, contests, street dance, fireworks. Details to come at Sauerkrautdays.com

IOWA STATE FAIR, Des Moines

Aug. 11 to 21: Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Midway rides, food on a stick, exhibits, agriculture displays, livestock, music, contests, demonstrations, Grandstand concerts and the Butter Cow. Iowastatefair.org

ST. JUDE SWEET CORN FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 12 to 14: St. Jude Catholic Church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW. Food, festival, carnival rides, games, entertainment, beverage tent with bands, country store; free admission. Judes.org/scf12info/sweetcorn_festival.html

MODEL A DAY, Amana

Aug. 20: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 100 Model A cars, food, vintage fashion show, workshops, demonstrations, entertainment. Festivalsinamana.com/model-a.html Related events: Throwback Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. celebration in Amana, with live music, ice cream festival, 'Shear Madness' at Old Creamery, music and food at Millstream Brewery. Amanacolonies.com

WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 20 and 21: 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

WOODFEST, Amana

Aug. 26 to 28: 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

BRUCEMORE GARDEN & ART SHOW, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 27: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brucemore grounds, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Products, demonstrations, vendors, food, information for art enthusiasts and gardeners; free admission. Brucemore.org

INDEPENDENCE BREWBQ

Aug. 27: Noon to 8:30 p.m. Riverwalk Parks, Independence. Barbecue vendors, live music, craft brew zone. Brewbq.org

BOOMTOWN VINTON

Aug. 26 and 27: Friday: 6 p.m. food, music, fireworks preview at fairgrounds, free parking and admission. Saturday: 9 a.m. in downtown Vinton, 3 p.m. to midnight at fairgrounds; entertainment, food, fireworks; $10 parking, $10 grandstand seating, free lawn seating at fairgrounds. Vintonboomtown.com

September

FRY FEST, Coralville

Sept. 2: Iowa River Landing. Hawkeye celebration with food, trade show, pep rally, evening outdoor concert TBA, Fryfest.com Also, granGABLE bike ride Sept. 5, 60 to 100 miles Grangable.com

NEWBO ART FEST, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 4: NewBo District, Third Street SE, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Juried art show, street performers, live music, kids' activities, food, fashion show, live graffiti spray. Also, half marathon and 10K race, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

FESTIVAL OF IOWA BEERS, Amana

Sept. 4: 1 to 5 p.m., Millstream Brewing Co. Music by Airwaves, food, beer, meet the brewers; tickets $20 on sale July 15, $25 day of event. Millstreambrewing.com

SWAMP FOX FESTIVAL, Marion

Sept. 24: Marion Square Park: daytime 5K and 1-mile runs, pancake breakfast, parade, market, kids' activities, music. Lowe Park: evening music, food, kids' games, fireworks. Uptownmarion.com

NORTHSIDE OKTOBERFEST, Iowa City

Sept. 24: 325 E. Washington St. Craft beers, neighborhood food, beer games, Iowa football. Details to come, Downtowniowacity.com

OKTOBERFEST, Amanas

Sept. 30 to Oct. 2: Games, food, demonstrations, music, contests, 10 a.m. parade Saturday. Festivalsinamana.com

SOURCES: News releases, event websites, HooplaNow.com