Summer festivals are back for 2021 in Eastern Iowa

The pandemic forced the cancellation of summer celebrations last year as everyone hunkered down and socially distanced, but those seasonal celebrations are coming back — with some modifications in place — and we’ve rounded up lots of options for fun in the sun or under the stars. From various festivals to cultural smorgasbords, here’s what’s scheduled for summer 2021.

Don’t see your event here? Be sure to add it the listings at HooplaNow.com.

JUNE

FILMSCENE IN THE PARK, Iowa City: Through Aug. 28: Sunset, located at Chauncey Swan Park; bring seating. Rain site: 8:30 p.m. inside Van Allen Hall Auditorium. June schedule: “Young Frankenstein” (1974), June 12; “Miss Juneteenth,” June 17; “From Here to Eternity,” June 26. For the rest of the schedule visit icfilmscene.org/series/filmscene-in-the-park

JUNETEENTH, Cedar Rapids: June 12 to 20, Celebration of the end of slavery in America. There will be a youth think tank challenge June 12, festival at NewBo City Market on June 19, and panel discussion on “Does the Color of My Skin Really Matter?” June 20, various locations including the African American Museum of Iowa; blackiowa.org

CEDAR RAPIDS FREEDOM FESTIVAL: June 14 to July 4, Mix of in-person programming, and some online components. Kicking off the celebration will be a Log Carving Demonstration at Jones Park Lagoon Pavilion on June 14. Local artists will make artwork out of derecho-damaged logs. The pieces will be added to the Silent Auction Fundraiser. Other events include: Balloon Glow & Great American Kites, June 22 at Hawkeye Downs with music by Alisabeth Von Presley; DockDogs June 24 to 27; traditional parade June 26 in downtown Cedar Rapids; Eastern Iowa Arts Academy Volta Youth Music & Art Festival on June 26; and on July 4, a Drive-Thru Pancake Breakfast and Car Show at ImOn Ice Arena and Fireworks Finale with plenty of other events in between. For a detailed schedule including affiliated events, visit: freedomfestival.com

WURST FESTIVAL, Amana: June 19: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Celebrate all things sausage. Event includes games, contests, and you can even get an education at Wurst University. Dachshund Derby at 5 p.m. amanacolonies.com/things-to-do/festivals/wurst-festival

LINN COUNTY FAIR, Central City: June 23 to 27, 4-H and FFA exhibits, entertainment, vendors, carnival, grandstand music including the Brothers Walker Band on June 23, Sawyer Brown on June 25, races and contests. thelinncountyfair.com

THE ROUNDUP, Cedar Rapids: June 24 to 26: McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. This tasty music festival will feature food by award-winning barbecue vendors, live music. creventslive.com/events/2020/theroundup2

FAIRFAX USA DAYS: June 25 and 26, Events will be limited this year due to extensive construction in the area. Free movie, “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and face painting from 6 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the Sports Complex; Lions 5K will be held June 26 and fireworks will be that evening. facebook.com/usadays

TREKFEST, Riverside: June 25 and 26, Hall Park. “Star Trek”-themed festival with kids’ games, trivia contest, music, food, movies in the park, parade at 10 a.m. June 26 and more. Special guests will be Robin Curtis, who played Lt. Saavik in “Star Trek,” and country singer John Paladin. Watch trekfest.org for more details.

JULY

CELEBRATE INDEE, Independence: July 2 and 3, Riverwalk Parks, various sites, Independence. Musical entertainment, activities for all ages, food, drink and fireworks over the Wapsipinicon River. celebrateindee.com/july4th

CORALVILLE 4thFEST: July 3 and 4, S.T. Morrison Park. The multiday festival includes a 5K run/walk, carnival, entertainment, contests, food; free concert July 3 with the Danny Whitson Band and Josh Turner; July 4 parade at 10 a.m., fireworks. coralville.org/4thFest

MOUNT VERNON HERITAGE DAYS: July 9 and 10, Fireworks, balloon glow, carnival games, street party, parade, car show and a new feature: Memorial Park Family Fun Zone with a “Wizard of Oz” theme. visitmvl.com/latest-news

KINDERFEST, Amana Colonies: July 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 622 46th Ave., Amana. Day of games, crafts, discovery. amanacolonies.com/event/kinderfest

REFLECTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR, Cedar Rapids: July 10 and 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. July 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11, Seminole Valley Farm Museum, 1400 Seminole Valley Rd. NE. Infantry drills and artillery demos, battles and letters from home, ladies’ tea and fashion show. Cost: $5 adults, free ages 12 and under. seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR, Manchester: July 12 to 18, Exhibits, entertainment and more, 200 E. Acers St., Manchester. Grandstand: Harlem Wizards, July 13, $15 to $30; Jon Pardi, July 15, $45 to $60; ZZ Top July 16, $50 to $65; delawarecofair.com

SOLON BEEF DAYS: July 16 and 17, Music, games, contests, food, parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. beefdays.com

GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR, Monticello: July 21 to 25, Carnival, food, exhibits, grandstand concerts by Dan + Shay, July 22, $63 to $73; Zac Brown Band, July 23, $86; Kane Brown, July 24, $75; For King & Country, July 25, $25 to $35. greatjonescountyfair.com

NORDIC FEST, Decorah: July 22 to 24, 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

JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR, Iowa City: July 25 to 28, Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City. With 4H and FFA livestock and educational entries, games, talent contest, carnival, entertainment. facebook.com/JohnsonCoFairgrounds

RAGBRAI XLVIII: July 25 to 31, Annual bicycle ride across Iowa, Le Mars to Sac City, Fort Dodge to Iowa Falls, Waterloo to Anamosa, DeWitt to Clinton. Overnight in Anamosa on July 29. ragbrai.com

SWISHER FUN DAYS: July 30 and 31, Kids’ fun zone, live princess characters, games, human Foosball tourney, horse show tournament, bags tournament, bingo, 5K run/walk, 10 a.m. parade Saturday, fireworks. facebook.com/swisherfundays

AUGUST

SAUERKRAUT DAYS, Lisbon: Aug. 5 to 7: Details to come, facebook.com/lisbonsauerkrautdays

HIAWATHA FUN FEST: Aug. 6 and 7, Guthridge Park, 704 Emmons St., Hiawatha. Watch for details facebook.com/HiawathaFunFest.

HOOVER’S HOMETOWN DAYS, West Branch: Aug. 6 and 7, Hoover-Ball National Championships, music, entertainment, rides, games, food, Hoover Prairie Run, Chautauqua tent, 10 a.m. Saturday parade, Hoover Life Celebration, fireworks. hooverdays.org

AMANA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: Aug. 7, 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

IOWA STATE FAIR, Des Moines: Aug. 12 to 22, Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Midway rides, food on a stick, exhibits, livestock, music, contests and the Butter Cow. Grandstand concerts: Casting Crowns, Aug. 12, $25 to $50; Blake Shelton, Aug. 13, $45 to $90; Sam Hunt, Aug. 14, $40 to $75; Boyz II Men, Aug. 15, $20 to $45; Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch, Aug. 16, $30 to $52; The Beach Boys, Aug. 17, $30 to $55; Styx, Aug. 18, $25 to $50; Chris Stapleton, Aug. 19, $45 to $90; Five Finger Death Punch, Aug. 20, $37 to $60; Dan + Shay, Aug. 21, $45 to $80; The Doobie Brothers, Aug. 22, $37 to $62. iowastatefair.org

ST. JUDE SWEET CORN FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids: Aug. 13 to 15, St. Jude Catholic Church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW. Food, festival, carnival rides, games, entertainment, beverage tent with bands, country store; details to come. Cost: $5 for ages 11 to 59. judes5.wixsite.com/judesweetcornfest

MODEL A DAY, Amana: Aug. 21, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 48th Avenue, around the Woolen Mill. Featuring 80 to 100 Model A cars, food, music, special events. amanacolonies.com/things-to-do/events/themed-weekends/model-a-day or hawkamodelaclub.org

WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED, Cedar Rapids: Aug. 21 and 22, 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 and skirmishes; by donation, half goes to Honor Flight. seminolevalleyfarmmuseum.net

INDEPENDENCE BREWBQ: Aug. 28, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Riverwalk Parks, Independence. Barbecue vendors, live music, craft brew zone, bike ride, music. brewbq.org

BOOMTOWN VINTON: Aug. 28, Fireworks spectacular at the fairgrounds. Watch vintonboomtown.com for details.

SEPTEMBER

FRYFEST, Coralville: Sept. 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Iowa River Landing. Hawkeye celebration with food, trade show, pep rally, concert 8 p.m., fireworks 10 p.m., fryfest.com

FIREWORKS & FIREFLIES, Marion: Sept. 3, 6 p.m. Lowe Park, 4500 N. 10th St., Marion. The event, which has been held in July, has been moved to accommodate a larger crowd and to kick off the Labor Day weekend. Watch cityofmarion.org for details.

APFELFEST, Amana: Sept. 18: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 622 46th Ave., Amana. Apple festival, featuring apple treats and sampling stroll. amanacolonies.com/event/apfelfest-apple-fest

Comments: (319) 398-8331; katie.brumbeloe@thegazette.com