
The Iowa Irish Fest Family Fun & Learning Area has amazing kid-friendly entertainment! All Children 15 and under are admitted to the Fest for Free with a paid adult admission. All activities in the area are free! Be sure to visit the Family Fun & Learning Area where there will be all kinds of crafts and games all weekend long. Come enjoy the climbing rock wall or get creative in our craft area or visit with the balloon twister and face painter! Learn about Irish Castles while having fun in our Archeological Dig at our old castle ruins and become a Junior Archeologist. Visit our Language Learning Tree, learn new words in Irish and add your leaf to the tree. It is amazing to see it bloom over the Fest. Go on an adventure around the Fest Grounds with our Family Fun & Learning Area Passport Challenge! Look for the Passport Stops and learn something new, get your Passport stamped. Bring your completed Passport back to the Family Fun & Learning Area and you’ll get a special Iowa Irish Fest reward!
Family Area opening hours:
Friday, August 5th, 2022: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6th, 2022: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 7th, 2022: 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Family Area Stage
Friday – 08-05-22
5:00 – 5:45 pm = Highland Games / Highland Games Demo
6:00 – 6:45 pm = Bremer County Bucks / Intro to Rugby
7:15 – 8:00 pm = Dan Vaughn / Penny Whistle for Intermediate Adults (tin whistle provided to first 50 participants)
Saturday – 08-06-22
10:00 – 10:45 am = Ian Gould / Beginner Bodhrán Drum for Kids and Beginners
10:50 – 11:05 am = USS Iowa Sailors – USS Sullivan / Storytime with Sailors
11:15 – 12:00 pm = Ian Gould / Musical Journey Through Ireland
12:30 – 12:45 pm = USS Iowa Sailors – USS Sullivan / Storytime with Sailors
1:00 – 3:00 pm = BILL RILEY TALENT SEARCH SHOW
3:00 – 3:20 pm = Iowa Irish Fest Prince & Princess Contest
3:30 – 4:15 pm = Dan Vaughn / Penny Whistle for Beginners/Children (tin whistle provided to first 50 participants)
4:45 – 5:30 pm = The Friel Sisters / Two Hand Dances from Donegal
5:30 – 6:00 pm = USS Iowa Sailors – USS Sullivan / Storytime with Sailors
Sunday – 08-07-22
11:00 – 11:30 am = USS Iowa Sailors – USS Sullivan / Storytime with Sailors
11:45 – 12:30 pm = Peadar Hickey / Irish Language for Beginners & Children
12:45 pm = Coloring Contest Winner Announced
1:00 – 1:45 pm = Ian Gould / Celtic Cinderella Storytime
2:00 – 2:45 pm = Trinity Irish Dancers / Irish Dance Workshop
3:15 – 4:00 pm = Aoife Scott / Dublin Song Workshop
This year, the Bill Riley Talent Search is coming to the Iowa Irish Fest!
BILL RILEY TALENT SEARCH
August 6th, 2022 @ 1:00 pm
Click here for more information!
Here are some of the fun family friendly activities available:
Rock Wall
Balloon Twister
Face Painter
Archeological Dig
Language Tree
Crafts
Coloring Competition
Inflatables
Games Area
Rugby Demo
Highland Games Demo
Bill Riley Talent Search Show
Passport Scavenger Hunt
Dogs of Ireland
First Aid Tent
Interactive Activities
Workshops to be held on the Family Area Stage:
Beginner Bodhran Workshop
Two-Hand Dance Workshop
Musical Journey through Ireland
Beginner Penny Whistle Workshop
Beginner Lirish Language Workshop
Celtic Cinderella
Trinity Irish Dance Workshop for Kids
The Family Fun + Learning Area is sponsored by:



HEARST CENTER OF THE ARTS WATERLOO CENTER FOR THE ARTS CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS D&W FLOORING
BOY SCOUTS TROOP #13 WATERLOO YOUTH CITY COUNCIL PAWSITIVE PET CARE
ACTIVITIES + WORKSHOPS
Join in on the fun!
Check back here for more information on all the family fun!
Get Your Tickets to Irish Fest
3 days of Irish fun!