2026 Iowa Irish Fest is July 31st - August 2nd!
- Days
- Hours
- Mins
- Secs
2026 Iowa Irish Fest is July 31st - August 2nd!
Friday, July 31
4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, August 1
10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, August 2
8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.
No pets admitted. Only service dogs will be permitted on Festival grounds
$40.00 dollars this is for a three day wrist band to the festival. Credit cards are accepted at all gates, the Official Iowa Irish Fest merchandise booth and for food/beverage token purchase.
Children 15 and under are free with a paid adult.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are located at the Bank Iowa on the corner of East 4th and Mulberry within the festival grounds. There is also one located on the corner of Mulberry and East 3rd at Regions Bank which is outside the festival grounds by Gate 1 and there is one at Community Choice Bank located on the corner of 5th and Mulberry Street by Gate 2.
No alcohol is permitted on festival grounds other than what is purchased at the festival from the Iowa Irish Fest or those business inside festival grounds.
Anyone purchasing alcohol must have an alcohol wrist band before you can purchase beer tokens. Photo ID required.
Tokens are $6 dollars each and can be purchased at any ticket booth and token kiosk with cash and credit card. Beers can be purchased directly at the beer booths by credit only.
Iowa Irish Fest Winner of the:
Cedar Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau “2013 Event of the Year” Award
Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber “2011 Cedar Valley Partner” Award
Cedar Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau “2010 Event of the Year” Award
$40,000.00 in weekend passes and Iowa Irish Fest Merchandise for local organizations to use in their own fundraising efforts in 2023
$29,000 Donated from freewill offerings at the Sunday mass since 2019
1216 lbs food donated for those in need to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in 2024.
$12,690 Donated since 2019 to local school groups
$15,300 Donated since 2019 to local veterans and first responder organizations
$16,000 Donated since 2019 to other local nonprofits in Iowa
DONATIONS
Baby changing and nursing stations are available in the Family Fun Area.
There will be bag pipes performing throughout the Festival Grounds.
Anyone purchasing alcohol must have an alcohol wrist band before you can purchase beer tokens.
Tokens are $6 dollars each and can be purchased at any ticket booth and token kiosk with cash and credit card. Beers can be purchased directly at the beer booths by credit only.
Bikes are not allowed on festival grounds. There is a bike corral provided and maintained by a local cycle group, area near Gate 4, at E. 4th Street and Sycamore street.
Within the fest grounds:
May I bring my camera?
Yes, we encourage you to bring your camera. Make sure you share some with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
Cara: noun (friend) of the Iowa Irish Fest. Become a CARA member and help promote the Cedar Valley’s vibrant Irish Culture. CARA is the official support group of the Iowa Irish Fest.
There are for members only events though out the year. Click here to learn more.
The Family Fun Area is located at the corner of East 4th street and Sycamore Street. 6 inflatables, two face painters and a Balloon Twister will be featured.
Friday
4:00 – 8 p.m.
Saturday
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday
11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Children 12 and under are welcome.
Coolers are not allowed on festival grounds.
Cedar Valley Irish Cultural Association Inc.
Attn. Iowa Irish Fest
330 E 4th St
Waterloo IA 50703
The Iowa Irish Fest has donated over $15,000.00 dollars and 8,800lbs. of food to local charities.
The Family Fun Area is located at the corner of East 4th street and Sycamore Street.
Children 12 and under are welcome.
Official Iowa Irish Festival merchandise is available at the merchandise booth. Choose from T-shirts, hats, pint glasses, pins and more! Location: Inside Lincoln Park near the Beer Tent.
No fireworks are permitted. No fireworks will be displayed.
No firearms or any type of weapons are allowed on festival grounds with the exception of Law Enforcement officials.
First Aid is located:
Many food vendors will be available for you to purchase all types of food. From Traditional Irish to your American Favorites. No outside food is permitted into the fest grounds. Click Here for a list of Food Vendors
No firearms or any type of weapons are allowed on festival grounds with the exception of Law Enforcement officials.
Traditional Gaelic games consisting of events with heaving, lifting, and tossing. There will be an exhibition on Friday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in Lincoln Park. Competitive competition begins Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and goes until around 4:00 p.m.
What Irish Festival would be complete without kilts? We encourage you to wear your kilt if you have one or to purchase one from one of the vendors that will be selling them.
Lost children should be taken to the Volunteer Check-in tent located by Gate 1 or to any Iowa Irish Fest staff members.
Lost items may be turned in at the Volunteer Check-in tent located by Gate 1. You may also call 319-234-9029.
Click Here to Download a PDF Map
The Iowa Irish Fest will once again hold an outdoors Sunday Mass. Gates open at 8:45 with Mass at 10:00. Admission to the festival grounds will be two items of a non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. This donation will allow you to enjoy the festival for the entire day. Free admission with the food donation is only good until 10:30 AM on Sunday.
Official Iowa Irish Fest merchandise will be available at their booth on the grounds inside Lincoln Park.
Many merchandise vendors will be available for your enjoyment to browse or purchase your favorite Irish and American flairs.
The following are NOT permitted inside the grounds. There are metal detectors at each gate, so please come prepared & leave the following at home:
The Iowa Irish Fest kicks off with a small walking opening ceremony on Friday at 4:00 p.m. The procession begins on the west side of the river on West 4th street and processes back across the river on 4th street to Lincoln Park.
Parking is available on any side streets. You may also park in the parking ramp located on Park Avenue. Paid Parking is available in the East Side Parking Ramp located on E. Park Ave after 5pm on Friday and all day Saturday & Sunday. Paid parking is also located behind the Elks Lodge building at E. Park & Mulberry.
No pets, only exhibit (Celtic Canines with credentials) and service dogs are allowed on Festival grounds. Please make sure you have the proper credentials or papers with you.
A phone App is available in Google Play and Apple Store under Iowa Irish Fest
Enter your best Irish themed photos by July 19th for a chance to place1st, 2nd or 3rd. Winners announced at the fest on July 31st.
The official Iowa Irish Fest poster by artist Gary Kelley will be available for purchase at the Iowa Irish Fest merchandise booth.
Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Email us at info@iowairishfest.com
We will be using wrist bands for your entrance to the fest grounds this year. This will be a three day band so if you intend to come back to the festival you will need to leave your wristband on. Anyone who does not have an official wristband on will have to purchase one or will have to leave the festival grounds.
Adults and High schoolers are welcome to come battle it out in a friendly game of Rugby.
Yes. Service animals are allowed on the grounds. A service animal is one that is individually trained to perform work for a person with a disability. You may be asked if your animal is a service animal and what tasks it is trained to perform. You do not need to provide documentation of your animal’s status as a service animal nor is it required to wear a vest. Your animal must be leashed unless that interferes with its work, but it must still be under your effective control at all times.
To see a full list of our sponsors go to Sponsor page.
Please make sure you thank the sponsors of the Irish Fest. Without them it would not be possible.
Want to sponsor the 2026 Iowa Irish Fest? Contact our sponsorship team.
Not mandatory but highly recommended. We want to see more green than red during the festival.
$40.00 dollars this is for a three day wrist band to the festival.
What do I do if I cannot find my online ticket?
Send a message through Eventbrite and we can resend you your tickets.
VIP Experience which includes family tables are available for purchase for $1,000.00 dollars. You get a table for the week end along with 8 weekend passes to the festival and eight beer tokens. These go fast so contact us early. If there is not one available, you will be put on a waiting list.
Click Here for a list of Vendors
Volunteers are essential to the festival. We need over 1,600 to make your festival what it has been and what we all hope it will continue to be. We need every one of you. Click here to see what shifts are open for this fest!
ShamRock N Run 5k Fun Run/Walk
Waterloo Water Works has a complimentary water station inside Lincoln Park for you to use to fill up water bottles
Yes, the Festival is wheelchair accessible. Just keep in mind that the Festival takes place in a park, so there is some grassy terrain. The Festival is accessible via sidewalks and streets, and there are plenty of curb-cuts.
We will be using wrist bands for your entrance to the fest grounds. This will be a three day band so if you intend to come back to the festival you will need to leave your wristband on. Anyone who does not have an official wristband on will have to purchase one or will have to leave the festival grounds.
You found the pot of gold!
Click on the link below to enter the Iowa Irish Fest Contest
Irish Fest Contest Form