2011 IOWA 2011
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates
May 28-29, 2011 Taste Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival - Amana, Iowa
Join in the fun of an authentic Cajun fais-do-do (festival) as Cajun, Swamp Pop and Zydeco bands, dancers and chefs leave their native Louisiana bayous and travel north to the corn belt of Iowa for the 12th Edition of Taste Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival.
June 4, 2011 5th Annual SWINE Festival - Ankeny, Iowa
Two of Iowa’s best tastes come together--gourmet pork creations from 10 of Iowa's finest chefs and wine samplings from a selection of Iowa wineries.
June 7-8, 2011 Fredericksburg's 87th Dairy Days - Fredericksburg, Iowa
Dairy breakfast, midway, ice cream making contest, milking contest, parade, music and fireworks.
June 8-10, 2011 World Pork Expo 2011 - Des Moines, Iowa
World Pork Expo is the trade show for the pork industry worldwide. It's the perfect showcase for companies who wish to build valuable relationships with the pork producers who use their products.
June 11-12, 2011 Farmington Strawberry Festival - Farmington, Iowa
Sponsored by the Farmington Arts Council, the festival offers free strawberries and ice cream, a car show, strawberry cooking contest, talent show and more!
June 15-18, 2011 Ice Cream Days - Le Mars, Iowa
It's all about the Ice Cream! Celebrate with ice cream treats, picnics, parades and more in La Mars, Ice Cream Capitol of the World.
June 23-25, 2011 Gladbrook Corn Carnival - Gladbrook, Iowa
The 88th annual festival will include fireworks, a corn eating contest, music, classic car cruise, carnival, and crowning of the Corn Cob Queen.
June 23-26, 2011 24th Annual Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Join us back downtown for some finger-lickin' good BBQ and music from some of the area's best bands.
June 24-25, 2011 13th Annual Iowa State BBQ Championship - Marshalltown, Iowa
Sponsored by the Iowa Barbeque Society. BBQ samples and a variety of entertainment.
June 25, 2011 Lazy River Beer & Wine Festival - Marquette, Iowa
Bring your lawn chair and prepare for a day of relaxation and fun with local Iowa beer and wine, live music and food vendors.
JULY 4, 2011 - There are so many events on this day that they are too numerous to list. Virtually every community in the U.S. has a 4th of July celebration.
July 8-10, 2011 Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival - Clear Lake, Iowa
Eat a helping (or two!) of barbecue and enjoy some soul-revivin’ blues with the Lamont Cranston Band and other top acts. Participate in several different bike rides including a charity fun ride, a criterium through the streets of Clear Lake or a road race through scenic Iowa countryside.
July 8-10, 2011 Bully Bullhead Weekend - Ruthven, Iowa
Community celebration includes bullhead fishing contest, fun run, parade, tractor ride, carnival.
July 10, 2011 Watermelon Day 2011 - Stanhope, Iowa -
July 15-16, 2011 10th annual BBQ'Loo and Blues Too! - Waterloo, Iowa
Free and open to the public; with vending, family activities, and entertainment both evenings. Barbecue teams will compete for $10,000 in cash and prizes. Friday night there will be additional competition in a chili category. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to purchase "tasting ballots", allowing a taste of the spicy brew from each of several participants. The tasters will be the judges – let the best chili win! It should be a gas!
July 16, 2011 Eastern Iowa Wine Festival - Sherrill, Iowa
This is an All Iowa event featuring Eastern Iowa wines, food and bakery products, musicians, and artists. Held on the grounds of the historic Black Horse Inn at Sherrill, Iowa.
July 15-17, 2011 Wayne County Annual Watermelon Days - Humeston, Iowa
A July event where free watermelon is offered along with entertainment, tractor pull, dance and much more!
July 16, 2011 Farm to Market Day at Living History Farms - Urbandale, Iowa
Event highlights local foods and the history behind them.
July 23, 2011 J-40 Farm Crawl - Van Buren County, Iowa
Farm tours, artists, wineries, Amish furniture, Amish buggy rides, Amish school breakfast and more.
August 4, 2011 Sweet Corn Serenade - Oskaloosa, Iowa
Fresh sweet corn, burgers, pie and ice cream. Music, children's activities, pie-baking contest, craft show. Attendance: 5,000.
August 4-7, 2011 Estherville Sweet Corn Days - Estherville, Iowa
Free sweet corn, car show, parade, art in the park, inflatables, duck derby on the Des Moines River, fireworks, street dances.
August 6-7, 2011 Threshing Days - Urbandale, Iowa
Experience demonstrations of the many methods used to harvest oats and wheat from 1850 to the present and help bring in the harvest. Children's craft center in the barn and free popcorn and lemonade. Held at Living History Farms.
August 10, 2011 "Red, Wheat & Bleu" Wine, Beer and Cheese Tasting - Knoxville, Iowa
Taste the best beer, wine, and cheese from around the state. Held at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.
August 10-13, 2011 Annual Lisbon Sauerkraut Days - Lisbon, Iowa
Sauerkraut King and Queen, parade, street dances, golf and softball tournaments, cabbage weigh-off and more!
August 11-14, 2011 West Point Sweet Corn Festival - West Point, Iowa
Iowa's largest Sweet Corn Festival. All you can eat sweet corn, free entertainment, midway and more. Pull up a seat and help volunteers shuck nearly 17 tons of sweet corn at Shuckfest held the day before the Sweet Corn Festival. Attendance: 25,000.
August 12-14, 2011 Threshermen Festival and Collectors Show - Albert City, Iowa
Agricultural heritage event with field activities, craft show and food. Celebrating our 41st year.
August 13, 2011 32nd Annual Sweet Corn Festival - Adel, Iowa
Seven tons of free sweet corn, craft and food vendors, parade, children's activities, live music.
September 1-5, 2011 Old Threshers Reunion - Mount Pleasant, Iowa
The largest collection of working steam power in the Midwest. Traction steam engines, antique gas tractors, trolleys, a steam carousel and more. Crafts, great food, bluegrass and gospel music.
September 4, 2011 Festival of Iowa Beers - Amana, Iowa
Sample some of Iowa's best brews at Millstream Brewing. Craft breweries and Iowa home brew clubs assemble for this unique tasting event.
September 10, 2011 18th Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-Off - Sioux City, Iowa
The aroma of hot chili peppers emerges in the air early as cooks prepare for the tasters to arrive in the afternoon. Public tasting begins at noon!
September 15-18, 2011 101st Annual National Cattle Congress Fair - Waterloo, Iowa
Carnival, midway, livestock shows, exhibits, and PRCA rodeo.
September 23-24, 2011 Coca Cola Days - Atlantic, Iowa
Come and enjoy the festivities of our Buy, Sell, and Swap Show. Lots Of Coca Cola Items, BBQ, Kids Coke Parade and Golf.
October 1-2, 2011 History Snapshot: Corn Harvest - Urbandale, Iowa
Take a horse-drawn wagon ride into the fields to watch working machinery used to harvest corn from 1910-1950. Watch the historic baseball game on Sunday.
October 7-9, 2011 World Food Festival - Des Moines, Iowa
Entering its 7th year in 2011, the World Food Festival reigns as Des Moines' premiere taste event. Unique to this taste event is its flavors. Restaurants and food vendors who specialize in small operations are the highlight of this great event - mom & pop kitchens churning out their family recipes.
October 12-14, 2011 World Food Prize - Des Moines, Iowa
The World Food Prize, awarded each year since 1994 and sponsored by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan, recognizes the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world, thereby helping to boost global food security. This year, the prize will be awarded to John Agyekum Kufuor, the former president of Ghana, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the former president of Brazil, for their outstanding achievements in reducing hunger in their countries. The ceremony will take place during the Borlaug International Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa
October 12-14, 2011 Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium - Des Moines, Iowa
The Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will take place in conjunction with the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, where we will pay tribute to two former presidents as the recipients of this year’s award: President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. Global leaders, including several former presidents, CEOs of the world’s largest Fortune 500 food and agriculture companies, World Food Prize laureates and international policy experts, will come together for the 25th Anniversary World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium to address the world’s current food crises and future needs in feeding people around the globe. The theme of this year’s symposium is 'The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow'. This event, which has been called “the premier conference in the world on global agriculture,” will draw more than 1,000 international leaders to discuss solutions for providing food in the midst of challenges posed by political volatility, extreme weather, population growth and other factors.
November 4-6, 2011 National Farm Toy Show - Dyersville, Iowa
National Farm Toy Museum. Events include collectors' dinner, sanctioned micro-mini pull, auction, Mercy Hospital bazaar and pedal pull for kids. Attendance: 15,000.
November 11-12, 2011 Iowa's Premier Wine & Food Expo - Des Moines, Iowa
One of the most anticipated events in Des Moines--a dream world of food, wine, beer and spirits for all connoisseurs with more than 100 exhibitors.
December 3, 2011 Christmas Cookie Festival - West Des Moines, Iowa
Enjoy live music while you satify your Christmas cookie appetite. The Gingerbread Man will be cavorting about and it will be a festive atmosphere. Sponsored by the United Methodist Church.
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