Spring Activities Around the Cedar Valley

Spring is slowly making its way to the Cedar Valley and we are all looking to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our community. If you are looking for something fun to do this spring, this is the blog post for you! We have compiled a list of events throughout Cedar Falls and Waterloo this March, April, and May!

Information and links pulled from Cedar Falls Community Main Street and Cedar Valley 365.

March

March 18 & 19: Funky Junk-a-Loo from 9AM -3PM at the Waterloo Convention Center 

March 18: Mulligan Stew Supper 4-7PM at the Cedar Falls Woman's Club. An all you can eat mulligan stew, Ireland fever biscuits, luck of the Irish and blarney Cake. Bake sale and carry-out available. Adults $10, children under 12 $5. Please bring your leprechaun friend and enjoy a warm bowl of mulligan stew!

March 25: 2023 Fashion Art & Culture Expo 7PM - 9PM at the Courtyard by Marriott in Waterloo

March 25: Waterloo Black Hawks vs the Omaha Lances 6:05PM Start Time

March 26: DIY Night 7PM - 9PM at The Cicada House (415 Walnut St., Cedar Falls). For crafters and artists alike! Check April and May for the rotating craft for DIY Night!

March 30: Spring Shop Hop - Cedar Falls Downtown District 10AM - 4PM. Join our Downtown District merchants for the Spring Shop Hop! Eggs will be in each participating locations for a fun surprise! Be sure to stop at each location and see what you can find! 

March 30 - April 1: Garden & Seed Sharing 10AM - 6PM at the Black Hawk Co Master Gardeners. Iowa State Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County will be offering free garden seeds to the public on Thursday, March 30, through Saturday, April 1. There is a wide variety of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds ready for planting on a first-come, first-served basis. How to get the seeds. 1. Come to the ISU room at 3420 University Avenue from 10 am -6 pm on Thursday, March 30, and 10 am -6 pm on Friday 31, and from 9am to noon on Saturday April 1 to select seeds. Use Door 3. 2. Email seed requests to seilers@iastate.edu. Your order will be filled with what is available. They will be labeled and placed for pickup in the hallway. There is no inventory or selection list. There are some restrictions on the number of seeds available per person. Resources and publications of research-based information covering questions you may have on planning, planting, growing, and harvesting will be available. *We will not take seed orders before March 29. *Seeds must be picked up in person by April 7th. *Seeds will not be mailed.

April

April 1: Fools 5K & 10K 8AM - 1PM at George Wyth State Park (3659 Wyth Rd., Waterloo). The Cedar Valley's running tradition, don't miss out on the one of the flattest and fastest 5K and 10K USATF certified courses in the state! Both races will start and end in the same place. Mark your calendars and join in on the fun!

April 1: Easter Carnival 9AM - 10:30AM at South Waterloo Church of the Brethren (6227 Kimball Ave, Waterloo). Come and join us for this fun family event! Play games and win great prizes! The Easter Bunny will be present! Refreshments will be available! All activities are inside! Everything is free! Children through 5th grade are invited to attend! All children must be accompanied by an adult!

April 1: IowaEats Food & Drink Festival 11AM - 5PM a the Weterloo Convention Center (200 W 4th St, Waterloo). Looking for a food festival featuring all Iowa foods, beverages, chefs, authors and Ag products, this is it! There will be food and beverage samples with additional available for purchase from the vendors. Festival ticket proceeds will benefit the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area. 

April 6: Family Night at the Imaginarium 5PM - 8PM at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium (322 Washington St., Waterloo). Join us the first Thursday of the month, March-May, at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium for family night! Come explore the science museum with your little ones and watch a science demonstration at 6pm and 7pm. 3 and under and Museum Members are always free! All others, pay regular Museum Admission ($6).

April 6: Hops - A Craft Beer Tasting Event 5:30PM - 9PM Cedar Falls Downtown District. Sample brews from breweries from around the state during our annual Hops craft beer sampling event! On Thursday April 6th, 2023, patrons are invited to sample finely crafted beers at select downtown bars and restaurants. Registration for the event begins at 5:30 until 6:30, you can pick up your Hop Stop card, your souvenir glass and venture out to the 19 locations participating this year. You can register at either the River Place Plaza or George's Local Patio. Grab your friends and join us in the District for the 13th Hops event!

April 15: Sioux City Musketeers vs the Waterloo Black Hawks at 6:05PM. Buy Sioux City Musketeers at Waterloo Black Hawks tickets for 04/15/2023 in Waterloo, IA from Vivid Seats and be there in person for all the action!

April 20: Toddler Time at the Imaginarium 11AM - 12PM at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium (322 Washington St., Waterloo). Each month enjoy story time and a themed craft. Toddlers are free. Parents/guardians pay regular museum admission. Theme is Pets.

April 21 - 23: The Book of Mormon at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls) Show dates and times below

• April 21: 6:30PM - 8:30PM, 7:30PM-9:30PM, & 8:30PM -10:30PM
• April 21: 1PM - 3PM, 2PM - 4PM, 3PM - 5PM, 6:30PM - 8:30PM, 7:30PM - 9:30, & 8:30PM -10:30PM
• April 22: 1PM - 3PM, 2PM - 4PM, 5:30PM - 7:30PM, 6:30PM - 8:30PM, & 7:30PM-9:30PM 

April 22: Annual Trails Earth Day Clean Up 8:45AM - 12PM. In the Cedar Valley, the system-wide Earth Day Trail Clean Up will be held on April 22nd to help “celebrate our trails”. Anyone who would like to celebrate our trails by helping with the trail clean up can respond at this e-mail address: volunteer@cedarvalleytrails.org and you will be contacted with more details. This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, groups of friends or co-workers to join in the celebration, to spend time enjoying the outdoors and to make the trails more attractive and more inviting for everyone. Wear clothes suitable for the weather and tromping around the banks along the trail, including boots, gloves, and grabbers. Plastic garbage bags will be provided.

April 26: DIY Night 7PM - 9PM. For crafters and artists alike! Check May for the rotating craft for DIY Night!

May

Cedar Falls Farmers Market 8:30AM - 12PM at Overman Park (316 W 3rd St, Cedar Falls). Every Saturday morning May - October. 

Waterloo Urban Farmers Market 8AM - 12PM at the River Loop Plaza (460 Jefferson St., Waterloo). Every Saturday morning May - October. 

May 6: Cars & Coffee 8AM - 11AM at Bill Colwell Ford (238 Waterloo Rd., Hudson). Bring down your favorite car for some coffee and the chance to meet other car lovers. Classic cars, sports cars, muscle cars, luxury cars, anything! If you love it - BRING IT! Everyone is welcome at Cars & Coffee!

May 7: 6th Annual Downtown Show & Shine 12PM - 3PM Cedar Falls Downtown District. Mark your calendars now and join us for the 6th Annual Downtown Show & Shine! We fill the Cedar Falls Downtown District with classic and beautiful metal from the old days to today, including those being restored. Bring your car or your motorcycle and put it on display for all Downtown to see.Registration for cars will open April 7! If you love to look at the awesome cars, admission to the event is FREE and we look forward to seeing everyone! Call or email Community Main Street with any questions!

May 11: Tour De Loo 5:30PM - 9:30PM Main Street Waterloo. Mark your calendars for this community favorite event. You are invited to tour newly renovated, newly built, and under construction locations in Downtown Waterloo.

May 13: Run Like a Mother 5K 9AM - 11AM at Big Woods Lake, Cedar Falls. Run Like a Mother is a 5K hosted by the UNI Women in Business (WiB) organization. All of the proceeds raised from this event go to the Iowa Women's Foundation.

May 13: Belgian Waffle Breakfast 8AM - 11AM at the Women's Club (304 Clay St., Cedar Falls). A perfect way to start Mother’s Day weekend by treating your favorite Mother to a scrumptious Belgian Waffle breakfast!  Belgian waffles, Mark’s Locker Award Winning Link Sausage & all the fixings. Mimosas available, too, for $5.00. $10.00 Adults; $5.00 children (under 12).  

May 13 & 14: Annual Plant Sale 9AM - 6PM at the Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (1927 E Orange Rd., Waterloo). Join us for our annual plant sale featuring perennials, annuals, houseplants, succulents, hanging baskets, and more from Petersen & Tietz and Stillwater Greenhouse. Think spring and shop for new and gently used garden tools and other items, including discounted garden apparel, event left overs, and other gift shop items at our “Garage Sale” taking in the barn. Admission to the plant sale is free.

May 18: Toddler Time at the Imaginarium 11AM - 12PM at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium (322 Washington St., Waterloo). Each month enjoy story time and a themed craft. Toddlers are free. Parents/guardians pay regular museum admission. Theme is Flowers.

May 20: Furry 5K 7:30AM -12PM at Big Woods Lake, Cedar Falls. Calling all runners, walkers, and dog lovers!! Welcome to the 14th Annual Cedar Bend Humane Society Furry 5K Run/Walk! This community fun run event is open to all animal lovers and their K-9 companions. Join us for a fun filled morning! Check in starts at 7:30am, and the race kicks off at 8:30am!

May 26: DIY Night 7PM - 9PM. For crafters and artists alike! 

May 26: Friday Loo 5:30PM at Lincoln Park (401 E 4th St., Waterloo). Friday Loo is downtown Waterloo’s T.G.I.F. party! For more than 20 years, this has been the most well-known Main Street Waterloo event. ALWAYS FREE!…ALWAYS FUN!…ALWAYS FRIDAY! Follow the Friday Loo page for full details!