Downtown Waterloo is bursting with pride with its unique museum district, farmers market, locally owned restaurants and top-notch events. Grab your family and friends to explore, eat and see why we love our city.
Here’s just a few highlights to get you started.
Riverloop Amphitheater
A must see downtown riverfront plaza with trails and an amphitheater near the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Bring the kids to “Mark’s Park,” complete with play equipment and water features to cool off – for free!
Local Brew
SingleSpeed Brewing Company typically has 13 unique beers on tap from IPAs to Sours, Stouts, Helles, Pils and more. Their brewmasters rotate the selection to include seasonal flavors, so there’s always something new to try.
Multiple Museums – A whole day awaits you with a variety of museums:
Waterloo Center for the Arts
The largest collection of Haitian Art in the country, plus rotating exhibits.
Phelps Youth Pavillion
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum
Honoring Iowa Veterans.
Grout Museum of History and Science
Exhibitions on area history, interactive science features and more.
John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum
John Deere history, with hands-on exhibits and free guided tours at the site of its first factory.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Dan Gable Museum
Exhibits on the history of wrestling — from the ancient Greeks to Dan Gable, a Waterloo native and 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist.
Unique retail
From furniture finds to sweet treats, locally owned shops welcome you to downtown Waterloo.
Epic Finds
One-of-a-kind mid-century finds.
The Finery
Women’s boutique with trendy & casual clothes.
Macarons by Sani
Beautiful & sweet meringue-based confections.
Waterloo Bicycle Works
New bikes, repairs and rentals to help you explore Waterloo’s amazing trails!
Nightlife – Cheers!
Over 17 bars with something for everyone — from low key vibes to high energy dancing, pool and darts, shows and more!
