My Waterloo Days
June 5-7, 2025
2025 will be bigger and better than ever!
Friday night at Lincoln Park will be FREE Admission.
Saturday at Lincoln Park is $20 online or at the gate CARD ONLY.
My Waterloo Days is an annual festival celebrating the spirit of Waterloo, Iowa. The multi-day event features live music, parades, family-friendly activities, food vendors, and more. My Waterloo Days is committed to providing a fun and engaging experience for residents and visitors alike.
Volunteers are needed to help with various aspects of the festival, from pre-event set-up, festival operations, and post-festival tear down. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, a drink ticket & free Saturday “VGM Main Stage” admission for the festival.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for regular announcements and updates to this page
VGM Stage at lincoln park
Get Your Tickets
Friday night at Lincoln Park will be FREE Admission.
Saturday at Lincoln Park is ticketed for $20 online or at the gate CARD ONLY. VIP packages available for both days.
saturday
VIP PLUS
know before you go
- In order to maintain a safe and secure
environment during My Waterloo Days, there is a bag policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought on to the grounds during the festival. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
NEED A CLEAR BAG? We got you. Free clear bags are being provided by Veridian Credit Union, and are being given away on first come, first served basis at the Experience Waterloo office
(716 Commercial Street) and 2 Veridian locations:
1616 Lafayette Street and 1827 Ansborough Avenue. One per person. Quantities limited.
- Clear bag (Plastic, Vinyl, or PVC) No larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- Plastic Storage Bag – Clear, one-gallon bag, re-sealable
- Any non-clear bag (clutch, coin purse, Wallet)
No larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″
Weekend Schedule
All Weekend
Carnival at National Cattle Congress
Thursday 6-10pm
Friday 6-10pm
Saturday Noon-5pm
Saturday 6-10pm
Sunday Noon-5pm
Friday at Lincoln Park
5PM: Lincoln Park Opens
5PM-12AM: Food trucks in service
5PM-12AM: Bouncy Houses & We Art Stuff & WHS Class Reunion of 1990
6PM: Parade
7PM- 8:45PM: Lost Wax, a Kansas City-based Party Band
9PM-9:40PM: Waterloo-native singer Sterling Banks w/ Xray DJ
9:45PM: Fireworks
10PM- 11PM: National Country & Rap recording artist Blanco Brown
Saturday at Lincoln Park
$10 in advance, $20 beginning June 1st
12PM-5PM: Black Hawk Baggers Bag Tournament
12PM- 12AM: Food trucks in service
12PM-6PM: Aetna Senior Tent for 55+ Shade, water and a place to sit
1PM-2:30PM: Kevin Burt, a Waterloo-native American Blues artist
3PM – 5PM: Hartsmith, a Cedar Valley Soul & R&B Band
5:30PM – 7:30PM: Lost Wax, a Kansas City-based Party Band
7:30PM-7:45PM: Event emcee Wes B w/ DayRon Tha DJ
8PM-9PM: National R&B recording artist Pleasure P
9PM-9:45PM: Wes B & Killa Quay, Waterloo-native Hip Hop artists
10PM-11PM: National Hip Hop recording artist Rick Ross
Saturday at the RiverLoop Amphitheater
FREE MUSIC at the ISG STAGE
11AM-12:30PM: Cedar Valley Exchange Club presents the Kid’s Bike Races
11:30AM-1PM: McDonalds presents the McFun Zone
11AM-8PM: Ms.Kims Plates & Udderly Epic Deserts will be available for purchase
11AM-8PM: Merchant vendors, information booths, bouncy, houses, and splash pad
12PM-4PM: Make it Up! Face Painting
2PM-4:30PM: Bob Dorr, a Cedar Valley Blues Icon
5PM-8PM: Dry Run Creek, a Cedar Valley Country Band
Sunday at the Hippodrome
3:00 PM: Iowa Woo Game
Food Trucks
- Get R’ Fried
- Bringing the Chi
- Tu Wavy Catering
- Richies Cheese Curd Tacos
- My Sons Tacos & Burritos
- Becker Concessions
- Hatchett BBQ
- Rocking 5k BBQ
- Udderly Epic Desserts
- Bayside Bistro
- Dominique’s Seafood
- Tom Thumb Donut
Activity Highlights
Food vendors and a beer garden will be available Friday and Saturday in Lincoln Park.
Saturday at the Amphitheater will be a FREE stage plus kids activities. Stay tuned as we add more details!
Thursday, June 5 - movie night
Cinema on The Cedar at the Riverloop Amphitheater Sponsored by TruStage Financial
The party starts at 7:00pm with the movie Moana 2 beginning around 9:00pm. Free admission!
Friday, June 6th
My Waterloo Days Parade 6:00pm Sponsored by Unity Point Health
Friday night begins with the traditional My Waterloo Days Parade, starting at West 4th Street and Washington, continuing along East 4th and Mulberry Street.
Friday, June 6th
Fireworks 9:00pm Sponsored by UNI
View an amazing show from Lincoln Park and surrounding area before Blanco Brown’s performance.
Saturday, June 7th at the amphitheater
Kids Zone
- 11:00AM – 12:30 PM Kids Bike Races presented by Cedar Valley Exchange Club – Pre-register today!
- 11:00AM – 8:00PM: Food & Desserts vendors will be in attendance, along with merchants, information booths
- 11:00AM – 8:00 PM Bounce Houses $$ tickets
- 11:30PM – 1:00PM Soifer Family McDonald’s Fun Zone – games, magician and more! Free!
- 12:00PM-4:00PM: Make it Up! Face Painting $$ per design
Music Lineup:
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Bob Dorr, a Cedar Valley Blues icon
o 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dry Run Creek, a Cedar Valley Country Band
Food by Ms. Kims Plates & Udderly Epic Desserts
Applications now open
Thank you to our sponsors!
