Latino festivals, parades, concerts and cultural programs will take place across Iowa, Nebraska and the Quad Cities from Aug. 16 through Oct. 16.
By Hola Iowa
Communities across Iowa, Nebraska and the Quad Cities will celebrate Latino culture in 2026 with parades, live music, folkloric dance, food, art and family activities.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. However, several of the region’s largest celebrations begin in August or during the first half of September.
The calendar includes free community festivals, ticketed events and activities included with admission to the Iowa State Fair. This guide was updated Aug. 3 and will continue to grow as more communities finalize their 2026 schedules.
August Latino festivals and cultural events in Iowa
Iowa State Fair Latino programming — Des Moines
Date and time: Sunday, Aug. 16 | Noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
The Iowa State Fair will feature two charro performances at Elwell Family Park at noon and 3 p.m. Later that evening, La Sonora Dinamita will bring Colombian cumbia to the Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 7 p.m.
Both programs are included with admission to the fair. Advance tickets cost $11 for visitors ages 12 and older and $7 for children ages 6-11 through Aug. 12. At the gate, admission costs $16 for adults and $10 for children.
More information: Iowa State Fair schedule and ticket details
Viva Perry! Latino Festival — Perry
Date and time: Saturday, Aug. 29 | Parade at 10 a.m.; festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Pattee Park, Perry
Viva Perry begins with a morning parade and continues at the Pattee Park Bandshell. The festival will feature live music, dancing, food, vendors and children’s activities.
More information: Perry Chamber of Commerce
México en el Corazón International Tour — Sioux City
Date and time: Sunday, Aug. 30 | 3 p.m.
Location: Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St., Sioux City
Admission: Free
México en el Corazón returns to Sioux City with Mexican music, folkloric dance and traditional costumes. The family performance is part of the tour’s 2026 international route.
More information: México en el Corazón event page
September festivals, parades and Hispanic Heritage Month events
Fiestas Patrias Omaha — Omaha, Nebraska
Dates: Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13
Location: Historic South 24th Street, near 24th and M streets
Admission: Free
Fiestas Patrias Omaha will mark 106 years of Mexican festivals in South Omaha. The three-day celebration includes live music, dance, food, art, cultural vendors, carnival rides and community activities.
- Saturday, Sept. 12: Independence Day parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13: Mariachi Mass from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13: El Grito de Independencia from 7 to 11 p.m., with charros, live music and a ceremony led by the Mexican Consulate.
More information: Fiestas Patrias Omaha
Festival Latino — Cedar Rapids
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids
Admission and parking: Free
Festival Latino will celebrate its 15th anniversary with Latino music, food, cultural performances and family activities. The children’s area will also return for the 2026 celebration.
More information: Festival Latino 2026
El Centro Latino Festival — Lincoln, Nebraska
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 2 to 7 p.m.
Location: Antelope Park, 1630 Memorial Drive, Lincoln
Lincoln’s Latino Festival will bring food, live entertainment, music, local vendors and community resource booths to Antelope Park. Interactive activities will include the festival’s hot sauce eating contest.
More information: El Centro de las Américas
LULAC Hispanic Heritage Parade and Fiesta — East Moline, Illinois
Date and time: Sunday, Sept. 13 | Parade at noon; fiesta through 9 p.m.
Location: Parade along 15th Avenue; festival at Runner’s Park, 742 15th Ave., East Moline
The 16th annual celebration will begin with a parade along 15th Avenue from Third to 10th streets. The festival will continue at Runner’s Park with food vendors, exhibitors and community activities.
The event is LULAC Council 5285’s largest fundraiser for its college scholarship program.
More information: LULAC Council 5285
Celebrando Siouxland — Sioux City and South Sioux City
Dates: Sept. 14-20
Locations: Sioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska
Admission: Free community events
Celebrando Siouxland will span one week with business tours, Lotería, a parade, a movie night, a Zumbathon and the region’s Latino Heritage Festival.
- Tuesday, Sept. 15: Immigrant business tours in Sioux City and South Sioux City.
- Wednesday, Sept. 16: Lotería Night.
- Friday, Sept. 18: “Flight of the Monarch” parade at 6 p.m. on Dakota Avenue, followed by a movie night at the Jefferey Dible Soccer Complex.
- Saturday, Sept. 19: Zumbathon at the Jefferey Dible Soccer Complex.
- Sunday, Sept. 20: Latino Heritage Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Jefferey Dible Soccer Complex.
More information: Celebrando Siouxland
105th Fort Madison Mexican Fiesta — Fort Madison
Dates: Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 17-19
Location: Mexican Village, near 34th Street and Avenue Q, Fort Madison
The Fort Madison Mexican Fiesta will return for its 105th year with three days of carnival rides, food and craft vendors, live music, street dances and performances by La Fiesta Dance Troupe.
The program also includes the Fiesta Queen and Princess coronation, El Grito, a children’s bike parade, a helmet giveaway and food-eating contests. The 5K run and walk begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, with registration opening at 7 a.m. The 5K registration fee is $25.
Ghost of Judas will play Thursday’s street dance, while Crooked Cactus will perform Friday and Saturday.
More information: Fort Madison Mexican Fiesta
ArteLatinX 2026 — Omaha and Bellevue, Nebraska
Dates: Sept. 18 through Oct. 16
Admission: Free and open to the public
ArteLatinX will combine visual art, lectures and community workshops at several Omaha-area locations. The program begins with an exhibition at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St., running from Sept. 18 through Oct. 16.
- Wednesday, Sept. 23: Keynote program with cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hispanic Art Center of Omaha, 3504 Center St.
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Lecture with art historian Rose Salseda from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UNO Community Engagement Center.
- Thursday, Oct. 8: Floral workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Herrera Bouquets in Bellevue.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14: Talk and tour with Clover 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2200 S. 24th St. in Omaha.
Registration links for individual programs will become available closer to each date.
More information: ArteLatinX 2026 calendar
Iowa City Latino Fest — Iowa City
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 19 | Noon to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Ped Mall, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
Iowa City Latino Fest will fill the downtown Ped Mall with music, traditional dance, food and cultural activities. The annual festival highlights performers and dance groups from Iowa’s Latino communities.
More information: Iowa City Latino Fest
St. Anthony’s Festival — Davenport
Date and time: Sunday, Sept. 20 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: St. Anthony Catholic Church, 417 N. Main St., Davenport
St. Anthony’s Festival will feature live entertainment, food, games and face painting for children. The event returns to the downtown Davenport parish after drawing families from across the Quad Cities in previous years.
More information: St. Anthony’s 2026 events calendar
Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival — Des Moines
Dates and times:
- Saturday, Sept. 26: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Western Gateway Park, 1330 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Admission: $5 for adults; free for children under 12
Iowa’s largest Latino cultural festival will return to downtown Des Moines with two days of live music, dance, food vendors, art, cultural exhibits and children’s activities.
Free parking will be available at the Nationwide ramp at 1100 Walnut St.
More information: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival
Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
RELATED: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving
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