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
Updated Aug. 15, 2026.
Communities across Iowa, Nebraska and the Quad Cities will celebrate Latino culture in 2026. The regional calendar includes parades, music, dance, food, art and family activities.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. However, several large celebrations will begin in August or early September.
Some events are free, while others require admission. In addition, this update adds the Osceola Latino Festival, Fiesta Latina in West Liberty and Omaha’s El Grito celebration. All three will take place Sept. 12.
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
First, two charro shows will begin at noon and 3 p.m. at Elwell Family Park. Later, La Sonora Dinamita will perform Colombian cumbia at 7 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Both programs are included with fair admission. At the gate, visitors ages 12 and older pay $16. Children ages 6 through 11 pay $10, while children age 5 and younger enter free.
More information: Iowa State Fair Latino programming
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 will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. Afterward, the celebration will move to the Pattee Park Bandshell. Music, dancing, food, vendors and children’s activities will continue until 7 p.m.
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 will return to Sioux City with Mexican music, dance and traditional costumes. The free family show is part of the tour’s 2026 international schedule.
More information: México en el Corazón event page
September festivals, parades and Hispanic Heritage Month events
Mexican Independence Day celebration and El Grito — Omaha, Nebraska
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 4 to 10 p.m.
Location: Gene Leahy Mall, 1001 Douglas St., Omaha
Omaha’s Mexican Independence Day celebration will bring six hours of cultural activities to Gene Leahy Mall. The program will conclude with an El Grito ceremony led by Mexico’s consul in Omaha, Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes.
The ceremony commemorates the call issued by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on Sept. 16, 1810, at the beginning of Mexico’s struggle for independence.
This is a separate event from Fiestas Patrias Omaha, which will take place Sept. 11–13 on Historic South 24th Street.
Related coverage: Omaha to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with El Grito at Gene Leahy Mall
Official information: Consulate of Mexico in Omaha
Fiestas Patrias Omaha — Omaha, Nebraska
Dates: Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11–13
Location: Historic South 24th Street
Admission: Free
Fiestas Patrias Omaha will offer three days of music, dance, food and art. The free festival will also include cultural vendors, carnival rides and family activities.
On Saturday, the Independence Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. at South 24th and M streets. It will travel south and end at South 24th and Q streets.
Then, Sunday’s program will include a Mariachi Mass and El Grito de Independencia.
Osceola Latino Festival — Osceola
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 1 to 9 p.m.
Location: Historic Downtown Osceola
The Osceola Latino Festival will bring music, dance and food to the historic downtown square. In addition, the event will include cultural traditions and activities for families.
More information: Osceola Chamber Main Street
Fiesta Latina 2026 — West Liberty
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 3 to 10 p.m.
Location: Downtown West Liberty
Admission: Free
Fiesta Latina will bring Sonora Dinamita de Colombia and Tamborazo La Magdalena to downtown West Liberty. The music program also includes DJ Kaporal.
Meanwhile, three local groups will present traditional dance. They are Danza Folklórica del Oeste, Danza del Perpetuo Socorro and Ballet Folklórico Sones Mexicanos.
The celebration will also offer Mexican and Latin American food. In addition, families will find mechanical rides, a mechanical bull, raffles and entertainment for children and adults.
More information: Latinos Unidos West Liberty
Fiesta Cultural 2026 — Clarion
Date and time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | Noon to 10 p.m.
Location: Gazebo Park, 107 2nd St. NW, Clarion
Admission: Free; Kids Zone wristbands cost $15
Fiesta Cultural will bring 10 hours of music, dance, food and family activities to downtown Clarion.
The performers include Mariachis Amatlán, Banda Perla del Sur and Cristal Fuentes. Alma Latina, cultural dance groups and El Duende Caballo Bailarín will also take the stage.
In addition, the program includes Lotería, contests, a DJ dance and a 50/50 raffle. The contests will feature patriotic clothing and gritos.
Meanwhile, the Kids Zone will run from 1 to 6 p.m. Activities include train rides, face painting, inflatable attractions and a piñata. Wristbands cost $15.
More information: Fiesta Cultural 2026 event page
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 music, food and cultural performances. The free event will also offer family activities and a children’s area.
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, music and live shows to Antelope Park. Local vendors and community groups will also offer information and services.
In addition, the program includes interactive activities and a 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
First, the 16th annual parade will travel along 15th Avenue from Third to 10th streets. Afterward, the celebration will continue at Runner’s Park with food vendors, exhibitors and community activities.
The event is also 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 offer one week of free events. The schedule includes business tours, Lotería, a parade, a movie night, a Zumbathon and the 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. A movie night will follow 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. The three-day event includes carnival rides, food, craft vendors and La Fiesta Dance Troupe.
The program also includes the Fiesta Queen and Princess coronation. In addition, families will find a children’s bike parade, a helmet giveaway and food-eating contests.
On Saturday, the 5K run and walk will begin at 8 a.m. Registration opens at 7 a.m. and costs $25.
Meanwhile, Ghost of Judas will play Thursday’s street dance. 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 bring art, lectures and community workshops to several Omaha-area locations. First, an exhibition will open Sept. 18 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. It will remain open 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 each program will become available closer to the event dates.
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, dance, food and cultural activities. In addition, performers from Iowa’s Latino communities will take the stage throughout the event.
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 and games. In addition, children can participate in face painting and other family activities.
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 for two days. The program includes music, dance, food, art and cultural exhibits.
Children’s activities will also be available. In addition, visitors can park free at the Nationwide ramp at 1100 Walnut St.
More information: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival
Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
Related coverage: Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival made history and is still thriving.
The first program in this guide begins Aug. 16 at the Iowa State Fair. Meanwhile, ArteLatinX is scheduled to continue through Oct. 16 in the Omaha area.
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