WEEKENDER BLOG

The air is brisk so our thoughts have turned to autumn and all the upcoming events that celebrate the season.  

Here is a list of family-friendly places and events taking place in the Cedar Valley.
Looking for Halloween events? Visit our Haunts & Happenings blog HERE.

FALL FUN PLACES

The Patch
305 Roosevelt Street, Cedar Falls
The Patch offers two separate areas for customers. A retail area which includes pumpkins, mums and other outdoor decorations; plus an indoor shopping area with candles, jewelry, hot and cold drinks, treats and more. The Stay & Play area is $5 +tax for adults and children. This area includes games, activities, and photo ops!

Hanson’s Hallow
5071 15th Avenue, La Porte City
A local source for all your fall fun and pumpkins, gourds, squash, and other fall decorating needs! Starting September 30, they will have food trucks every weekend. 

Heartland Farms
5111 Osage Road, Waterloo
Thousands of pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash plus the perfect place for fun and frolic including Scarecrow’s Haunted Barn, Haunted Cornfield, Punkin Playland, hayrides, The Punkinator and the Giant Jumping Pillow!

Kiefer Farms
4881 Texas Street, Waterloo
This third-generation family farm offers a great selection of pumpkins, mums, cornstalk bundles, straw bales, gourds and more. They also have a family-friendly haunted house, haunted hayride and haunted walk for a minimal cost. Through October: Visit their Facebook page to confirm hours.

Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens 
1927 E. Orange Road, Waterloo
Scarecrows, floating villages, and selfie stations are available daily. Pumpkins, mums, and hay bales for sale. Visit their website for October Sunday activities. Autumn in the Arboretum is September 23-October 22, 2023. 

Fall Events

October 5
Girl's Night Out
5:00 – 8:00 pm
Cedar Falls Downtown District
It's officially fall and it's that time to grab your favorite people for a night out in the District!  Take a stroll downtown and discover what surprises your favorite merchants have in store for you! 

October 7
Pink Ribbon Run
Open to runners and walkers with race awards and door prizes. All proceeds benefit the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation's Beyond Pink TEAM. Downtown District, Cedar Falls. 319-277-0213.

October 16-21
UNI Homecoming and Parade
It's a fun week that includes a free concert by UNI alum Justin Adams, the Homecoming 5k other activities on the UNI campus which culminates with a parade downtown Cedar Falls on Saturday morning at 10:00 am and a football game at the UNI-Dome against North Dakota at 4:00 pm in the UNI-Dome! Finish the weekend off with a Sunday UNI soccer game against Illinois State

October 27
28th Annual Under the Harvest Moon
5:30 - 10:00 pm
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
Happy hour and silent auction begin at 5:30, followed by a Moment In Thyme dinner and live auction. Reservations are required and limited in number so register soon.

Every fall there are a lot of great events taking place in the Cedar Valley so we’ll be sure to add events as we hear about them!
 

To find more Things to Do, Places to Stay and Places to Eat & Drink, stop in and see us at the Cedar Falls Visitor Center or give us a call at 319-268-4266.

We'd be happy to help!
 

Photo by The Patch