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 Admission is $6  for adults and children. This area includes games, activities, and photo ops! Fall season starts September 20 and runs through November 1, 2025. 

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! Fall season starts September 20, 2025. 

Heartland Farms
5111 Osage Road, Waterloo
Thousands of pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash plus the perfect place for fun and frolic including Spook house, Kiddie Cornfield, animals, bounce house, tug o war, hayrides, The Punkinator and the Giant Jumping Pillow! Opening the weekend of September TBA, 2025.

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. Pumpkin Patch opening day is scheduled for Saturday, October TBA, 2025. Visit their Facebook page to confirm dates and hours.

Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens 
1927 E. Orange Road, Waterloo
Autumn at the Arboretum  runs from September 26 to October 26, 2025 with the gardens coming alive with fall colors, seasonal plants, and charming scarecrows. Special family-friendly programming are Pioneer Day October 5, 2025  and Witches' Hallow on October 26, 2025; arrive early as both events are  limited to the first 100 kids. Visit their website for event details. 

Fall Events

September 28-October 4, 2025 
UNI Homecoming and Parade
It's a fun week that includes the Homecoming Bash and Sesquicentennial Celebration, the Homecoming 5k, UNI Architectural Walking Tour, and other activities on the UNI campus which culminates with a parade downtown Cedar Falls on Saturday morning at 11:00 am, a volleyball game at the McLeod Center vs Murray State at 1:00 pm, a softball game vs Rock Volley at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex at 1:00 pm, and a football game at the UNI-Dome against North Dakota at 4:00 pm!  

October 2, 2025
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 4, 2025
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.

November 8, 2025
30th 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. Registration will be open to the public on October 1 at BlackHawkCountyParks.com. 

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