Honor fallen veterans and spend quality time with family and friends with these Memorial Day weekend ideas in Iowa.
Memorial Day is a time to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who serve our country. It’s easy to get swept up in the fun of a four-day weekend (for some of us!), but not only is Memorial Day a day for honoring military members, but it is specifically in remembrance of military members who died in service.
To all past and present members of the military and their family members, thank you. And if you’re in Iowa and looking for Memorial Day events, or just need a low-cost way to spend a day or two off, we’ve rounded up some fun and affordable options.
1. Gold Star Museum Memorial Day Event
When: May 25, 5 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 7105 NW 70th Ave., Johnston
Cost: Free
Early birds can swing into the Gold Star Museum in Johnston for Memorial Day activities, including educational reenactments, a blood drive, ceremonies, Camp Dodge exhibits, and a full (and free!) military-style breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The event will also feature live entertainment, a Simon Conway broadcast, and two special presentations detailing the experiences of Des Moines War Correspondent Jack Shelley. The 10 a.m. presentation will use his radio reports to navigate a breakdown of unit and broadcast locations using situation maps from WWII, while the 11 a.m. session will cover decoding war correspondent reports.
Outside of the special Memorial Day activities, visitors can also enjoy regular admission to the museum, which features military historical items and artifacts specific to Iowans. Admission to the museum is free for all visitors, but the site is located on an active military base, so you’ll need a valid photo ID to get in. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out all of the military equipment “parked” outside of the museum, including retired military tanks, WWII cargo trucks, fighting tanks, and more.
2. John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum
When: Open Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend
Where: 500 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo
Cost: Free
While not Memorial Day specific, admission to the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo is always free for the entire family. The museum is packed with history, because not only is it full of John Deere history, but it also stands at the very site of the first John Deere tractor factory in the country. There’s fun for the whole family, with plenty of equipment and interactive exhibits, including the opportunity to test your strength against real horsepower.
If you visit over Memorial Day weekend, note that the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan your visit for Friday or Saturday. Feel free to explore the museum on your own, or jump in on a daily guided tour (it’s also free!).
3. Arnolds Park Amusement Park
When: Check the calendar for exact hours
Where: 37 Lake St., Arnolds Park
Cost: $30 to $42 per person
Memorial Day weekend will mark the second official public open week of Arnolds Park Amusement Park, so, weather depending, it can be a fun way to spend some quality time together with your loved ones. The park has a long history of wholesome family fun, starting with family parties and camping on the property and eventually opening the first waterslide attraction in 1889. Today, the park has something for everyone, with 23 family and thrill rides (including a few water rides), go-karts, a maritime museum, and even boat cruises on Lake Okoboji.
If rides aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do at Arnolds—you can spend an afternoon at the beach, stroll the midway, go shopping, or even rent a glass-bottomed boat to explore the lake. We were not able to find any publicly available military discounts, but historically, the park has offered 25 percent off to service personnel for Memorial Day weekend.
4. Decorah Memorial Day Parade
When: May 25, 10 a.m.
Where: College Drive Bridge, Decorah
Cost: Free
On Memorial Day, you can join in on an observance for fallen service personnel by watching Decorah’s Memorial Day Parade featuring veterans, music, and local community groups. The parade includes a traditional stop at the College Drive Bridge to officially honor the fallen service personnel with a remembrance wreath placed into the water and a salute.
Following the parade, there is a Memorial Day program with music, a speaker, and a free community lunch for veterans and families at the All Vets Club. Parade attendees are encouraged to arrive by 9:30 a.m. to secure a parking spot and a seat to watch the parade. You can also spend time in downtown and nearby Decorah after the festivities, such as visiting the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum or exploring Dunny Springs Park and Decorah Fish Hatchery, which offers an 11-mile paved trail, fish feeding opportunities, Iowa’s second largest spring, and eagle watching.
5. Amana Colonies
When: Ongoing
Where: 622 46th Avenue, Amana
Cost: Varies
The Amana Colonies are set up as a recreation of historic German villages, complete with German restaurants, breweries, shops, artists, and cultural centers. There is so much to do and see within the Germantown that it’s almost impossible to capture in one description. I mean, where else could you find a Norway baseball museum, quilt shop, theatre, art galleries, and German beer all in one place?
There is always something to do, see, eat, drink, or experience at Amana. Admission to Amana is free, so you could spend a day just walking around and enjoying the sights, but some exhibits or specific attractions will have additional fees. To keep costs low, check out their outdoor attractions, with unpaved and paved trails for hiking, walking, or biking, and browse their restaurants, ongoing festivals, and unique artisan shops.
There are no specific Memorial Day events planned, but the weekend does kick off the Colonies’ summer music program, so you can stop into the Millstream Brewing Co. for live entertainment (and did we mention there would be tacos?).
6. Cedar Rapids Avenue of Flags and Memorial Day Tribute
When: All weekend long
Where: Cedar Memorial
Cost: Free
Starting Saturday morning, the avenues of Cedar Memorial will be lined with 1,500 American flags to pay homage to past and present military members. Memorial Day will feature a special tribute at 11 a.m. with speakers, music, and fresh and silk flowers for sale.
While you’re in town, you can also explore the many different activities and events that Cedar Rapids has to offer, such as paddleboarding or kayaking on Cedar Lake (rentals are available), walking the trail around the lake, visiting the National Czech and Slovak Museum or Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and marveling at a giant Ice Age granite boulder at Waldo’s Rock Park. You can also have hands-on fun by ziplining, or strolling the boardwalk and archaeology trail at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center.
7. Maquoketa Caves State Park
When: All weekend long
Where: 9688 Caves Rd., Maquoketa
Cost: Free
For reflective time in nature over Memorial Day weekend, Maquoketa Caves State Park has several unique natural wonders within its grounds. For instance, the park features the nation’s largest number of caves in a single state park and is home to the famous 1,100-foot-long Dancehall Cave. The caves can be explored by casual visitors or more serious enthusiasts (don’t forget your helmet flashlight!)
Other park attractions include a natural 50-foot bridge and a 17-ton balanced rock. A visitor center welcomes anyone looking to learn more about the park’s history and geology, and if you’re interested in camping for Memorial Day weekend, reservations can be made online. There’s also a children’s playground on site for the littles.
8. Tivoli Festival
When: May 22 and 23
Where: 4038 Main St, Elk Horn
Cost: Free admission
Celebrate Memorial Day weekend by visiting the largest Danish settlement in the entire U.S. at Tivoli Festival, taking place over the weekend. The Danish festival is not a tribute to veterans, but does honor Danish heritage, complete with staples such as folk dancing, Viking battles, and authentic food. Some of the delicacies you can look forward to include wood-fired pizza, pancake balls (aebleskiver), or the Danish version of the hot dog, a røde pølser.
Festival attendees can also enjoy free guided tours of an authentic 1848 Danish windmill that run every 15 minutes, Friday through Sunday. There’s also a free Danish museum with a Vikingmania and a Danish curiosities exhibit, a prairie park of 30 acres and an authentic homesteader’s cabin, and novelty events like axe throwing, a LEGO contest, and caricature art. The festival concludes Saturday night with a fireworks display.
9. Wabash Trace Nature Trail
When: All weekend long
Where: Check the map for a trailhead
Cost: Free
Gather your bikes, walking shoes, hiking boots, or your friends (furry and not) and hit the Wabash Trace Nature Trail for 63 miles of free and fresh recreation over Memorial Day weekend. The converted railroad encompasses nine towns and four counties and is entirely volunteer-funded and operated. The trail is also 100 percent wheelchair accessible and runs through the scenic Loess Hills, ancient formations formed 14,000 years ago by a special type of soil found primarily in northern China.
According to the trail’s history, parts of the trail were trekked by Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition, and remnants of former railroad towns can be found along the trail as well, prompting stories of ghosts and spirits that might still be lurking in the trees.
10. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
When: Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 900 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City
Cost: Free
Speaking of Lewis and Clark, you can visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center just a hop, skip, and a jump away in Sioux City, for completely free, and sneak in some fun education for Memorial Day weekend. The center guides visitors through Lewis and Clark’s journey with permanent and traveling interactive, hands-on exhibits, educational performers on Sundays, and a beautiful, peaceful outdoor area.
Sunday’s guest lecturer focuses on his work tracing the ethnic heritage of Iowa settlers and indigenous people, starting with the Ioway, one of the first known indigenous tribes in the area. All Sunday events are free, but donations are accepted.
11. Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery Memorial Day Celebration
When: May 26, 9 a.m.
Where: 1 N.E. 60th Ave., Des Moines
Cost: Free
The 34th annual Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery Memorial Day Service, hosted by the Memory Garden and American Legion Post 374, is a free and public memorial event for those who have lost their lives in the military. The event will feature an honorary bagpipe performance and tribute from the Iowa Patriot Guard Riders to begin the service.
Following the tribute and bagpipes, organizers honor the veterans who are buried in the Memory Garden by speaking their names aloud. The service concludes with taps and a gun salute, and attendees are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments post-service. If you plan on attending, it is advisable to pack an outdoor lawn chair to use during the service.
12. Backbone State Park
When: All weekend
Where: 1347 129th St., Dundee
Cost: Free
Iowa’s first state park, Backbone State Park, is known for its unique rock formation, “The Devil’s Backbone,” which is a very steep, narrow ridge of dark rock rising up from the ground. But fortunately, there’s nothing nefarious about a trip to the state park, where you can enjoy 21 miles of hiking or biking, rock climbing, camping, fishing, boating, or simply take in nature.
Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of the state park’s concessions, so snack breaks are no problem. You can also rent other recreation equipment, including kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, and canoes.
