Food Festivals

Jul 28

Exploring Food Festivals Around Fort Madison, Iowa

Welcome to our guide to the delightful food festivals in and around Fort Madison, Iowa! If you're a food enthusiast or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere of community gatherings, these festivals are perfect opportunities to indulge in local flavors and traditions. Let's dig into some of the highlights:

1. Farmington Strawberry Festival If strawberries are your favorite fruit, don't miss the Farmington Strawberry Festival in Farmington, Iowa. Held in June, this festival features fresh strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream, and other strawberry-themed treats. There are also arts and crafts vendors, live music, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

2. Shuckfest This event kicks off the Sweetcorn Festival goers, taking place on the day before the event. West Point typically receives 18 tons of sweet corn, or roughly 45,000 ears. It is dropped into a large parking lot and residents prepare to shuck! All the shucking is usually completed in about 1 hour 15 minutes. That is about 600 ears per minute! Although not official, it is a widely known fact that West Point, Iowa holds the record for the fastest shucking festival town. This festival is all about celebrating the corn harvest with activities like corn shucking contests, corn eating competitions, and plenty of food vendors offering corn-themed dishes. It's a fun-filled event that showcases the agricultural heritage of the region. More Information here.

3. West Point Sweet Corn Festival promises to be a fun time for the entire family. Located just a short drive from Fort Madison, the West Point Sweet Corn Festival celebrates one of Iowa's favorite summer treats: sweet corn! Held annually in August, this event is a fantastic way to enjoy delicious corn while experiencing the charm of a small-town Iowa festival. There is always something for everyone, from arts, crafts and carnival rides to bingo in the park! Below are some events that take place every year:

• Free hot, buttered sweet corn is served throughout the festival.

• Barbequed pork chop dinners are available Thursday evening.

• Barbequed chicken dinners are available Friday through Sunday.

• The main stage provides several free entertainment events including: The queen coronation, local dance team performances, sweet corn eating contest, pee-wee drags, junior water fights, horseshoe tournament.

• There are assorted craft booths, bingo and many more items to browse in the park.

• Saturday evening musical entertainment, performs at the main stage.

• A 5k and 10k walk/run takes place Saturday morning.

• A large parade makes it's way through the streets Sunday at noon and mini-tractor pulls roll in Sunday afternoon.
4. Montrose Watermelon Festival For a refreshing summer treat, head to Montrose, Iowa, for the annual Watermelon Festival. Held in August, this event features juicy watermelon slices, seed-spitting contests, arts and crafts vendors, and live entertainment. It's a perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day and enjoy the sweetness of locally grown watermelons.

Annual Watermelon Festival Run Walk or Crawl
Watermelon Princess Pageant
There are assorted craft booths, bingo and many more items to browse in the park.
“Watermelon Wonderland” themed parade on Saturday.

5. Nauvoo Grape Festival Crossing over the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Illinois, you'll find the Nauvoo Grape Festival, held annually on Labor Day weekend. The Nauvoo Grape Festival is an annual celebration, held the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend in the Nauvoo State Park and surrounding areas of Nauvoo. This long-running festival is packed with activities including competitive events, parades, entertainment and more! The weekend also features the Festival on Wheels Car Show, one of the region's largest open air car show.

Experience the Flavors and Fun Each of these festivals offers a unique glimpse into the agricultural heritage and community spirit of the Fort Madison area. Whether you're a local resident or visiting from out of town, attending these festivals is a wonderful way to connect with the community, enjoy delicious food, and create lasting memories. Mark your calendars and get ready to indulge in the best flavors that Iowa and Illinois have to offer! Come spend a weekend with us and enjoy these events for yourself! Find lodging here!