CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – October 13, 2026 – Made in Iowa is excited to kick off a new season with its Fall Market & Scarecrow Festival, returning October 17–18 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids.

With more than 150 booths filled with Iowa makers, artists, bakers, small businesses and creative entrepreneurs, shoppers can spend the weekend discovering something new around every corner.

But this weekend is about more than shopping.

Made in Iowa is once again partnering with Together We Achieve for a community food drive. Guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item — or two! When you do, you’ll receive tickets to enter drawings for 46 vendor-donated door prizes throughout the weekend. 46 of our participating vendors have donated items to help make the food drive even more fun for shoppers.

A schedule of drawing times and locations will be available onsite, so guests can plan their shopping and ensure they are present when the prizes are drawn.

“We love finding ways to make our markets about more than just shopping,” says Cynthia Freese, co-founder of Made in Iowa. “Our vendors are incredibly generous, and partnering with Together We Achieve gives everyone who comes through the door an opportunity to help our community while having a great weekend.”

And then there are the scarecrows!

More than 50 businesses, organizations and families will compete for prizes in this year’s Scarecrow Festival, bringing their creativity and fall spirit to Hawkeye Downs.

This year, six members of the community will serve as judges, taking on the difficult job of selecting the winning scarecrow creations. With more than 50 entries, it won’t be an easy task!

Guitar Tom will also be back on Saturday, adding live music to the weekend atmosphere.

Families are encouraged to make a day of it. Bring your friends, bring the kids and bring your camera. Made in Iowa will have multiple fall-themed selfie stations throughout the event, giving families and friends plenty of opportunities to capture some fun fall photos.

Free parking makes it easy to bring the whole crew and spend the day exploring.

FALL MARKET & SCARECROW FESTIVAL

October 17–18
10 a.m.–3 p.m. both days
Hawkeye Downs – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Admission: $5 | Children 12 and under free
Free parking

Come Saturday and get your hand stamped so you can return Sunday at no additional admission charge.

Shop more than 150 booths. Meet local makers and small businesses. Check out more than 50 creative scarecrow entries. Enjoy live music. Take some fall photos. Bring a food donation and enter to win one of 40 vendor-donated prizes.

Made in Iowa would like to extend a special thank-you to Pure Air Technologies, our Main Event Sponsor, and to Hills Bank for providing prizes for the Scarecrow Festival competition. Their support helps us do more for our vendors, our guests and our community, while bringing everyone together for a weekend of shopping, creativity and fun.

Most of all, come spend the weekend supporting the small businesses and creative people who make Iowa such a great place to live, work and shop.

Made in Iowa is back — and we’re ready for a new season!