Sturgis Falls Celebration draws crowds in Cedar Falls

The air fills with bubbles from the Allison's Dance Center float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Carnival-goers line up for the Ferris wheel during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Ava Eastman of Waterloo, 8, puts tokens into a carnival game during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Kids enjoy a carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Lila Martin, left, and Gia Oltrogge of Cedar Falls enjoy a carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Children walk through a house of mirrors during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival-goers line up for the Zipper ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival-goers line up for the Zipper ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Streets are full for the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Cedar Falls High School Class of 1975 members ride a float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Children race to retrieve candy thrown during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

CEDAR FALLS — This year’s Sturgis Falls Celebration drew new and veteran event goers to downtown Cedar Falls.

Reba Peterson and her friend Leah Frazer sat outside the Readers Cup coffee shop with their dogs as the annual parade marched past a block away on Main Street.

“This is my first time,” said Frazer, who recently moved to Waterloo from Des Moines. She works as a dog groomer at Shih Tzu Knot in Independence, and her poodle — Rama Noodles — sat next to her with a red, white and blue dye job.

Peterson is a regular at the festival.

“I was born and raised here, so this is one of my favorite places to go. I like the small businesses, the vendors, the little art vendors. Live music, that’s fun,” Peterson said, her Pomeranian, Lucca, in tow.

Leah Frazer, left, and her friend Reba Peterson enjoy the Sturgis Falls Celebration in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

For Peterson, this was likely her last Sturgis Falls for some time.

“We are going to be moving to Kansas City to be closer to some family down there, so I’m just enjoying everything while I can,” she said.

This year, event organizers moved much of the festivities — using the theme “Ready, Set, Summer!” — into the downtown area, using stages at River Place Plaza and Second and State streets and closing off Main Street and a portion of State Street.

Mayor Danny Laudick said the arrangement worked well.

“It’s great, the crowds are great. We had some good energy with the music last night,” Laudick said.

A passing rain storm postponed what was supposed to be the “Fireworks over the Dome” on Thursday night. Laudick said changing the date might mean a bigger turnout.

The rain date for the fireworks will be 9:40 p.m. July 2.

“This will be just in time to celebrate Independence Day but not overlap with other community fireworks shows, and hopefully with a gorgeous night for everyone to come out and enjoy the show,” Laudick said.

Sturgis Falls events continue Sunday with:

For more information and schedules, go to www.sturgisfallscf.com.

Carnival-goers line up for the Ferris wheel during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Ava Eastman of Waterloo, 8, puts tokens into a carnival game during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Kids enjoy a carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Lila Martin, left, and Gia Oltrogge of Cedar Falls enjoy a carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Children walk through a house of mirrors during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival-goers line up for the Zipper ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival-goers line up for the Zipper ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

The sun sets during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Riders enjoy the Tornado carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

The Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival goers line up for the Zipper ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Kids enjoy a carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

The sun sets during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Riders enjoy the Tornado carnival ride during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival goers line up for the Ferris wheel during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Carnival goers play games during the Sturgis Falls Celebration Carnival at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls on Friday.

The air fills with bubbles from the Allison's Dance Center float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Streets are full for the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Cedar Falls High School Class of 1975 members ride a float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Children race to retrieve candy thrown during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Waterloo West and East JROTC color guard marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

AMVETS Post 49 carries the American Flag during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The North Shore Boat Club marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

UnityPoint Health marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The John Deere Collectors Club rides during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

University of Northern Iowa athletes march during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Holiday Hoopla float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Cedar Falls Municipal Band float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Iowa Irish Fest float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Peet Junior High cheerleaders march during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Scooter's Coffee marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Cedar Falls High School Class of 1985 float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Fusion Dance & Performing Arts performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Black Hawk Area Swim Team float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Cedar Falls High School Marching Band performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

The Cedar Falls Lions Club rides its 'Bicycle Built for 10' during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

php%3Fid%3D100006291510781&layout=standard&show_faces=true&colorscheme=light&width=450&height=80” frameborder=”0” scrolling=”no” width=”320” height=”240”>

Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

Police and Courts Reporter

Scenes from the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The Cedar River in Cedar Falls is expected to crest at 92.5 feet at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Events taking place for Sturgis Falls will reroute traffic this weekend.

The 49th annual Sturgis Falls Celebration kicks off Thursday evening in city parks, the downtown district and other venues throughout Cedar Fa…

Also, the primary entertainment traditionally held at Gateway Park will shift to the Cedar Falls Historic Downtown District.