Description

Festival is Clarion’s signature summer celebration, bringing the community together for a weekend filled with family fun, live entertainment, local pride, and hometown traditions. Held annually on the second full weekend in June, Festival welcomes residents, visitors, businesses, and community partners to celebrate everything that makes Clarion special.

Throughout the weekend, Festival features a community parade, live music and entertainment, kids activities, food vendors, shopping, contests, community events, and experiences for all ages in downtown Clarion and throughout the community. From longtime traditions to new activities each year, Festival creates opportunities for people to gather, reconnect, and make memories together.

More than just a community event, Festival reflects the spirit of Clarion — welcoming, supportive, and community-focused. Organized by the Clarion Development Alliance with the support of volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, and community organizations, Festival continues to be one of the community’s most anticipated weekend of the year.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Festival 2026 will feature:

• Community Parade
• Live Music & Entertainment
• Kids & Family Activities
• Food Vendors & Downtown Dining
• Local Shopping & Retail Specials
• Community Contests & Activities
• Community Organizations & Local Exhibits
• Festival Traditions & New Experiences Throughout the Weekend

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

June 12 & 13, 2026

Friday, June 12

Ready. Set. Color! — 5:30 PM @ Gazebo Park

Kick off festival weekend with an evening full of color and fun featuring:

5K Color Run
Food Trucks
DJ Karaoke
Glow Party

Brought to you by First Steps Early Learning Center

Live Music at The Bru — 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Live Music by Fossey
Food Truck: Wylie Coyote

Saturday, June 13

Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast: 6:00-10:00AM

Festival Parade: 10:30 AM

Festival Activities: 11:00AM - 3:00PM

Enjoy a full afternoon of festival fun including:

Vendors & shopping on Main Street
Kids Zone at Gazebo Park
Food vendors throughout Main Street & Gazebo Park

National Anthem: 11:15 AM

Performed by Tessa Yackle

Recognitions: 11:30 AM

Elvis Entertainment: 12:00PM

Pedal Pull: 1:00 PM

Located on the 200 Block of North Main Street

50/50 Raffle Drawing: 1:30 PM

Held on the Gazebo Park Stage

CDTA Dance Performances: 2:00PM

Closing Remarks

Saturday Night at The Bru — 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Live Music by Schooner Brothers
Food Truck: Black Dog BBQ

Kids Zone

Kids Zone wristbands are available for $10
Cash or Venmo accepted.

Volunteer Opportunity

Join the Red, White & Blue Crew!

We’re gearing up for this year’s festival and are on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help make it the best one yet!

Whether you’ve got a couple hours or want to be part of the action all day, we’ve got a spot for you. Volunteer opportunities include helping in the Kids Zone, selling wristbands, assisting vendors, and supporting performers throughout the event.

Open to volunteers ages 14+

Time commitments as little as 2 hours

Sign up by June 1st and receive a FREE festival volunteer t-shirt!

A big thank you to our t-shirt sponsors: Wright County Insurance, Prairie Energy Cooperative, First State Bank, Town & Country Insurance and Ewing Funeral Home for helping us make this possible!

Be part of something fun, festive, and full of community spirit!

PARADE Information

Be part of one of Clarion’s favorite traditions! Parade Begins at 10:30am.

The Festival Parade is open to everyone and no pre-registration is required. Parade lineup is first-come, first-served, with check-in and staging taking place in the high school parking lot this year.

To line up, travel down Highway 3 through White Fox Landing and continue into the high school parking lot. Volunteers will help direct entries upon arrival. The parade route will remain the same as in previous years.

We encourage businesses, organizations, clubs, community groups, families, and individuals to join in the fun and help celebrate Festival weekend!

Color Run REGISTRATION

Brought to you by: FIRST STEPS EARLY LEARNING CENTER

Join us for a fun and energizing community run/walk for all ages!

👉 REGISTER FOR THE RUN/WALK HERE
https://form.jotform.com/261234788860163

VENDOR REGISTRATION

Promote your products or services during one of Clarion’s busiest weekends.

👉 BECOME A VENDOR HERE —— Vendor Registration has closed for the 2026 event!

🛏 WHERE TO STAY

Coming from out of town for Festival? We’d love to host you in Clarion!
We recommend booking early, rooms fill quickly during event weekend.

🏨 Clarion Lodging

Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Clarion
500 Central Avenue West, Clarion, IA, 50525
📞(515) 602-6634
🌐 https://staycobblestone.com/ia/clarion

Clarion Hometown Inn
1001 Central Ave. W, Clarion, IA, United States, 50525
📞(515) 532-6647
🌐 https://eventseeker.com/venue/1383438-clarion-hometown-inn-clarion-ia

The MainStay - Airbnb
118 N Main Street Clarion, IA 50525
📞(515) 293-1790
🌐 https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1409765849172544200?uniquechareid=de5a7dcb-8b21-4a88-affa-37d4eabe76be&viralityEn-tryPoint=1&s=76

Tiny Home - Airbnb
🌐https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/38461110?check_in=2026-06-01&check_out=2026-06-06&guests=1&adults=2&s=67&unique_share_id=f5ec84d1-9b95-4d20-a577-5333de877e8e

WHERE TO EAT & SHOP

Enjoy everything our community has to offer during Festival!

From morning coffee and hometown favorites to sweet treats and unique shopping finds, Clarion’s local businesses are ready to welcome you. Whether you're visiting for the day or staying for the weekend, we invite you to explore, dine, and shop local.

👉 EXPLORE LOCAL BUSINESSES

https://www.chamberdata.net/C_memberdirectory.aspx?dbid2=iaclar