Family events in Waterloo, IA

Panther Visit Day offers a broad introduction to UNI at Maucker Union - Central Ballroom ABC. High school and transfer students, together with their families, can explore academic programs, talk with current students, faculty, and staff, and get straightforward details about admissions, scholarships and financial aid. The experience also covers campus involvement and student support services, giving participants a clear picture of campus life and next steps.

Music Together offers a research-grounded music and movement experience for children from birth through kindergarten and the adults who care for them. The curriculum supports emerging language, cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, and social-emotional growth, while nurturing creativity, self-expression, and confidence. Classes are developmentally appropriate and focus on building basic music competence, helping little ones learn to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm in a relaxed, playful setting. It is a family music class, with caregivers modeling joyful music-making as children participate in ways that suit them. Sessions feature award-winning songs, including selections from a variety of cultures, and explore a wide range of tonalities, genres, and meters, even asymmetric patterns, inviting plenty of singing, dancing, twirling, and jamming. Class size is limited to 12 enrolled children.

Bring out your inner kid! During this event, the oldest person to ride Lost Soul Falls between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM will receive a lifetime season pass. Enjoy the waterpark and see if you can claim the prize.

Live to 9 is a community concert series happening in downtown Cedar Falls at River Place Plaza. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live music, along with the local food and drink options nearby, all during summer evenings. The page lists The Ice Breakers as the featured band for this date.

Now in its fourth summer, the Gallagher Bluedorn Block Party Series takes a portable stage to neighborhoods across the Cedar Valley, offering eight free outdoor concerts that feature local artists, complete with sound and lighting. Support from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration, GreenState Credit Union, People's Savings Bank, and the Village Cooperative of Cedar Falls makes the series possible. Their partnership helps deliver free live music, build community connections, and provide accessible arts experiences in neighborhoods across the Cedar Valley all summer.

Catch the Eau Claire Express as they take on the Waterloo Bucks for a Northwoods League baseball game. The matchup is scheduled for an evening at Waterloo Riverfront Stadium.

Explore the world of bumblebees on a guided walk that highlights the science behind these vital pollinators. Participants observe careful catch and release demonstrations and learn the methods researchers use before bees are returned unharmed. The route is short and easygoing, with a relaxed pace and plenty of time for questions, and the experience wraps up when all questions have been answered. To keep it personal, attendance is limited to a single family or group. Registration is required.

Make the most of your summer with the final Daddy and Me day of the season at the waterpark. Dads can bring the kids for a special $19.50 admission for yourself, and enjoy a full day of fun in the park together. The event runs from late morning through early evening.

This guided bumblebee expedition in the gardens highlights the work of field researchers. Watch how bees are carefully captured for study, learn about the steps involved in collecting information, and see them released unharmed. The route is short and the pace is relaxed, with plenty of time for questions. Attendance is capped at 12 participants. Included with garden admission or membership. Advance registration is required.

The NCC Junior Ambassadors Club turns the Hippodrome into a bi-weekly hub of farm discovery for children ages 3 to 13. Each session introduces new, hands-on experiences that may include the Sunrise Petting Zoo, butter making, and activities focused on honeybees and poultry. Kids can also take part in a contest with prizes. Admission is $5 per child, while adults and chaperones attend at no cost. Lunch is provided free for participating children, and is available to adults and chaperones for $5. Activities are held indoors at the Hippodrome, so weather will not interrupt the fun. A large, free parking lot accommodates buses, vans, and cars. Pre-registration is encouraged. The club extends thanks to its community partners and sponsors.

The Waverly Junior City Championship is a junior golf tournament held at the Waverly Municipal Golf Course. It will be played in a stroke play format. Registration opens July 6 and closes August 11, with registration available via Golf Genius.

Starbeck's Smokehouse hosts a Thursday evening of family friendly entertainment. The show starts with music bingo, where players can compete for prizes, then the mic opens for karaoke to carry the fun through the rest of the night.