
Best time to visit
126 things to do in Midwest

Snake Alley Criterium
Burlington, Iowa, hosts one of the most challenging races on one of the most crooked streets in the world

Wisconsin Cranberry Harvest
Cranberry Country welcomes everyone to visit the harvest celebrations

International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship
Anyone can take part in this competition, which promises great fun for the whole family

Snow Rollers
These huge white 'doughnuts' surely raise questions. Like, what is a 'snow roller' and where does it come from?

Pictured Rocks Winter Hike
The area of Pictured Rocks in Michigan during the winter period turns into a real ice and snow masterpiece

Cicada Mania
A billionth population of American cicadas come out during final weeks in their lives to rejoice in a huge mating par

Sandhill Crane Migration
Half a million feathered travellers take a break during their spring migration to feed and rest at the Platte River

Total Solar Eclipse
Some spots on Earth wait for the moment of solar totality for hundreds or even thousands of years. To capture a spectacle, you have to be truly lucky

Holland Tulip Time Festival
Fun and flowers! Skim the cream off in Holland during the tulip festival

Dublin Irish Festival
Go experience the Irish attitude at the largest three-day Irish festival in the world

Chicago International Film Festival
The longest-running competitive film festival in the USA

Minnesota State Fair
Witness the largest state fair in the USA by daily attendance

Iowa State Fair
Feel the spirit of the Midwest at one of the oldest and best-known state fairs in the USA

Wisconsin State Fair
Get on a roller coaster and snack on corndogs in the town of West Allis

Indiana State Fair
A major Midwestern entertainment attracting a million people every year

Nebraska State Fair
Visit the fair from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" movie and enjoy Midwestern style entertainment

Missouri State Fair
The annual showcase of agriculture also offers fun for the whole family

Michigan State Fair
See the second oldest state fair in the United States

DuQuoin State Fair
One of the nation's best agricultural events is full of fun experiences

North Dakota State Fair
The largest event in the state draws people with country music, fun rides and competitions

South Dakota State Fair
Experience the charm of the Midwest at this traditional state fair

Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption
A massive religious shrine built by a priest contains thousands of rare stones and minerals and is considered the largest humanmade grotto in the world

Kitch-Iti-Kipi (The Big Spring)
Michigan’s largest freshwater spring is a geological phenomenon and a great fishing spot

Coney Island’s Nights of Lights
A popular drive-through holiday lights display in Cincinnati, Ohio

Wayne County Lightfest
A Christmas fantasy drive-through not far from Detroit

PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo
Voted #1 Zoo Lights in the country as a favourite Ohio family holiday tradition

Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights
One of the largest drive-through holiday displays in Ohio

East Peoria Festival of Lights
One of the biggest and brightest holiday events in Illinois

Dragon Lights Columbus
A magical annual show held in the Ohio Expo Center

Saint Paul Winter Carnival
One of the oldest and most popular annual festivals in Minnesota

Plymouth Ice Festival
Skilfully carved ice sculptures line the streets of downtown Plymouth

Lake Geneva Winterfest
A place to celebrate art, winter, and have fun with over a dozen themed events in Wisconsin

Zehnder’s Snowfest
One of the top snow sculpting events in North America held in Frankenmuth, MI since 1990

MTU Winter Carnival
One of the largest annual winter festivals in the U.S. takes place on the campus of the Michigan Tech University

Powell Gardens Festival of Lights
A popular holiday attraction in Kansas City area, Missouri

Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Garden
A magical Christmas-themed garden keeps spirits up during the holidays in east Wisconsin

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
This festive seasonal illumination brightens the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Blue Jacket Fantasy of Lights
Northeast Indiana’s best winter holiday event

The Abominable Snow Race
Premier winter obstacle course race in Wisconsin held in Lake Geneva

Stillwater Lumberjack Days
Celebration of the people, history and heritage of Minnesota

University of Okoboji Winter Games
Winter festival with lots of fun games, fireworks, and a polar plunge in Okoboji, Iowa

Electric Forest
Join in the forest family and feel the vibes and energy of this exuberant music festival in Rothbury, Michigan

Pictured Rocks Kayaking
Paddle along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the waters of Lake Superior in Michigan

Country Concert
One of the best summer country events in Ohio and all of the Midwest

Morton Pumpkin Festival
The "Pumpkin capital of the world" celebrates the harvest season

U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette, MI
A large event for beer enthusiasts in Michigan

Michigan Summer Beer Festival
A large outdoor beer brewers event near Detroit

Apple Festival of Kendallville
Go back in time to the 1800s and try delicious treats made of apples

Beaverdale Fall Festival
One of the most popular community festivals in Des Moines, Iowa

AppleJack Festival
Celebrate the kickoff of the apple harvest season in Nebraska

Barberton Mum Festival
Celebrate fall watching millions of blooms at a scenic park

Historic Irvington Halloween Festival
The oldest and one of the largest Halloween festivals in the United States

Boats and Bluegrass Festival
An outdoor festival on the banks of the Mississippi

Barnesville Pumpkin Festival
Giant pumpkins highlight the fall harvest celebration

Ohio Renaissance Festival
Find yourself in a 16th-century English village

Ohio Bike Week
The largest motorcycle rally of the Midwest and rock concerts roll out in Sandusky on the shores of Lake Erie

Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Go back in time to the 16th century and meet King Henry VIII and his royal court

Kansas City Irish Fest
One of the best Irish Festivals of the Midwest

Kansas City FilmFest International
The oldest and largest festivals in the Kansas City metro area

Kansas City Air Show
World-class aerobatic performances in the heart of America

Western Farm Show
The best event for dairy farmers and cattle ranchers in Kansas City

Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
Sternwheeler races and other fun activities to watch

KC Beer Fest
A popular craft beer festival at The Kansas City Power & Light District

Pirate Family Daze
A family-friendly event with a nautical and pirate theme in Port Washington

Annunciation Greek Festival
Lots of delicious food and excellent music in Kansas City, Missouri

Twins Days Festival
The world's biggest gathering of twins in the city founded by twins—Twinsburg

Dublin, Ohio, 4th of July Fireworks, Parades & Shows
The suburb of Columbus is famous for its Independence Day celebration with an Irish twist

Wisconsin Dells Kayaking
Visit a favorite family vacation destination in Wisconsin

Warrens Cranberry Festival
The largest cranberry celebration in the world

Summerfest
The giant music festival in Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan

Japanese Festival
One of the largest and oldest Japanese festivals in the United States

Columbus Pride Festival and Parade
One of the largest pride festivals in the Midwest

Woodward Dream Cruise
The largest one-day classic car event in the world, drawing over 1-million people and 40,000 classic cars each year

Arlington Million
A perfect opportunity to enjoy live racing, entertainment, and fancy group outings

Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival
America's largest festival combining air show and hot air balloons

Kings Island WinterFest
One of the best Christmas festivals in the Cincinnati area

Allstate Hot Chocolate Run
The sweetest run in the world takes over the United States from coast to coast

St.Louis Mardi Gras (Soulard Mardi Gras)
The second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race
The second oldest hot-air balloon race in the United States

Marshall County Blueberry Festival
One of the largest annual celebrations in Plymouth, Indiana

World Cow Chip Throwing Contest
Find similarities between ultimate frisbee and cow dung tossing

National Balloon Classic
The premier ballooning festival in Iowa held since the 1970s

Saint Louis 4th of July Fireworks, Parade & Concert
The largest America's birthday party of the Midwest

Ice Shards on the Great Lakes
The ice cover gets shattered to knife-sharp pieces as spring takes over winter

Fall Colors in Iowa
Warm days and cool nights, very few insects, and the vibrant autumn colors make the fall season one of the best times in Iowa

Christmas Lights
Get dazzled by millions of magical lights in Branson

Kansas City Christmas Lights
Downtown KC looks the best during the holiday season

New Year's Eve in Kansas City
Countdown bashes, gourmet food, and live music to mark the most festive night of the year

Chinese New Year in Columbus
Colorful annual festivities at Ohio State University and around Columbus

Baltimore Oriole
Attracted by fruits and nectar, these birds are often spotted in the gardens

Fall Foliage
For four to six weeks every year, Branson becomes the epicenter of Ozark's fall foliage observation

Halloween in St. Louis: Events, Fests & Haunted Houses
Explore all the haunted places in historic St. Louis

Planet Comicon Kansas City
The largest popular culture convention in the region

Festival of the Little Hills
The premier arts and crafts show of the Midwest

Happy Harry's Ribfest
A 4-day grand-scale festival of food, music, and entertainment in Fargo, North Dakota

Missouri Fall Colors
Show Me State showcases amber, golden, and bronze shades in the fall

Central Missouri Renaissance Festival
Get a glimpse of what people lived like in the medieval times

Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival
Revel in pumpkins at the annual celebration hosted by a small village in Missouri

Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival
Indulge in the freshly made delectable spread and live entertainment

Bluffwoods Renaissance Festival
A chance to step back in time, immerse in history and create lasting memories

North Dakota Renaissance Faire
Plenty of entertainment, historic musical acts, and medieval games of skill and strength

St Louis Memorial Day Weekend Events
A gathering with family and friends to honor fallen heroes

Kansas City Memorial Day Weekend Parade, Events, Fireworks
Celebration at the Station and other signature KC gatherings

Uptown Art Fair
A vibrant celebration of Minneapolis' unconventional art scene in the bustling district of Uptown

Krampus in Milwaukee
Join thrilling Christmas revelry in the Brew City, where fear meets fun

Krampus in Columbus
Experience the thrill and cheer of German folklore in the heart of the American Midwest