Best festival
TIE: Iowa City Jazz Festival and
Iowa Arts Festival
This year, two local events tied for best festival. The Iowa Arts Festival is Iowa City’s unofficial start to the summer, kicking off with music, food, and art vendors from all over Iowa on the first weekend in June. The Toyota-Scion of Iowa City Jazz Festival brings a wide variety of national, regional and local jazz acts to downtown. It highlights traditional jazz acts as well as cutting edge bands on the first weekend in July. More than 25,000 patrons attend each event, both of which are put on by the city of Iowa's City's Summer of the Arts.
What voters said:
- Jazz Fest: “Attracts an international audience and recognition to Iowa City.”
- Jazz Fest: “Wonderful music, good food!”
- Arts Festival: “Always the best, never disappoints.”
- Arts Festival: “Well-organized and something for everyone.”
Runners-up: FRYfest, Iowa Arts Festival, Jazz Fest, Reginal Fall Fun Festival
Last year’s winner: Iowa City Jazz Festival