Annual Events
The Cresco Area Chamber of Commerce has the pleasure to host many events and programs in the Cresco community. Some of these events are held as fundraisers or community work days and always as networking opportunities for Chamber members, while other events are celebrations that attract tourists and give our residents a reason to celebrate something special. The Chamber also partners with many non-profit organizations for other special events not listed here.
If you would like more information on how to volunteer, sponsor or to become involved in these events & programs please contact us at 563-547-3434 or email jason@howard-county.com
The NBHF is held on the last weekend in August in downtown Cresco.
It includes so many fun activities we can't possibly list them all but they include, live music, Parade, Cruise to Cresco car show, Quilt Auction, and sanctioned Steak Cook-Off contest, just to name a few.
The fest is named in honor of Dr. Norman Borlaug, who grew up on a farm southwest of Cresco and graduated from Cresco High School. He then went on to save millions of lives from starvation and is considered one of world's most important humanitarians. He is one of only seven people in the world to win the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Borlaug was honored by the State of Iowa in March of 2014 as they placed a statue of him in Statuary Hall at the US Capitol in Washington D.C.
P.S. Make sure to see the mural honoring Dr. Borlaug and celebrating the importance of agriculture when you come to town.
As a way to further honor Dr. Borlaug's legacy, in 2014 the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest hosted their first large scale food packaging event where hundreds of volunteers made over 130,000 meals that went towards local Northeast Iowa food banks along with worldwide aide.
STAFF APPRECIATION
The last full week of April Cresco celebrates Administrative Professionals Week as we recognize the important contributions that all employees make each year to our economy and workplace.
The Cresco Chamber recognizes the last Wednesday of April as Staff Appreciation Day each year by hosting a come-and-go lunch. This fun event is open to any business in the Cresco area and is a great way to celebrate our workforce.
This scholarship is given annually to Crestwood High School seniors who have the goal of returning to the Cresco area after college and use their degree to benefit our community.
CRUISE TO CRESCO CAR SHOW
The Cruise is a great tradition for car enthusiasts to take in the beautiful fall colors of Northeast Iowa.
It is now part of the successful Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest held the last Saturday in August annually.
Meet your friends and family and check out the Antiques, Street Rods, Trucks, Classics, Sports Cars, Unfinished, Alternative Energy Vehicles, Street Machines, Rat Rods, Motorcycles & Tractors.
This annual parade is part of a long standing tradition in Cresco and one of the first and original Holiday parades in northeast Iowa. The parade started in 1982 and continues to be the ceremonial kickoff to the Holiday season. It is always held on the Friday after Thanksgiving in downtown Cresco.
COURTHOUSE LIGHTING DISPLAY
With the help of many volunteers, sponsorships and grants we decorate our Courthouse square every Christmas season. Part of a long standing tradition, it draws families from many miles to take in the Christmas festivities in Cresco and helps promote our historic downtown. The Chamber also applies for grants through a variety of tourism and community foundation grants to help fund these events. If your company has grant programs available please share that information with us so that we may apply.
GOLF OUTING
Our annual golf outing is held each year at the picture perfect Cresco Country Club. It is open to any Chamber member and their guests and is a great fundraiser that helps pay for our membership programs. By sponsoring a hole you get a chance to get your message out to a collective audience. You can even have a company representative at the hole if you wish. Get a team together and come out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, do some networking and have a lot of fun along the way.
This annual event is held on the first Sunday in August and continues to be extremely popular with every age. It partners with the Cresco Area Fine Arts Show to bring a fun filled day for residents and tourists alike. The day typically includes airplanes and pilots from all over the tri-state area, airplane rides, displays and some delicious breakfast served up by your local business people.