* Note: In the event of inclement weather, Summerfest will move to Saturday, June 6. Follow @CityofCB on Facebook for event updates.
Get ready, Council Bluffs—Summerfest 2026 is back and bigger than ever! Join us on June 5 from 6 - 10 PM at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park for an unforgettable evening packed with live entertainment, interactive fun, and a spectacular drone show to light up the night.
This free, family-friendly event brings together thousands of attendees and community partners to celebrate the start of summer in a big way. Whether you're coming for the music, activities, or just to soak up the atmosphere, Summerfest is a can’t-miss tradition in Council Bluffs.
Activities for All Ages
There’s something for everyone at Summerfest! Enjoy a foam party and giant bubbles with the Council Bluffs Public Library, explore live art experiences with Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE), and jump into recreation activities like baseball, soccer, football, and yard games hosted by Council Bluffs Parks and Recreation and the Charles E. Lakin YMCA.
Summerfest activities also include free skateboarding activities with Skatefest Omaha, disc golf activities hosted by Nebraska Disc Golf, and a mobile exhibit from the Kiewit Luminarium. Guests can shop the Summerfest Pop-Up Market hosted by the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce featuring more than 20 local vendors while enjoying eats from more than 20 food trucks throughout the park.
Guests can also check out a mobile exhibit from the Kiewit Luminarium, shop the Summerfest Pop-Up Market hosted by the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce featuring local vendors, and catch the excitement of a NEW pop-up 3v3 soccer tournament with the CB Captains. Live music and food trucks will round out the evening!
Live Music Lineup
- Little Rooms | 6 - 6:45 PM
- Matt Cox | 7:15 - 7:45 PM
- Hector Anchondo | 8:15 - 9:30 PM
The live music lineup will keep the energy going all evening long, leading right up to the highly anticipated drone show finale.
A Sky Full of Lights: The Drone Show
As the sun sets, get ready for the highlight of the night! Around 9:30 PM, Fantasy Drone Shows will launch a 300-drone, 20-minute show that will dazzle the sky in a way you’ve never seen before.
Fuel the Fun
Keep the fun going and refuel with amazing local vendors. A record number of 22 food trucks will be on hand, including:
- 221 Grill and Catering
- Bailey & Coopers
- Barajas
- Boxer BBW
- C’est la Crepe Food Traile
- Duane’s BBQ
- Frankie’s Shaved Ice
- HippoHot
- The Jerky Workshop
- Kona Ice
- Made it Myself Shaved Ice
- Pretzels on the Go
- Spirits of the Faire
- Streetside Food
- Sugar Mountain
- Tikka Talk
- Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
- Tropical Sno
- Turner’s Tube Steaks
- Twin Happiness
- Twisted Hitch
- Zimm’s Kettle Korn
Plan Your Perfect Summerfest Night
Make the most of your evening at the park by bringing lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, and water bottles! Dogs are welcome (just keep them leashed and cleaned up after)!
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, water bottles, and snacks to enjoy throughout the evening. Dogs are welcome as long as they remain leashed, cleaned up after, and well-behaved.
For parking, more than 700 parking spaces are available in the parking garage at 4250 River’s Edge Parkway. An additional 1,000+ spaces are available near Stir Cove and Dodge Riverside Golf Club at Harrah’s Boulevard and River Edge Service Road. Guests can also bike or walk to Summerfest using the local trail system or the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, and bicycle parking will be available on site. Limited street parking is also available in nearby neighborhoods, so attendees should plan ahead and expect traffic delays due to large crowds.
Kick Off Summer in CB
Admission to Summerfest is completely free, thanks to amazing community partners including the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa West Foundation, Back to the River, and many more who make this event possible. If weather doesn’t cooperate, Summerfest will move to Saturday, June 6!
Gather your friends, bring the family, and get ready for a night full of energy, connection, and unforgettable moments along the riverfront. From the first note of music to the final glow of the drone show, this is your chance to experience the very best of Council Bluffs in one incredible evening!
