Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest

The NBHF is held on the 4th weekend in September in downtown Cresco. It includes so many fun activities we can't possibly list them all but they include kid's games, live music, parade, flea market, farmer's market, Cruise to Cresco Car Show, Gravel Grinder Duathlon, Quilt Auction, Little Miss Cresco Contest, Geocaching, 3-on-3 Basketball Tourney, CROP Walk, Food and Fun. 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 6 people in the world to win the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

New Horizons Scholarship

This scholarship is given annually to a Crestwood High School senior who has the goal of returning to the Cresco area after college and use their degree to benefit our community.

Bowling Tournaments

Spring and fall bowling tournaments are a fun way to interact with other businesses and have a team building experience. The tournament is a fundraiser to help promote our membership programs.

Cruise to Cresco Car Show

The Cruise is a great fall 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 4th Saturday in September annually. Meet your friends and family and check out the old classics and muscle cars of the past.

Golf Outing

Our annual golf outing is held on the 3rd Wednesday in June at the 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.

Fly-In Breakfast

This annual event is held on the 1st 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 & tourists alike. The day typically includes airplanes and pilots from all over the tri-state area, airplane rides, tandem skydivers, hot air balloon displays and some delicious breakfast served up by you local business people.

Santa's Holiday Parade

This annual parade is part of a long standing tradition in Cresco and one of the 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.