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National Cattle Congress Eastern Iowa's Most Historic Entertainment Venues The Historic National Cattle Congress has been bringing the best in entertainment to Iowa for over 110 years.
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Join us every year in September for our Annual Fair or rent a venue for your events! With over 5 to choose from, we will work with you to make your event a success! Buddy Holly would have had his 3rd show here on Feb 9, 1959 but made his last stop in Clear Lake. We have 3 music venues including the Hippodrome, Electric Park Ballroom and Pavilion. For more information, email us, visit our website or give us a call.

📢 Important Update: Cancellation of Boo Bash Trunk or Treat & Trade Show We have made the difficult decision to cancel o...
10/16/2026

📢 Important Update: Cancellation of Boo Bash Trunk or Treat & Trade Show

We have made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming Boo Bash scheduled for October 24th due to lower-than-anticipated registered trunk hosts and trade show vendors.

We love hosting these events, but to make them as fun, lively, and engaging as possible, we usually need a minimum number of event hosts or vendors, and we unfortunately fell a little short this time around.

We are so sorry for the change of plans and hope to see you all at future NCC events! 😔

⌛ For this Throwback Thursday, we’re looking back at some of the HUGE names that performed at the Electric Park Ballroom...
10/15/2026

⌛ For this Throwback Thursday, we’re looking back at some of the HUGE names that performed at the Electric Park Ballroom over the years! 🎤 👩‍🎤

Did you know these icons performed right here in Waterloo?
- 1941 – Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (the original) 🎶
- August 4, 1957 & April 16, 1958 – Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
- 1957 – Jimmy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo. Both big bands played highly publicized, separate showcase dates brought to the venue during the regional event season
- February 7, 1958 – The Everly Brothers. A historic teen dance that set a single-night venue record with over 2,100 attendees
- July 8, 1958 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets 🎵
- 1950s & 1960s – Conway Twitty and Dion
- March 21, 1962 – Johnny Cash 🎤
- 1950s – B.B. King. King routinely played the venue's targeted blues and R&B nights during his incredibly active early touring years
- 1958-1964 – Dion, Conway Twitty and Koko Taylor 🎶
- 1963 – The Beach Boys. Booked for a massive, packed regional "Teen Dance" right as their early surf-rock singles took over the national charts
- 1971-1974 – REO Speedwagon, Blue Öyster Cult and Foghat 🎤
- October 25, 2014 – Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Flyleaf and Lacuna Coil
- February 10, 2018 – Sonny Landreth. The world-renowned slide guitarist performed a headline blues set at the Ballroom, with an opening set by Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen of The Blue Band 👩‍🎤
- February 19, 2022 – The Pimps. The Midwestern alternative rock band played a live set on the Electric Park Ballroom's stage alongside The Rumours 🎵

In 1999, the Electric Park Ballroom was inducted into the Iowa Rock Hall of Fame.

For much of our history, the National Cattle Congress and the Electric Park Ballroom have been bringing legendary orchestras, boy bands, blues musicians, heavy metal acts, and country stars to the Cedar Valley!

Which of these shows did you attend? Drop your favorite concert photos in the comments and help us grow our photo gallery! 👇

Come out this weekend to Waterloo's Largest Flea Market & Garage Sale!
10/13/2026

Come out this weekend to Waterloo's Largest Flea Market & Garage Sale!

⌛ Throwback Thursday to our very own Jeep Mania!!! In the fifth year of Jeep Mania, put on by the Cedar Valley Jeep Owne...
10/08/2026

⌛ Throwback Thursday to our very own Jeep Mania!!!

In the fifth year of Jeep Mania, put on by the Cedar Valley Jeep Owners Club, Jeep enthusiasts came from around the Cedar Valley in their modified rides and took over the NCC Grounds on the final day of the 2014 Fair! 🚙 💥

On that day, Dan Deery Motors debuted that pristine, custom 2014 JK 2-Door "Jeep Mania" Edition wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear Wranglers and a 3.5" lift. 🛠️

Melissa Crozier walked her 2010 Jeep Islander over the concrete blocks and we all watched as Nick Hodge tore up the mud track! 🪵🧗‍♂️

They powered through custom dirt obstacle courses - testing suspension limits on the concrete flex structures and rocky hills, and never hesitated, bringing a new air of competition and camaraderie to the Fair.

For the whole story, check out the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Drop your throwback photos from that weekend in the comments below! Let’s see those muddy rigs! 👇🚙

Story details and images provided by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

Valley Falls Iowa Falls

🚗 Did you miss our last PARK at the FAIR last night? Here's a look at the FANTASTIC turnout with 106 cars!!!
10/08/2026

🚗 Did you miss our last PARK at the FAIR last night? Here's a look at the FANTASTIC turnout with 106 cars!!!

Join us TONIGHT for our LAST 2026 PARK at the FAIR Season!
10/07/2026

Join us TONIGHT for our LAST 2026 PARK at the FAIR Season!

🐎 Dust flew. Spurs dropped. The broncs showed up.A look back at an unforgettable night of bronc riding with Big Bucks Pr...
10/06/2026

🐎 Dust flew. Spurs dropped. The broncs showed up.

A look back at an unforgettable night of bronc riding with Big Bucks ProRodeo at the NCC Fair. 🤠🔥

Address

257 Ansborough Avenue
Waterloo, IA
50701

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+13192347515

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