Raldo Schneider - Founding Organizer

Raldo Schneider with his parents at the first annual Cedar River Festival - July 17th, 1988

The Cedar River Festival is a regional community event in the Cedar Valley that began in 1988. It was inspired by musician Larry Long’s Mississippi River Revival, an initiative where canoeists traveled down the river to raise awareness about environmental cleanup. Local folk musician and organizer Raldo Schneider helped adapt this concept to the Cedar River, combining outdoor activities with a folk music and arts festival.

The festival's history is deeply rooted in bringing together community leaders, artists, and environmental advocates from the Waterloo and Cedar Falls areas. Its core mission has always been to promote the health of the Cedar River watershed while celebrating local culture through art and live performances.

1st Annual Cedar River Festival - July 16th and 17th, 1988 - Black Hawk Park, Cedar Falls

2nd Annual Cedar River Festival - July 15th and 16th 1989 - The Rotary Reserve, Cedar Falls

3rd Annual Cedar River Festival - July 14th and 15th, 1990 - The Rotary Reserve, Cedar Falls

4th Annual Cedar River Festival - July 13th and 14th, 1991 - The Rotary Reserve, Cedar Falls

5th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

6th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

7th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

8th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

9th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

10th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

11th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

12th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

13th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

14th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

15th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

16th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

17th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

18th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

19th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

20th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

21th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

22th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

23th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

24th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

25th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

26th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

27th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

28th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

29th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

30th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

31st Annual Cedar River Festival - July

32nd Annual Cedar River Festival - July

33rd Annual Cedar River Festival - July

34th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

35th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

36th Annual Cedar River Festival - July

37th Annual Cedar River Festival - July 27th and 28th, 2024 - Gateway Park, Cedar Falls

38th Annual Cedar River Festival - July 26th and 27th, 2025 - Strugis Park, Cedar Falls

39th Annual Cedar River Festival - July 25th and 26th, 2026 - Gateway Park, Cedar Falls

Raldo Schneider (left) with performer Dave Porter and his wife at the first annual Cedar River Festival at Black Hawk Park - July 17th, 1988

Raldo Schneider and Marcy Surratt (Schneider) at the second river clean-up

T-shirt design for the 3rd annual clean-up and festival