Good morning, Waterloo.

My Waterloo Days ended this morning as rain fell and workers cleaned Lincoln Park while downtown stores gained nearly $1M.

Experience Waterloo is already planning next year's festival with new ideas to keep the event fresh.

Eastern Iowa veterans are taking the 32nd Cedar Valley Honor Flight from Waterloo Regional Airport today at 6:30 a.m. to honor their service in Washington, D.C. before returning after 9 p.m. The trip will include visits to memorial sites and Arlington National Cemetery.

Locals at Lime Creek Nature Center enjoyed a free fishing day as kids and adults tested their angling skills without needing a license—an event that offered a fun introduction to fishing in a relaxed setting.

Erin, a 3-year-old cat with tiger-stripe patterns, has been at Cedar Bend Humane Society for over 140 days as she waits for a new home.

Interested adopters can contact the shelter to meet her.

Residents facing high heat are urged to use cooling stations across Waterloo including Byrnes Aquatic Center, Gbell Park Splash Pad, and Cedar Valley SportsPlex Pool as temperatures and humidity rise this week.

Officials advise drinking water and taking breaks to avoid heat exhaustion.

The first phase of demolishing Crossroads Mall continues on schedule; project leaders say the project will affect the entire mall and parking lot (clearing the way for new restaurants and retail spaces) as a traffic study for Crossroads Boulevard will help guide improvements.

Create Your Own Terrarium

4-5 p.m. — Waterloo Public Library — Registration required — Create a miniature terrarium and learn to build a self-sustaining ecosystem with live plants and decorations.

Pipe Cleaner Flower Crafting for Adults

5:30-6:30 p.m. — Waterloo Public Library — Free entry — Create a charming floral bouquet using colorful pipe cleaners.

Waterloo East JV Softball Game at Waterloo West

9:00 – 10:45 AM — Waterloo West High School — Free entry — Cheer on the junior varsity teams as they face off in a local non-conference softball matchup.

Chroma 63 Art and Music Festival

12:00 – 11:59 PM — RiverLoop Amphitheatre & Expo Plaza — Free admission — Experience Midwest art and sound with live music, art demonstrations, and food trucks.

Anastasia Musical

2-5 p.m. — Cedar Falls Community Theatre — Check event page for pricing — Experience the magic of the animated classic brought to life in a new musical adventure.

Mother Goose Storytime

10:30-11:00 a.m. — Waterloo Public Library — Free entry — A delightful storytelling session for newborns up to age two and their caregivers.

Summer of Celebrations: CF Municipal Band

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Overman Park — Free entry — Enjoy the sounds of Iowa's distinguished concert band in a beautiful park setting.

Preschool Storytime

10:30-11:00 a.m. — Waterloo Public Library — Free entry — A delightful hour of stories for preschoolers and their caregivers.

Jesup Varsity Baseball vs. Columbus Catholic

3:30-5:15 p.m. — Columbus High School — Free entry — Witness a high-energy non-conference baseball matchup between local rivals Jesup and Columbus Catholic.

Festival of Trails at the FFA Museum

4-6 p.m. — La Porte City FFA Historical and Ag Museum — Free entry — Enjoy live bluegrass, country, or folk music while kids get their faces painted.