Nevada will welcome riders on Wednesday, July 22, 2026!
To become a licensed mobile food vendor within our city limits requires 4 things:
- Proof of State of Iowa DIAL Inspection certificate
- Proof of liability insurance
- Fire department inspection
- Payment of $50 city permit fee (regardless of RAGBRAI, Downtown Market, or other town event charging a fee)
Renting a truck and hauling food already made and packaged to sell under a tent or on outdoor tables does not require fire department inspection involvement; however, by state law it does require a State of Iowa DIAL certificate and proof of insurance.
Also, just because you have paid the City’s $50 permit fee for the year, doesn’t approve you as a vendor for RAGBRAI. You must reach out to the Main Street Nevada office to see if you can vend on July 22. RAGBRAI vendors in the downtown festival area have a completely separate entrance fee. However, all mobile food vendors must be licensed through the city to participate in selling food anywhere and anytime within our city limits. So even if you have permission to set up as a mobile food vendor on someone’s property outside of the downtown area, you must still meet the City requirements (listed above) and pay the City’s permit fee.
Any unlicensed mobile food vendor in the city will be cited and asked to leave the venue area and cease sales. It is important all mobile food vendors be licensed prior to sales. We are not doing inspections the day of RAGBRAI; it is the vendor’s responsibility to be properly licensed before coming to RAGBRAI.
48.10 PENALTY. Unless another penalty is expressly provided by this chapter for any particular provision or section, violations of this chapter are simple misdemeanors subject to a fine of not more than $625.00 or may be punishable as municipal infractions subject to a civil penalty as set forth in this Code of Ordinances. Each day a municipal infraction occurs and/or is permitted to exist constitutes a separate offense. Police officers and code enforcement officers shall have the authority to issue citations for violations of this chapter, and shall have the discretion to enforce this chapter as either a simple misdemeanor or municipal infraction.
Mobile Food Vendors who are currently approved to vend in the City and have met all requirements can be found at this link: Approved mobile food vendors
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TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR RAGBRAI DAY IN NEVADA, IA
On July 22, RAGBRAI will enter Nevada from the north on S-14/West 3rd Street coming to Lincoln Highway, where riders will head east on Lincoln Highway all the way through town, enroute to Colo.
Prior to going under the railroad bridge over S-14/West 3rd Street, the northbound lane of S-14 will be closed, and bike riders will be shifted into that northbound (east) lane of the highway. The southbound (west) lane of the highway will be utilized for traffic needing to come in and out of the Knoll Ridge area.
Volunteers will be working to help direct Knoll Ridge traffic, as it will be only one lane to go in and out of that neighborhood for much of the day.
How to get from north to south and south to north in Nevada on July 22:
The City will have volunteers at 2nd Street and 10th Street who will help vehicles get across the Lincoln Highway.
During the earlier hours of the day, the preferred and possibly quicker crossing will be 10th Street (prior to noon). During the later hours (after noon), the preferred and possibly quicker crossing will be 2nd Street. But both crossings will be manned throughout the busiest time of the day (approximately 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
We expect increased traffic on 19th Street and South G Avenue as support vehicles come into town from about 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to park at SCORE and as they depart from town in the afternoon. The high school parking lots may also be used for support vehicle overflow.
July 22 Street/Parking Closures:
*S-14/West 3rd Street from Lincoln Highway to T Avenue
*Lincoln Highway from S-14 to 19th Street (all the way through town)
*Sixth Street from the north side of J Avenue to N Avenue (will close by 6 a.m. for vendors to set up)
*K Avenue from 5th to 6th Street
*Both parking lots at SCORE (where RAGBRAI support vehicles will park)
*N Avenue from 5th to 8th Street (due to City Construction Project)
Follow Nevada’s RAGBRAI Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573279347934
Planning in progress and more information coming… contact the Main Street Nevada office with questions: 515-382-6538.