Villages of Van Buren - Event Calendar

Join the Villages Folk School at their Annual Memorial Day Weekend BBQ! 

Bring your lawn chair and join the fun on Hotel Manning's back patio - with live music and plein air painters painting outdoors!

$15 for a Brisket Plate or $12 for a Pulled Pork Plate 
 

The Keosauqua Lions will be serving an All-You-Can-Eat pancake and sausage breakfast for a free-will donation.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 25th  and Sunday May26th from 9am-4pm for Bonaparte’s City-Wide Yard Sales!

All shops will also be open! If you get hungry while in town, Simply Irresistible carries baked goods and other food items and will be open Saturday from 8-4, Bonaparte Retreat will be open for lunch Saturday and Sunday from 11-1 and Jet Stop will be open for food.

For more information, please contact City Hall at 319-592-3400.

Join Van Buren County Naturalist Chloe at Lacey Keosauqua State Park Beach House Lodge for a 2-mile guided hike.

This hike is in memory of Bob Steingraber who was an avid outdoorsman and was a Van Buren County Conservation Board Member for 30 years! This trail is gravel and timber so proper hiking attire and bug spray is recommended.

Registration is encouraged but not required.
Registration: MyCountyParks.com

Bentonsport Historic District will be having its annual Spring Flea Market and Craft Show during Memorial weekend.

Observe the local blacksmith and other demonstrations. Wine tasting by Wooden Wheel Vineyards will be there, fresh Amish baked goods (Sat. only) and local honey from the Honey War Bee Company.

There will be free horse-drawn covered wagon rides for the family to enjoy, and the shops will be open with antiques, locally made fudge, crafts, pottery, quilting, and the Indian Artifact Museum.

The park will have food vendors, antiques, wood crafts, natural soaps, lotions, holy whistles, hand-crafted furniture, garden art, and flea market items.

Enjoy a day full of fun, drinks, food, and music with the whole family at the Riverfront Amphitheater!

Free to the public!

Rev. Larry Shipley leads the Bentonsport Memorial Day Observance Program of patriotic music, songs, and memories of the soldiers who died fighting for their county.

No admission fee. Everyone is welcome.

River Valley Lodge hosts their 16th Annual Cowboy Fun Colt Starting Competition. 1st prize - $2,000 cash. Peoples Choice Award, dance, wine tasting, food, cattle sorting, and more! Colts will be offered for sale after the event.

This 3-day event features Home-cooked Meals, Car Show, Tractor Pull, Baking Contest, Parade, Tractor Show, Kids' Activities, Pedal Pull, Air Evac, Family Fun, and much more.

The Villages Folk School specializes in providing learning experiences in traditional arts and skills while drawing upon the uniqueness of each of the eleven historic Villages of Van Buren County Iowa.

Classes are held in peaceful rural settings so students can return to a simpler time and witness the importance of the artisan in village-life. Pre-registration is required for classes.

• Blacksmithing: Tong Making with Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer
• Rug Weaving Workshop (Multi-Day 1st-2nd) with Teri Showman
• Dry Point Prints with Melinda Stockwell

Pre-registration is required for classes.
Register for June Classes

Trail rides, dance, kids fun show, poker run, auction, food and more. Proceeds will benefit Camp Sunnyside. 

Special rates for primitive campsites.

Download the 2024 Schedule of Events for more information.

Have fun all weekend with Rides, Kids' Games, a Dog Show, Pioneer Museum Open House, Live Entertainment, Flea market, New Vendors, Crafters, and more.

Color Run on Saturday at Indian Lake Park and Kenny Hamburg Car Show on Sunday.

FREE Strawberries and Ice Cream 2:00-4:00pm on Saturday & Sunday in downtown Farmington.

The paddle will be held on Friday, June 7th from 10:00 am until approximately 2:00 pm starting at the Austin Park Campgrounds in Van Buren County.

Participants will stop several times to learn about the animals, history, and geology of the river. If you have your own canoe or kayak you are more than welcome to bring your own. The paddle is open to everyone, however children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.   

This is an official Des Moines River Water Trails event cosponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Van Buren County Conservation. The Des Moines River
Water Trail is one of 19 official water trails in Iowa.
Registration is REQUIRED.

Registration is required.
Registration: MyCountyParks.com

The Villages Folk School specializes in providing learning experiences in traditional arts and skills while drawing upon the uniqueness of each of the eleven historic Villages of Van Buren County, Iowa.

Classes are held in a peaceful rural setting, so students can return to a simpler time and witness the importance of the artisan in village life. 

• Rug Weaving Class with Teri Showman

Pre-registration is required for classes.
Register for June Classes

Come check it out and enjoy All-You-Can-Eat Pancakes & Sausage served by the Keosauqua Lions.
PILOTS FLYING IN, EAT FREE!
11 and older ~ $8
5-10 years old ~ $4
4 and under ~ Free
 

Two airplane rides will be given away (to be scheduled at a later date) as door prizes.

There will be kids' activities, plus all kids ages 12 and under will receive a coupon for a FREE Ice Cream Cone at Misty's Malt Shop in Keosauqua!

There is no admission fee for the Fly-in. The public is welcome to attend. Bring your lawn chair and join the fun!

Registration fee $25.00, includes map, and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places per age group divided into male/female categories. T-shirts will be ordered at the event to be distributed at a later date. Walk-ins are accepted.

Details: The route goes through Eldon, along the Des Moines River, through the park, and will end at the American Gothic House Center. All ages are welcome but minors under the age of 16 must be supervised by their parents or adults aged 18 years or older.

Join us for an educational fishing event at Lake Sugema Wildlife Area. At this family fun event everyone will learn fishing basics and fish identification.

This event will be held at South boat ramp. Kids 16 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. Limited tackle and fishing poles will be available.

Van Buren County Conservation Board will provide worms for bait, if you want to use any other bait you are encouraged to bring your own.  

The paddle will be held on Friday, June 14th from 10:00 am until approximately 2:00 pm starting at the Austin Park Campgrounds in Van Buren County.

Participants will stop several times to learn about the animals, history, and geology of the river. If you have your own canoe or kayak you are more than welcome to bring your own. The paddle is open to everyone, however children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.   

This is an official Des Moines River Water Trails event cosponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Van Buren County Conservation. The Des Moines River
Water Trail is one of 19 official water trails in Iowa.
Registration is REQUIRED.

Registration is required.
Registration: MyCountyParks.com

The Villages Folk School specializes in providing learning experiences in traditional arts and skills while drawing upon the uniqueness of each of the eleven historic Villages of Van Buren County, Iowa.

Classes are held in a peaceful rural setting, so students can return to a simpler time and witness the importance of the artisan in village life. 

• Blacksmithing: Tool Making with Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer
• Nature's Sketchbook with Jessica Kirby
• Soap Making with Tonya Kisling
• Rural Sketchers: Outdoor Painting Workshop with Jessica Kirby
• Yarn Making: Easier than you think! with Pat Crawford

Pre-registration is required for classes.
Register for June Classes

Explore various prairie plants while hiking through the Lake Sugema Wildlife area.

This mile hike will cover various terrain from moderate to difficult. This trail is grass and dirt, proper hiking attire, sunscreen, and bug spray is recommended.

Registration is encouraged but not required.
Registration: MyCountyParks.com

No need to drive to the movie theater, bring the family out to Lake Sugema Campgrounds!

Remember to bring your lawn chair, blankets, and snacks. This movie will be shown at the shelter house near the playground. Bug spray is recommended. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by a guardian.

Enjoy a great time with the family! 

Parade, kids' games, pedal pull, disc golf, cornhole, volleyball, Douds Dash, cake walk, bounce house, farm horse obstacle, tractor pulling contest & more!

If you like organized activities with a lot of fun, then come on out and join River Valley for their special events! Open to anyone who like to watch or participate.

• June 21 ~ Ron Wallace Barrel Racing Series
• June 21-23 ~ Third Wright's Donkey Sorting with barrel racing
• June 21-23 ~ River Valley Trail Challenge

Download the 2023 Schedule of Events for more information

Join Van Buren County Naturalist at Lake Sugema Wildlife Area to view the night sky. 

This guided program is about discovering different star patterns and constellations. If you have a telescope you are encouraged to bring your own.

Registration is encouraged but not required.
Registration: MyCountyParks.com

Enjoy Bentonsport as it was in the 1850s-1870s. Historic characters, wagon rides, live music, entertainers, Toe tapping tunes performed live, pre-1840s mountain men camp in riverside park.

5pm - Event closes

Bentonsport Heritage Day 2024 Vendor Application

Celebrate the 4th of July weekend in Bonaparte! Parade, fireworks, and more. There will be activities for the entire family throughout the day. 

5pm Bonaparte Independence Day Parade
10pm Fireworks on the riverfront

No need to drive to the movie theater, bring the family out to Lake Sugema Campgrounds!

Remember to bring your lawn chair, blankets, and snacks. This movie will be shown at the shelter house near the playground. Bug spray is recommended. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by a guardian.