Villages of Van Buren - Event Calendar

Lots of great deals!

Simply Irresistible: 8am-4pm
Individual Baked Goods, Breads, Coffee, Tea, Soda Antique, Vintage and Collectibles Native Iowa Wine (Wine Tasting), Christmas and Valentines items 20% off.

Holmes Leather Crafting: 9am-4pm
10% of everything in the store!

Waterfront Place: 10am-4pm
Lots of great deals on a unique variety of antiques and collectibles.

Bentonsport shops will have treats, demonstrations, door prizes and new items in all the shops.

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.

• Pottery II: Wheel Thrown (Mulit-Day) with Betty Printy
• Needle Felting with Wool with Barbara Zumdome

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

A fun-filled family-friendly event of musical entertainment and comedy! Features many local entertainers from the Tri-Sate area. 

Doors open at 5:30pm, show at 7pm.
Tickets: $10.00 in advance (age 5-adults) non refundable. 
$15.00 at the door (Limited Reserve Seating Available). Call 319-520-5385 for tickets. 

Sat Only: A soup supper will be served at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria prior to the show. A variety of soups, sandwiches and desserts will be available. Free-will donation

All proceeds from the event benefit the Bonaparte Community Improvement Association.

Friday 7-9pm: Donkeys will be numbered up and in pens. People will be able to just ride and a chance for anyone new to get their horses used to the donkey. No admission fee.

Saturday 11am-3pm: Full arena sort. All teams will be drawn, the number of rounds will be determined by the number of people. Teams of 3 people. $15 a person will enter you in all the rounds for the day. You will also need a $5 wristband if you are not camping. Sign-up will be 10-10:45am. There will be a Jackpot round at the end of the practice rounds. This will cost $5 a person and each person can enter 3 times.

Sunday 11am-3pm: Sort-n-pen. All teams will be drawn, the number of rounds will be determined by the number of people. Teams of 3 people. $15 a person will enter you in all the rounds for the day. You will also need a $5 wristband if you are not camping. Sign-up will be 10-10:45am. There will be a Jackpot round at the end of the practice rounds. This will cost $5 a person and each person can enter 3 times.

There will be year-end awards for top 3 teams presented at the final sort for both full arena and sort-n-pen.

Download the 2022 Schedule of Events

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.

• Rug Weaving Workshop (Multi-Day) with Teri Showman
• Soap Making with Heather Nelson

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

Bring the kids for some Easter fun, this Sat!
Sponsored by Farmington Art Council

Friday, April 15th
Good Friday Service at 7pm.

Sunday, April 17th
Easter Sunrise Service: 8am
All are welcome! Breakfast will follow Sunrise Service at no cost.
Church Service will be at 10am

Join the Bonaparte Fire Dept. 5-8pm for their Annual Catfish Dinner. Serving: whole catfish, potato salad and baked beans for a free will donation. Beer Tent 5pm-12am, live music 6pm-12am, prize giveaway at 8pm.

The following raffle tickets are available by calling 641-777-9764

• 1/2 Pork or 1/4 Beef (6 winners total) Proccing Included
• MS 170 Chainsaw
• BG Leaf Blower
• FS34 Trimmer

All Proceeds of the dinner & raffles are going for equipment upgrade for the Bonaparte Fire Dept.

Yum! Carry-out or Dine-in fish fillets/chicken strip supper. Meal includes macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, various desserts and beverages. Cost of the meal is $13.00. Children 6 and under eat free.

Proceed will be used to finance Birmingham Homecoming activities on June 3, 4 and 5.

Get Those Easter Baskets Ready! Kids 0-10 years.

• Keosauqua Lions Easter Egg Hunt: 9am
  Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Lodge, 22026 Iris Trail
• Douds Easter Egg Hunt: 10am
  Yates Park, 14220 Walnut St.
  Sponsored by the Bethel Church
• Cantril Easter Egg Hunt: 1pm
  Waubonsie Park, 601 W. North St.
  Sponsored by Cantril Grass Roots
• Birmingham Easter Egg Hunt: 1:30pm
  Birmingham City Park, 221 S wood St.

The first 50 kids will receive a commemorative wooden egg from the Easter Bunny!

Free Easter activities for kids: games, crafts, candy and see the Easter Bunny!

The American Gothic House will be open the entire day, including during the event.

Bring the kids for hands-on activities: pet live rabbits, make an art project, plant a seed and pose for a photo!

Don't forget to sign up the kids 0-10 years old for a FREE Easter Basket: https://forms.gle/8p48zm4dfenwfwsh9

Nondenominational service led by Hal Schnedler with pianist Mindy Kralicek providing music. Everyone is welcome to join. Regular summer church services begin 9am June 5 -September 4.

You'll love this amazing mouth-watering BBQ Chicken!  

$8 for a quarter of chicken and $12 for half a chicken. Meal includes baked beans, coleslaw and roll. Live Auction starts at 7pm.

Proceed will be used to finance Farmington Strawberry Festival activities on June 10, 11 and 12.

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.

• Leather Crafting for Beginners with Stuart Holmes
• Blacksmithing: Beginning (Multi-Day) with Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer

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

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.

• Leather Crafting for Beginners with Stuart Holmes

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

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: Beginning (Multi-Day) with Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer

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

Opening Day is coming!
The Sunrise Bakery will open for the season on Friday APRIL 29th from 9am-6pm.

Join them for free coffee and donuts on the 29th and 30th!
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-6pm.

Items up for bid will begin loading on our Facebook page at 2pm on Friday, April 29. All items will be available for bidding through Sunday, May 1 closing at 6pm. Items up for bid are donated by and will feature area businesses and services. Proceeds will help support the mission of the Villages of Van Buren, a non-profit organization.

Rules:
* Post your bid in the comments. The highest bid at 6pm Sunday wins.
* The highest bidder at 6pm on May 1st, will be contacted on the page about the win.
* The winning bidder will pick up the item at the Welcome Center no later than May 13th. (Other arrangements MAY be possible for some items. Message Villages if you need to make other arrangements.)
* The winning bidder will pay at pick-up with cash or check. (If other arrangements are made, this will include payment arrangements as well.)

Come on out and join the Birmingham Fire Dept. for a free-will donation breakfast dinner. Serving pancakes, sausage patties, biscuits & gravy and beverages.

Funds raised from this event will go towards the purchase of new communications equipment for the department and members.