Villages of Van Buren - Event Calendar

River Valley Lodge hosts their 15th 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.

Download Event Schedule

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 Class with Teri Showman
• Needle Felting With Wool with Barbara Zumdome 

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

Enjoy a day of great music, fun, and fellowship at no charge, no donation. Dinner served (on-site) at 5:30pm with meat and drinks provided, along with homemade ice cream. Bring a covered dish to share. 

Have fun all weekend with Carnival Rides, Kids Games, 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.

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

Download the 2022 Schedule of Events

The race will start at the American Gothic House Center, run or walk down the hill and through the Wapello County Regional Fair Grounds to the Des Moines River before heading back through town and up the American Gothic House Center trail. 

Registration fee by May 20th is $20.00 and participants will be guaranteed a T-shirt to be given on the day of the race.

Registration fee after May 20th will be $25.00.

Registration form can be found by clicking HERE.

Note: Registration form needs to be filled out and sent/brought to the American Gothic House Center with the fee on or before the race even if you register by email.

Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd per age group.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an awesome band The Boys! 

$5 cover - must be 21 to enter

Ranch Horse Show Series - The Third of the 2022 series. Jackpot sorting, roping, barrel racing, extreme trail course competition, dance, food concessions, and more. Camping is available on the grounds.  

Download the 2022 Schedule of Events

Enjoy a great weekend with the family! 

Parade, kids' games, pedal pull, farm horse obstacle tractor pulling contest & more!

Download Event Schedule

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: Tool Making with Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer
• Compact Yarn Making with Pat Crawford
• Nature's Sketchbook with Jessica Kirby

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.

Register to win a 30-minute airplane ride (to be scheduled at a time of your choosing.) Two winners, need not be present to win.

All pilots flying in, eat FREE!

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

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.

• Rural Sketchers: Outdoor Painting Workshop with Jessica Kirby

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

Everyone is invited to the 175th Anniversary Celebration. Parking is available in the empty lot across from the Shafer home. Visitors may enter through the front door, view the entire first floor and exit onto the back deck where refreshments will be served. Visitors will enjoy artifacts from the home’s early days, a copy of the blueprint made in 1934, and informal stories of the restoration work and about the people who lived there.

Because the home is a bed and breakfast business, the upstairs will be closed during the event. Those who would like to see the upstairs are encouraged to view those rooms on the bed and breakfast website: BentonsportB&B.com.

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.

Download the 2022 Schedule of Events

Step back in time to the early American frontier pre-1840s. Demonstrators showing crafts and skills from the early American frontier. Vendors selling period items will be on site. Free admission, fun and entertaining for the whole family.

It's been 50 years since the Rose Garden was planted inside the millpond and Brown Mill foundations. 

Enjoy music, refreshments and all beauty the Rose Garden has to offer!