Villages of Van Buren - Event Calendar

Mark Your Calendar for 2023 

• April 28-30 ~ Villages of Van Buren Virtual Auction
• May 26th ~ Villages Folk School Memorial Day Weekend BBQ 
• May 28th ~ Rollin on the River
• May 27th-28th ~ Bentonsport Flea Market & Craft Show
• Jun 2nd-4th ~ Birmingham Homecoming
• Jun 9th-11th ~ Farmington Strawberry Festival
• Jun 10th ~ Fly Van Buren
• Jun 10th ~ Pearson House Heritage Day
• Jun 17th ~ Douds Field Day
• Jun 24th-25th ~ Iowa Barn Foundation Van Buren County Barn Tour
• Jun 24th ~ Bentonsport Heritage Day
• Jul 1st ~ Bonaparte Independence Day Celebration
• Jul 4th ~ Keosauqua 4th of July Celebration
• Jul 15th-24th ~ Van Buren County Fair
• Aug 12th ~ J40 Farm Crawl
• Aug 19th-20th ~ Bike Van Buren XXXVII
• Sep 1st-2nd ~ Stockport Lions BBQ Days
• Oct 13th-15th ~ Scenic Drive Festival
• Nov 3rd ~ Villages Folk School’s Bottomless Soup Supper
• Nov 25th-Dec 31st ~ Christmas in the Villages
• Dec 1st-3rd ~ Festival of Trees

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. 

• Glass Blowing Basics with Tim Blair
• Rug Weaving Workshop (Multi-Day 5th-6th) with Teri Showman

Pre-registration is required for classes.
Register for August 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 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
• Outdoor Clay Oven Building (Multi-Day 10th-11th) with Tim Blair

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

Friday: 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: 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: 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.

2023 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.

• Leather Crafting for Beginners with Stuart Holmes
• Plein Air Pastels (Multi-Day 12th-13th) with Gin Lammert
• J40 Botanical Prints with Pat Crawford
• Rug Weaving Class with Teri Showman

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

A unique free family-fun weekend filled with Farm Tours, Local Artists, Winery, Cheese Creamery, Amish Furniture, Clay Oven Baking, Wagon Rides, Amish School Breakfast, Glass Blowing, Homemade Ice Cream, Demonstrations, and much more.

Ranch Horse Show Series - The fifth of the 2023 series. Jackpot sorting, roping, barrel racing, extreme trail course competition, wine tasting, dance, food concessions, and more. 

Camping is available on the grounds.  

2023 Ranch Horse Show Series Schedule.

Enjoy a fun-filled weekend while exploring all of the historic Villages of Van Buren. This is a casual, family-oriented bicycle ride through Van Buren County, Iowa. You'll enjoy some of the finest hospitality around with SAG support and food/drink stops along the route.

The routes wind through our historic Villages nestled amongst the rolling hillsides including the "Historic Hills Scenic Byway." Total weekend mileage is approximately 100-200 miles in two days. Although the majority of the route is on sparsely traveled paved county roads there are sections that include travel on state highway. 

>>Register Online CLOSED<<
Release of Liability Waiver

Walk-up registrations are welcome!

Registration hours: 
Saturday: 7:00am-8:30am or Sunday 7:30am-8:00am
Keosauqua City Park, 100 Van Buren St.

No bike? No problem! 
Bike Rentals Available!
Bickels Cycling & Fitness 319-754-4410

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy good food and music from the American Gothic House porch! Porchfest aka Music on the Porch is an annual music event held last Saturday in August across the United States, Canada, and beyond. Started in Ithaca, New York, in 2007, porchfest events bring local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community by performing on porches. It was founded on the idea that "what if for one day we all just listened to the music?" 

2023 Line-up:

9:30am ~ Paige Clouse

11:00am ~ Tom Shadonix

12:30pm ~ Adam Kulmatycki

2:00pm ~ Days Live Music with Lauren Ashworth

3:30pm ~ Wild Bill Willie

And on the BBQ- Gothic Town Grillers!