Villages of Van Buren - Event Calendar

Have a blast with your family and friends this 4th of July!

Great fun all day for the entire family in downtown Keosauqua!

• All-you-can-eat Pancake and Sausage Breakfast from 7-10am. Freewill Donation.
• Pedal Pull (free) signup - 2:30pm. The Pedal Pull begins at 3pm.
• Kids' Games - 4pm (or after pedal pull)
• Mercer's Crazy Train - 5-9pm
• Street dance with the Harvest Band courtesy of Engage Keosauqua on Front Street - 6pm-dark
•  Amazing Firework display over the Des Moines River at dark.

Come join us in the backyard of the Mason House Inn for the $5 double feature Backyard Movie Series! Bring your chairs or blankets, plenty of bug spray, and your friends! Concessions will be available.
Showing Friday 7/5:
DESPICABLE ME - Rated PG - A man who delights in all things wicked, supervillain Gru (Chris Renaud) hatches a plan to steal the moon. Surrounded by an army of little yellow minions and his impenetrable arsenal of weapons and war machines, Gru makes ready to vanquish all who stand in his way.
DESPICABLE ME 2 - Rated PG - Now that Gru has forsaken a life of crime to raise Margo, Agnes and Edith, he's trying to figure out how to provide for his new family. As he struggles with his responsibilities as a father, the Anti-Villain League, an organization dedicated to fighting evil, comes calling. The AVL sends Gru on a mission to capture the perpetrator of a spectacular heist, for who would be better than the world's greatest ex-villain to capture the individual who seeks to usurp his power.
Showing Saturday 7/6:
STEP BROTHERS - Rated R - Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) have one thing in common: they are both lazy, unemployed leeches who still live with their parents. When Brennan's mother and Dale's father marry and move in together, it turns the overgrown boys' world upside down. Their insane rivalry and narcissism pull the new family apart, forcing them to work together to reunite their parents.
JUST FRIENDS - Rated PG13 - High school student Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) loves his best friend, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart). He finally confesses his feelings, but she tells him that she just wants to be friends, and he leaves town in shame. Ten years later, Chris is a successful record executive and involved with self-absorbed pop star Samantha James (Anna Faris). He still pines for Jamie, though, and when his plans to go to Paris for the holidays fall through, he returns to his hometown to try and win her heart

The parade will begin at 11:30am and Root Beer Floats for a freewill donation after the parade with rock painting later that day starting at 3pm till 5pm

Join Van Buren County Naturalist Chloe at Ely Ford’s Lacey Keosauqua State Park for a guided hiking tour along the river to discover the natural beauty of the bluffs and rock formations. 

This trail is gravel and in timber so proper hiking attire, sunscreen, and bug spray is recommended. This mile-long hike will have various terrain types from moderate to difficult. You'll be looking at different rock formations and discussing different rock types. 

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

Bring your lawn chair and chillax as you say cheers to the week and howdy to the weekend. Free admission. NO PRIVATE FOOD or ALCOHOL.

Variety of songs by UNEAQ, Food by Sweet 'n Saucy, free popcorn, Wine Slushies that are out of this world, great wine and an enjoyable time for sure!

Come join us in the backyard of the Mason House Inn for the $5 double feature Backyard Movie Series! Bring your chairs or blankets, plenty of bug spray, and your friends! Concessions will be available. We will not be hosting Saturday night movies this weekend!
Showing Friday 7/12:
WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Rated G - A sweet boy from a poor family dreams of finding one of five golden tickets hidden inside chocolate bar wrappers which will admit him to the eccentric and reclusive Willy Wonka's magical factory. One after another, tickets are discovered by ghastly children - but will the lad find the last remaining one and have all his dreams come true?

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Rated PG - Based on the beloved Roald Dahl tale, this comedic and fantastical film follows young Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) and his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) as they join a small group of contest winners who get to tour the magical and mysterious factory of eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp). Aided by his diminutive Oompa Loompa workers (Deep Roy), Wonka has a hidden motivation for the tour, one that he will reveal only after the children in the group show their true colors.

No need to drive to the movie theater! Bring the family out to Bentonsport Shelterhouse.

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

10am Shotgun start
2 person scramble (all men team, all women team, or man and women team)
$65 per person includes: golf cart, prizes, lunch and tee gift.
Flag prizes on every hole.

100% proceeds go to Pay It Forward Christmas Charity
Benefiting: children in Van Buren County providing coats, boots, clothing, and toys at Christmas. 

Hosted by Riverview County Club
for reservations call 319-293-3200

Pick up your North Pole Passport for the Hot Cocoa Run at any participating retail store in Farmington, Bonaparte, Bentonsport, or Keosauqua for door prizes. Have each shop initial and leave completed Passport at last shop to be entered in drawing!

Join the fun with the scavenger hunt...Rudolph Run with outside vendors, July 20th in the Historic Bentonsport Riverfront Park, 10am to 4pm.

(VENDOR INFORMATION CALL 319-592-3579, TEXT 641-233-7793 or FB message us at Historic Greef General Store) See less

Come to the 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.

The Douds Historical Preservation Association, Inc. of Douds, Iowa will observe its 50th anniversary of existence with an open house at all historical properties! 

• 1907 Douds Depot, 14168 Walnut St, in Douds (refreshments served)
• 1928 Valley No. 3 Country School, 14779-Ferris St, in Leando
• 1872 Oak Grove No. 8 Country School, 15818 Iowa Oak Grove Ave, RR Douds
• 1892 Mt. Moriah Methodist Church, 14889 120th St, RR Douds

All these Historic properties have been fully restored. Tours will be given at each facility with $50 cash prizes awarded at each facility above to a lucky winner. This is a FREE event open to the public. Bonus Tour at the 1895 Oak Grove Church, located next to Oak Grove No. 8 Country School.

Enjoy a week of fun at the Van Buren County Fair! Featuring: Fair Queen Contest, 4-H, and FFA exhibits all week long & more!

Check out >> 2024 Tentative Fair 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 a peaceful rural setting, so students can return to a simpler time and witness the importance of the artisan in village life. 

• "Paint The Fair" a plein air competition (Multi-Day)

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

Homemade ice cream for supper! 

Several flavors of ice cream will be offered along with ham and cheese sandwiches and various cakes, pies, and brownies for a free will offering.

Proceeds will be used for Lions projects.