Festivals

Rathbun Country Music Theater
Dates: April –October, Saturday Evenings, 8 p.m.
Location: One Mile North of the Rathbun Dam Admission $8 adults, Children 5 thru 11 $3.
Contact 660-344-2310.
Website: www.nemr.net/~wdickers/index.html
Iowa’s longest running country music show features family style entertainment. Shows feature house band with comedian and weekly guests.

Night Sky Opry
First Saturday of each month April through December, except July and September. July and September are second Saturday.
7 p.m. showtime, Simon Estes Auditorium, Centerville
Admission fee: $10
Contact: 641-799-9129
Web site: www.nightskyopry.com
Branson style county music entertainment. Shows include special guests and comedy. Where the County Music Stars in Iowa Shine!

Fun Nite and Farmer’s Market
Dates: May-August, Every Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Moravia Square
Free entertainment, food and crafts.

Friday Trolley Tours
Dates: May-September, Every Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Location: Leaving from The Continental Hotel
Friday Trolley Tours travel to historic and scenic locations throughout the county and including Courthouse Square District, Mansions on Drake Avenue, the Levee and Historic Churches. Narrative excursion is sponsored by Historic Preservation Corporation.
Admission fee: $2.

Firemen’s Carnival
Date: May
Location: Historic Courthouse Square District
Carnival rides and games.

Crappie Masters Team Tournament Trail
Date: May 19
Location: Rathbun Lake
Fishing tournament.
Web site: www.crappiemasters.net

Centerville Iowa Heritage & Wine Festival
Date: June 9 - 3:00pm to 9 pm
Several Iowa wineries plus local basement wine makers will be featured at the Centerville Iowa Heritage and Wine Festival! There will be many wine related events including grape stomping, wine pairing, wine etiquette cooking with wine and more!
Several choices of gourmet food, breads, and cheeses will be available for festival-goers, as well as gourmet coffees.
Fine art also takes center stage as many reknown artists will display their works and a fine art auction will be held. Hands-on art activities include 'Sketch-a-nude' and 'Make-a-Mosaic' where guests to the festival will be able to try their hand at fine art!
Live music of many genres will be featured throughout the festival including jazz, salsa, and bluegrass.
Stories about Appanoose County's past will be shared in the Heritage Tent, as storytellers and singers will provide guests with entertainment throughout the event.
Come to Southern Iowa on June 9 to enjoy a day of wine, food and culture!

Centerville Farmer’s Market
Dates: June-October, Every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Every Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m.,
Location: Historic Courthouse Square District.
The Farmer’s Markets specialize in fresh produce, crafts, baked goods, jams and jellies, honey, ethnic foods. Weekly entertainment.

Municipal Band Concerts
Dates: June-July, 7:00 p.m., Historic Courthouse Square District
Admission: Free.
90-minute concert featuring local musicians and a weekly theme.

Appanoose County Train Rides
Dates: July 7 & 8
Departure times 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.. on Sunday.    Moravia Wabash Depot.
Travel the historic Wabash Line on a 90-minute excursion in an open-air passenger car.
Adults $10; children 5-12 $6.
Reservations recommended 800-611-3800.

Children’s Arts Festival & Missoula Children's Theatre presenting "Jungle Book"
Date: June 30
Location: Historic Courthouse District
This regional event features children performing dance, choral and instrumental music and more than 200 exhibits of children’s art on display. Children also participate in completing crafts such as kite building, origami, jewelry making and others. The afternoon is concluded with the Missoula Children’s Theatre Production of “Robin Hood” at the Simon Estes Auditorium.

Appanoose County Fair
Date: July 16-21
Location: Fairgrounds, Centerville
Exhibits, daily entertainment including music, rodeo, demolition derby. Daily and Weekly Admission.

CroatianFest
Date: July 28
Location: KC Hall in Centerville.
Ethnic food, dancing and music. Polka Mass at St. Mary’s Church. Celebration of area residents’ Croatian heritage.

SummerSplash at Rathbun Lake
Date: July 28
Location: Rathbun Lake Dedication Site.
Rathbun Lake’s premiere concert event. Bands, food, softball, volleyball, car show, RV show.
Admission $5. Under 6 free.

Moravia Fall Festival
Date: Labor Day Weekend
Location: Moravia
Entertainment, carnival rides, parade.

Moulton Jamboree
Date: Sept. 7-9
Location: Moulton
Entertainment, carnival rides, parade.

Pancake Day
Date: Sept. 29
Location: Historic Courthouse District, Centerville
One of the state’s largest parades with hundreds of entries, including marching bands, floats, horses and other unique entries. Day-long entertainment. Food, kids activities and FREE pancakes.
Free admission.

Third Annual Haunted History Tour
Date: October 27, 6:30 p.m.
Location: Oakland Cemetery
Take a walking tour through the cemetery along a luminary lit pathway to visit the graves of a few of our country’s most interesting people. Re-enactors will re-tell the tales of these personalities of the past. Presented by the Appanoose County Historical Society.

Holiday Sampler Open House
Date: December 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Retail Stores, Centerville
A truly-unique holiday adventure. Sample holiday treats at area merchants and collect the treasured recipes. Browse through the many specialty shops for perfect holiday gifts.

Holiday Stroll and Live Nativity Pageant
Date: December 8, 4:30-8 p.m.
Live window scenes from 5 to 7 p.m.
Followed by a reenactment of the birth Christ featuring live animals, a choir of angels and children’s choir.

Courthouse Art Show
Date: December 13, 6-8 p.m
Location: Appanoose County Courthouse
Artwork by local adult and student artists can be viewed in the beautifully decorated Courthouse. Paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography will all be on display. Carols are led by the local barbershop quartet and refreshments are provided.

Event:	Selma Jam
Date:	Monthly
Location:	Selma
Description:	Old fashioned jam session. Bring your instrument and join in. Potluck dinner @ noon, jam at 1pm
Contact:	For more information: 641-936-4691
Event:	Bentonsport Flea Market & Craft Show
Date:	May 27-29
Location:	Bentonsport National Historic District
Description:	Crafts, antiques, music & a variety of food vendors & more. Hrs: 10-5.
Contact:	Greef General Store: 319-592-3579
Web Site:	http://bentonsport.com
Event:	Great Southern Iowa Tractor Ride
Date:	June 8-9
Location:	Van Buren County
Description:	Scenic tractor ride through Southeast Iowa , parade, tractors on display at the Van Buren Co. Fairgrounds.
Contact:	For Information: 641-933-9962
Event:	Farmington Strawberry Festival
Date:	June 10-11
Location:	Farmington
Description:	Family oriented event. Highlights include arts, crafts & flea market, quilt and flower show, car show, free entertainment and free strawberries and ice cream each day.
Contact:	For information: 319-878-3313

Event:	Garden Tour & Flower Show
Date:	June 10
Location:	Bonaparte
Description:	Tour at your leisure a variety of local gardens & participate by viewing and voting at the flower show. Tickets available at the Opera House.
Contact:	For information: 319-592-3400
Web Site:	http://www.bonaparte-iowa.com
Email:	mainstreet@bonaparte-iowa.com
Event:	Birmingham Homecoming
Date:	June 16-18
Location:	Birmingham
Description:	Parade, kids pedal pull, carnival,crafts, bingo, car show, entertainment, good food & more.
Contact:	Info: 319-498-4437

Event:	Fly Van Buren
Date:	June 17
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Fly-in breakfast 6-10 am (pilots eat free), airplane rides, airplanes on display, no admission, everyone welcome.
Contact:	For information: 800-868-7822
Email:	info@villagesofvanburen.com
Event:	Bonaparte Street Faire
Date:	June 24-25
Location:	Bonaparte
Description:	Spring outdoor flea market & craft show. Antiques, collectibles, crafts, jewelry, and much more. Held in the downtown area. Entertainment including musicians, magicians, jugglers, clowns, etc. as well during the weekend.
Contact:	For information: 319-592-3400
Web Site:	http://www.bonaparte-iowa.com

Event:	Buckskinner's Rendezvous
Date:	June 24-25
Location:	Bentonsport
Description:	Pre-1840 rendezvous. Traders, family camps, contests of skill. Black powder shoot, food and Saturday night's lighting of the historic iron bridge.
Contact:	Doc Stogdill at 641-675-3220
Email:	jllinda@netins.net

Event:	Douds Field Day
Date:	June 24
Location:	Douds
Description:	Pancake breakfast, parade, kids games,pedal pull,all day & evening entertainment, flea market,food,raffle.
Contact:	For information: 641-936-4687

Event:	Van Buren County Barn Tour
Date:	June 29
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Enjoy a guided tour of unique and historic barns in Van Buren County. Transportation provided in an air-conditioned motorcoach. Lunch, snacks, commemorative gift, reference guide and map included. Pre-registration required.
Contact:	For reservations contact: Deb at Community First Bank 319-293-3794 or 888-226-5232
Web Site:	http://www.800-tourvbc.com/barntour.htm
Email:	debc@cfirst.com
Event:	Keosauqua Lions 4th of July Celebration
Date:	July 4
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Games, music,food and spectacular fireworks held along the river in downtown Keosauqua. Street dance immediately following the fireworks, sponsored by the Keosauqua Chamber.

Event:	Canoe Van Buren
Date:	July 8-9
Location:	Selma
Description:	Casual float down the scenic Des Moines River through the historic river villages. Several rest stops with hospitality & refreshments.
Contact:	Info: 800-868-7822
Web Site:	http://800-tourvbc.com/canoe_vb.htm
Email:	info@villagesofvanburen.com
Event:	Van Buren County Fair
Date:	July 9-17
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	4-H Exhibits, Food, Demo Derby,Tuff Truck, Swap Meet, pedal pull,classic car show and more. Held at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds at the North edge of Keosauqua.
Contact:	For information: 319-293-3471
Event:	Stockport Barbecue Day
Date:	September 2-3
Location:	Stockport
Description:	Tractor pull, parade, BBQ, games, entertainment,marathon slo-pitch tournament & more. Peavine Line Museum (Depot) open for tours.
Contact:	For information: 319-796-2135

Event:	Milton Fall Festival
Date:	September 8-10
Location:	Milton
Description:	Community celebration including a carnival, variety of contests, parade, food, live music and more. Held in the Milton City Park . Activities begin at 5pm on Friday evening,go on all day Saturday and end with a community worship service and potluck dinner on Sunday at 11:00.
Contact:	For information: call Mary Darr: 641-656-4992
Event:	End of Summer Cycle Rally
Date:	September 15-17
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Motorcycle rally with field events, races, rodeo, concert, food vendors, etc. Held at the Van Buren Co. Fairgrounds, Hwy 1 N, Keosauqua.
Contact:	Info: 319-498-4460
Web Site:	http://www.statelinerally.com

Event:	Taste of Chocolate
Date:	September 16
Location:	Bonaparte
Description:	A chocolate lovers paradise. A chance to taste a huge variety of home-made chocolate treats.
Contact:	For information: 319-592-3400
Web Site:	http://www.bonaparte-iowa.com
Email:	mainstreet@bonaparte-iowa.com
Event:	Bentonsport Arts Festival - Antique & Craft Show
Date:	October 14-15
Location:	Bentonsport
Description:	Juried Art show. New artists welcome. Good quality furniture, glassware, & handmade crafts. Nauvoo on the Road (Sat. only)-Demonstrations of candle & rope making & other historic activities.
Contact:	For information: Greef General Store - 319-592-3579
Web Site:	http://www.bentonsport.com
Event:	Forest Craft Festival
Date:	October 14-15
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Juried woodcraft show and sale, woodcarvers, buckskinners camp, food, held in beautiful Lacey-Keosauqua State Park .
Contact:	For information: 800-868-7822
Web Site:	http://showcase.netins.net/web/villages/fcraft.htm
Email:	info@villagesofvanburen.com
Event:	Keosauqua's Fall Festival of Colors
Date:	October 14-15
Location:	Keosauqua
Description:	Craft festival, flea market, parade, carnival, food and more.
Contact:	319-293-3535
Web Site:	http://showcase.netins.net/web/villages/fcraft.htm

Event:	Scenic Drive Festival in the Village of Cantril
Date:	October 14
Location:	Cantril
Description:	Black kettle ham and beans at Township Hall.
Contact:	For information: 319-397-2219
Web Site:	http://www.cantril-iowa.com

Event:	Haunted Trail Walk
Date:	October 26-28
Location:	Cantril
Description:	Experience a half mile walk of terror through the haunted trail of Waubonsie Park in Cantril. (Admission fee)
Contact:	Info: 319-397-2343
Web Site:	http://www.cantril-iowa.com
Event:	Enchanted Forest Walk
Date:	December 1-31
Location:	Cantril
Description:	Feel the spirit of the holidays as you walk through the holiday lights and displays in Waubonsie Park . Free will donation.
Contact:	For information: 319-397-2401
Web Site:	http://www.cantril-iowa.com

Event:	Christmas in the Villages
Date:	December 2-3
Description:	A variety of holiday activities throughout the county including a Festival of Trees, wagon rides, Christmas Tea, bake sales, crafts, Santa visits, unique shopping districts & more. (Call for a free brochure including all county-wide activities).
Contact:	For information: 800-868-7822
Web Site:	http://www.villagesofvanburen.com
Email: