Villages of Van Buren
Scenic Drive Festival2nd Full Weekend of October
Be Sure To Visit Our
AWARD-WINNING FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 13 & 14, 2007Download Copy of 2007 Brochure & Scenic Drive Map
The quaint Villages of Van Buren County, located in Southeast Iowa, burst with excitement every year for this tremendous festival that draws thousands of people from across the Midwest. This year, the festival has expanded....adding many more activities and events throughout several of the villages. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the "Scenic Drive" by following road signs/arrows through scenic byways that will take you to the several historic villages that will be hosting special activities during the weekend.
New activities will be held in the villages of Birmingham, Milton, Douds, Selma & Lebanon. Other new activities have been added to Keosauqua, Cantril & Farmington.
Birmingham (SATURDAY ONLY) will have a "Trash to Treasures Sale" in the City Park with baked goods, garage sale & flea market merchandise from 9am-5pm with refreshments being served throughout the day. Birmingham Lions will be serving a Brisket Sandwich Lunch from 11- 1:30pm. There will be several garage sales throughout the area. Be sure to check out the "Barn Quilt" on display at 210 E. Chesire St.Douds (SATURDAY ONLY) will have guided tours of their many historic sites from 12:00pm-5:00pm including Valley School, Douds Depot, Mt. Moriah, and Oak Grove Church. Oak Grove will have refreshments at 1950 prices! There will be a Fun Horse Show beginning at 12:30 pm at Yates Memorial Park. Concession stand will be open. A special Sunday Worship service is planned at Mt. Moriah Church at 10:00am on Sunday followed by a co-op dinner at Yates Memorial Park.
Milton (SATURDAY ONLY) will have open houses at the Milton Businesses with maps available. Breakfast will be served from 6:30-8:30am at the Legion Building. Lunch will be offered by the Christian Youth Group in the Depot park , Davis Co. Savings Bank will be grilling and the Milton Grill will also be open 7am-8pm. Locally-made wine-tasting will be at the Depot 10am-4pm. The Depot will also be open for tours from 10:00am-4:00pm. Michael Martin & local talent will provide musical entertainment. A Quilt & Aladdin Lamp Show will be held at 9:00am. A hoop-shoot will be held from 2-4pm and Sidewalk Art begins at 9:00am.
Also in Milton beginning at 4:00pm at the New Trail Park (Hwy. 2 across from Milton Creamery) there will be live music by The Heritage Band with food and refreshments at the shelter house. Bring your lawn chairs! They will have a special flag raising presentation by Russell Strait Post #483 of the American legion at 4:30pm. At 5:00pm there will be a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and history of the New Trail Park. Beginning at 5:30pm there will be an "Old-Fashion Weenie Roast" with all the fixins!
Selma (SATURDAY ONLY) will have Draft Horse plow demonstrations beginning at 2:00pm. Bake Sales, Flea Market, Craft Vendors and Wine Tasting will be set-up in City Park from 10am-5pm.
Lebanon (SATURDAY ONLY) will have an Amish Bake Sale at the Amish Schoolhouse. Indian Prairie Greenhouse open house, Yoder's Indian Creek Furniture Anniversary Sale with free coffee & donuts and door prizes all day. Lengachers Greenhouse with mums & fall decorations & Detweiler's Fresh Produce stand with jams, jellies, and baked goods will be open. Kaiser Home Winery will be open with wine & cheese tasting all day. The new Whispering Pines Winery will also be open for wine-tasting from 11-6pm on both days.
Keosauqua's Fall Festival of Colors (SATURDAY & SUNDAY) has expanded and will offer an even wider variety of activities. Thousands of Arts and Crafts will be displayed and sold throughout the community including the Roberts Memorial Center, Fire Station and Senior Center. A large flea market will also be set-up along the scenic banks of the Des Moines River. There will be carnival rides for the kids. The Grand Parade will start at 10AM on Saturday. The 2007 theme is "Salute to Manufacturing." Parade line up will begin at the Van Buren High School at 8:00 am. Check out the many bargains at the annual Keosauqua Library Book Sale from 9:00am-5:00pm. The Lions will be serving a pancake and sausage breakfast ($5) beginning at 6am on both mornings. New this year locally-made wine & cheese sampling will be held at the Roberts Memorial Center (This special event is made possible by a grant from the Grape & Wine Development Fund through the IA. Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship), a Car & Motorcycle Show will be held in downtown Keosauqua, following the parade. No entry fees. Awards will be presented at 3:00pm. For more information contact: Jeremy Clubb at 641-919-4943 or email: clubbj5@hotmail.com Also new this year, 3 on 3 Basketball on Saturday at 11:30am on 1st St. in downtown Keosauqua (front of Wasko Hardware). All teams must register prior to 9:00am. The cost is $40 per team. There will be 6 divisions with prizes for 1st & 2nd place in each division. For registration information contact: Chuck Banks at 319-293-3399. On Sunday, there will be a 5K Run/ 2-3 mile Trail Walk at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. Registration is at 8-9:00am on Sunday at the lodge. The cost is $15 per person and includes a free T-shirt. For registration information contact Kristy Polonsky at kpolonsky@msn.com or download the form. There will be "strolling musicians" and Live Musical Entertainment throughout the weekend in the downtown area. Saturday at 9:00am Gary Goehring will host the SE Iowa Cattle Dog Trial, Hwy. 1 North of Keosauqua (No admission fee). Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hwy 1 North, Keosauqua, will be having a Soup supper with desserts & drinks Saturday night, Oct. 13th from 5:30-7:30 PM with a free-will offering.
Also new this year on both days, there will be a "Medieval Encampment" at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds. They will have various vendors and demonstrations of the Medieval times. Armored fighting will be held in the grandstand on both days at 11am, 1:00pm, 3:00 pm. No Admission fee.
Once again, camping will be available at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds $10/night, with electric.
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park will feature a large buckskinners camp at Ely Ford. DNR will have exhibits at the lodge area and a portable Wood-Mizer Sawmill will demonstrate the preparation of lumber. Visitors will be able to leisurely drive the park this year....enjoying the fantastic fall foliage and unspoiled beauty of one of the oldest state parks in the state.
Bentonsport National Historic District will be hosting The Bentonsport Riverfest (Saturday & Sunday) will feature an art show that will be held in the riverside park. This will be a juried show with original artwork for sale, by professional and beginning artists. There will be demonstrations, raffles and prizes. The Antique & Craft Show is held around the shelter and will feature a variety of vendors with quality antiques, furniture, glassware, hand-made crafts and other items. The Music Festival, featuring country & bluegrass music will be held both days in the riverside park. There will be raffles, food vendors and free food giveaways all weekend. Tailgater Meats will grill New York Strip steaks for dinner beginning at 5:00pm. New this year, visitors will be able to take a 15-minute tour of the historic village via horse-drawn covered wagon. For more details see http://www.greefstore.com
Bonaparte, the smallest Main Street Community in the United States and a National Historic Riverfront will host a "Street Faire" on both days from 10am-5pm throughout the downtown area. There will be antiques, collectibles, crafts, jewelry, garden art, food & more. Be sure to visit the various sites of interest and shop to your hearts content at all of the unique gift and antique shops including the new Addie May Fudge Factory, now located in the old mill next to Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant in Historic Bonaparte. The Bonaparte Pottery will be open for guided tours. They will also have wine tasting. Riverside park will be bustling with activities for both kids and adults alike, as the history of the Bonaparte Mills is explored. There will be demonstrations of how the old lock & dam system worked, guests will be able to grind their own corn meal and do other hands-on activities. Food will be available all day in the historic Opera House on Main St. Homemade soups for lunch, BBQ chicken for dinner and on Sunday, Sausage Corn Chowder in Bread Bowls. Bonaparte will also be hosting a Fall Decorating Contest for homes and businesses.
Cantril Fall Festival (SATURDAY ONLY) will have woodworks, crafts, and flea market in the Township Hall at Waubonsie Park from 9am-4pm. Cow Chip Bingo will also be held at Township Hall at 2:00pm. They will also be serving up kettle cooked ham and beans with cornbread from 11am until gone on Saturday at the Fire Station. There will be a book sale at the library 9am-12:00pm, City-wide Garage Sales, and Music by The Heritage Band on Main St. from 11am-2:00pm. Remember to stock up at the Dutchman's Store (Sat. 8-5, closed Sunday) while in Cantril. On Saturday there will be a Mennonite Bake Sale from 8-12 in front of Dutchman's Store.
Wickfield Farm Sales Pavilion will be having an open house on Saturday, 9am-5pm, with free guided tours of this fascinating 4-story round barn.
Farmington will kick-off the weekend with an Autumn Jamboree at Indian Lake Park on Friday, October 12 from 5-9 pm. They will have old-fashioned Fry Bread, Horse-drawn wagon rides (starting at 4 pm), country music and refreshments by fireside at the stone lodge. Beginning Saturday morning and continuing through Sunday evening several arts, crafts & flea market vendors will set-up on Main St., across from John's Food Center. There will also be a variety of crafts, flea market, bake sale and much more at the shelter house on the riverfront from 8am-4pm on both days. Hel-Mart will be open 9am-5pm on Saturday and 12:00 - 5:00 pm on Sunday. There will be a 1930-1960 Rocking Horse Display, Train Room Open House and several Miniature Doll House displays.
All events & activities will be held, rain or shine.
All locations are accepting applications for new vendors,
contact Villages of Van Buren 800-868-7822 or
Email Us!
FALL FESTIVAL CRAFTS ANTIQUES FLEA MARKET ARTS FESTIVAL
STAMP SHOW
PARADES CARNIVAL
WORKING ARTISTS
ENTERTAINMENT
AUTUMN COLORS HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Keosauqua Fall Festival Vendor Application
The Scenic Drive Festival
is sponsored in part by
Community First Bank
& the Keosauqua Chamber of Commerce
