Bentonsport to host Riverfest Oct. 13-15

Bentonsport will host Riverfest as part of the annual Villages of Van Buren County’s Scenic Drive Festival Oct. 13-15.

New this year we have A-Z Animal Adventures petting zoo. On Friday, Oct. 13th from 2 pm – 4:30 pm any daycares, home schools or youngsters preschool age can get an early chance to visit the petting zoo away from the larger crowds that will be coming for the weekend.

The petting zoo will be located east of the shelter house along the riverside park. The petting zoo is free.

Pony rides will cost $7 and a small fee if anyone wants to feed the animals. Also on Friday, the Amish will be in the shelter making fried pies onsite, baked goods, and homemade ice cream from 11 – 4 and Saturday 10-5. Friday, there will also be vendors setting up and may be open for people to stop and browse. The shops will be open until 4 pm. Hillbilly Haven will be parked in front of the shops and will have BBQ, tenderloins and other food available for purchase.

Saturday and Sunday 10-5 a wide variety of vendors will fill the park. You can find things like, Cotton Candy Explosion, Scentsy, Tupperware and Pampered Chef, spice dips, repurposed furniture and décor, customized lasered gift items, flea market treasures, wood crafts, antiques, yard and glass art, artwork, flags, custom lasered tumblers, artwork and more. Don’t forget to stop by the bridge and pick up some mums or have your friend or family member have airbrushed caricatures and signs or bring a picture of your favorite pet! All make great gifts for the upcoming holidays.

Naturalist Chloe Proffitt will have a “Gettin’ Buggy” display with bugs & butterflies. Lee County Naturalist Clay Steele will be showing animal furs or a water cycle game, depending on the weather. Denny Weiss, retired DNR Fisheries Biologist, will return with his fish and clams display that are native to the Mississippi River.

Starting at the corner of Iron & Lace, or west end of the village, visitors can take a free 15 minute tour on a covered wagon provided by local, Rick Coffman.

Explore the Sister’s Vintage Antique Shop with unusual and interesting items. There will be a tent sale at the store with more antiques and other vendors. Local author Lisa Schnedler, will be there signing her two books that are set in early Bentonsport.

Two other new activities in during the weekend will be the Iowa History Mobile Unit that will be set up on the west end by the boat ramp where people can go through and see some of Iowa’s history. The current exhibition, “Iowa History 101: Iowa’s People & Places” debuted last year and will continue its new 99-county journey through 2023.

The other is the Rendezvous who will have their tipi’s set up on the west end as well. Stroll through the tipi’s and visit with the re-enactors that try to preserve and teach a part of our history.

The She Shed, in the blue historic Corn’s building offers handmade quilts, local made jewelry and crafts along with herbs and vinegars made fresh from the farm.

The Greef General Store with antiques, vintage and Addie May fudge will have Artist Barbara Miller available to sign her prints. Authors- David Arduser, Winter Austin, Ed Schraff, and Leigh Michaels will be there on Saturday to sign their books. A bargain pop up tent will be set up out front of the Greef Store featuring clothing closeouts, antiques, and home decor items.

Tween Wood Shop has handmade wood crafts such as spoons, cutting boards and other items and will be demonstrating woodworking.

Iron & Lace will have pottery and blacksmith items available as well as blacksmithing demonstrations. There will also be rug weaving and pottery demonstrations out in the park.

Sample several different tasty wines during the event with Wooden Wheel Vineyards. Wake up with Wake and Bake serving a variety of coffee, drinks and baked goods. Fresh squeezed lemonade shakeups at Mitchell’s kettle corn is always refreshing or check into the new types of Lotus drinks by the Woodpeckers repurposed furniture. The Mason House Inn will be selling fudge on Saturday only. Another sweet deal in Bentonsport.

Across from the shops will be El Gringo Loco selling street tacos, Hillbilly Haven with tenderloins, bbq and hamburgers,

Twisted River Hot Dogs and mini donuts with various toppings. Trone’s BBQ will also be in Bentonsport for the festival.

The Art show along the Bentonsport Rose Garden will have artisans with artwork and jewelry for sale. Some of the artists will have demonstrations along with their artwork.

The Bentonsport Improvement Association (BIA) will be located on the corner next to the Rose Garden and by the Mobile History unit. BIA will be raising funds for repairing the Presbyterian Church wall. They will have a raffle with prizes including a 2 night stay in the 1st floor guest apartment at the Historic Vernon School House, gift certificates for meals and activities plus a gift basket from the Bentonsport Shopkeepers. Call Lois Thompson at 641-208-1419 or by email at lthompson37@gmail.com for details and tickets or by them at the BIA booth during the event. Drawing will be at 4 pm Oct. 15 during the Bentonsport Riverfest. Need not be present to win.

Visit the Indian Artifact Museum with over 5,000 artifacts found by Tony Sanders. The backdrop and display shelves are made of up to 20 native woods cut with a coping saw that fit together in various patterns that are just as amazing as the artifacts themselves.

Music dual “Busker Rose” with John Lee Boyer on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, and Donna K. Kirby on 5-string banjo and vocals will play folk, gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country that is often referred to as Americana or American roots music. Busker Rose carries on a tradition by recreating the role of the traveling troubadour musicians from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and will play on Saturday from 11-2 and Sunday from 12-2 in different areas of the park. Tom Shadonix will also provide music while fiddling on the Greef General porch on Saturday starting at 11 am.

Parking is set up with one way streets. Please be aware of signs on which direction to drive and areas to park. There will be a map online to view or download to help visitors.

Visit www.historicbentonsport.com for more details, visit our Bentonsport Historic District Facebook page for updates or call Cheryl at 319-293-3589.

Bentonsport is a riverside park village located off of the Historic Hills Scenic Byway, J40, between Keosauqua and Bonaparte in SE Iowa. Activities are subject to change.

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