Villages of Van Buren hosting Scenic Drive Festival Oct. 11-13

Villages of Van Buren County will host the countywide Scenic Drive Festival Friday through Sunday, Oct. 11-13.

The festival is always held the second full weekend in October. Visitors are encouraged to follow the marked 'Scenic Drive” signs through Van Buren County in Southeast Iowa and along the Historic Hills Scenic Byway to experience each of the historic Villages.

There will be fine arts, crafts, flea markets, car and tractor shows, parade, quilt shows, tours of historic barns and several other activities.

Visit historic sites like Richardson's Point, an 1846 Mormon encampment site near Milton, the Pearson House Museum Complex, part of the Underground Railroad, in Keosauqua and the Pioneer Historical Museum in Farmington to learn more about the Honey War.

Van Buren County Fairgrounds in Keosauqua will have vendors, a chili cook-off and a ranch rodeo. Bloom and Bark Farm will have artisan demonstrations Oct. 12. Start the day with breakfast prepared by the Lions Club at the Keosauqua City Park both days or the Amish School Breakfast Oct. 12 near Lebanon.

The popular home-cooked meals will be served at the Sunrise Bakery, north of Bonaparte, and at and Milton Christian Church.

More historic barns have been added to the tour this year including the two rustic Civil War era Barker Barns, one which has an interior silo. The Miller Barn was newly constructed this year using old-style techniques and will have buggy and pony rides. And of course, all of the specialty shops and antique stores will be open.

The festival is held rain or shine.

There is no admission fee.

For more details and a free brochure with map, visit villagesofvanburen.com or call 319-293-7111 or 800-868-7822.

Bentonsport

' 44th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Festival features vendors, artisan demonstrations, food, baked goods, raffles. Live music is planned at the gazebo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13.

' Bentonsport Riverfest, with antiques, craft, flea market and food vendors, is in Riverfront Park. Specialty shops will be open. Pottery, rug-weaving and blacksmith demonstrations are planned. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-13.

' Indian Artifact Museum has thousands of artifacts impressively displayed. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-13.

' Nauvoo on the Road will be in Riverfront Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 only. It features pioneer pastimes from the 1800s, including candle making, rope making and games.

Keosauqua

' A new Chili Cook-off and Ranch Rodeo at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds. Cook-off is 5:30 p.m., Oct. 11. Contestants pay an entry fee. Taste testing, for a fee, begins at 6 p.m.

Ranch Rodeo begins at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12. Admission is charged. Live music by The Boot Jack Band begins at 7 p.m. A freewill offering will be collected.

' Fall Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13. Arts, craft, flea market, food vendors and live music are planned. Vendors set up at the Keosauqua Senior Center, downtown along the river, Roberts Memorial Building, Van Buren County Fairgrounds and at the new Keosauqua Fire Department.

' Keosauqua Lions will host an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Oct. 12-13 in downtown Keosauqua.

' Keosauqua Library will have a book sale from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 in the library. Books will be available for a free will donation.

' Keosauqua Rotary Grand Parade is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 12. 'Celebrate, Connect, Inspire State Parks” is this year's theme honoring the upcoming Iowa State Parks Centennial. Line up begins at 8 a.m. at the Van Buren County High School.

' Pearson House Museum Complex was a 'safe house” on the Underground Railroad for escaping slaves during the Civil War era. The secret hiding place under the floorboards can still be seen today. Also at the complex, is a one-room schoolhouse and authentic log cabin that will be open for tours, with guides in period dress depicting the pioneer lifestyle. Demonstrations of fiber arts and crafts are planned. Oct. 12, children can 'make & take.” Events include: live music by the Galvinators at 2 p.m. Oct. 12, and a Circuit riding preacher church service at 1 p.m. Oct. 13.

Tours are available until 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations for future preservation efforts are appreciated.

' Fall Festival Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show will be Oct. 13. Registration is 10 a.m. to noon. The show is noon to 3 p.m. Awards are at 3 p.m. An entry fee is charged. For information, call 319-293-3752.

' The 12th Annual Fall 5K/10K Run or 2- mile Trail Walk at Lacey Keosauqua State Park, begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 at the Lodge. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. A fee is charged

' Camping with showers and electric service is available at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds for a fee. Call 641-919-0566.

Bonaparte

' The second annual BCIA Gun Show will be 5-9 p.m. Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Bonaparte School Community Center. A gun raffle, shooting tent, with pellet guns, for children are planned. Food will be available. Admission is charged.

' A soup luncheon is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Bonaparte School Community Center.

' Fall Festival Citywide yard sales and vendors will be in Riverside Park. All specialty and antique stores will be open. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11, 12 and 13.

' Sunrise Bakery Amish Dinner Buffet will be served from 5 -7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 12 and 13. Bakery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

' Historic Bonaparte Pottery Museum and Gallery will have free tours of Iowa's only remaining pottery site, demonstrations, gift shop/museum and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-13.

' Bonaparte Fire Department & EMS Luncheon will be at the fire station beginning at 10 a.m. Loose-meat sandwiches, chips and drink will be served for a free will donation.

Stockport

' 'Experience the West Adventure” at Morris Park northeast of Stockport; follow the signs. A fish fry is at 5 p.m. Oct. 11. On Oct. 12, breakfast is at 7 a.m. and Cowboy Chili is at 5 p.m. Both days will include a variety of pioneer exhibits and demonstrations, draft horse pulls, tractor rides, antique farm equipment and artifacts, and a raffle for authentic Roy Rogers poster. The Pioneer Log Cabin, as well as other historic buildings, will be open for free tours. Hours are 5 p.m. Oct. 11, 7 .am. to 6 p.m. Oct. 12 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13.

' The Stockport Depot museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12, plus stop by and see the Freedom Rock. Admission is free.

Farmington

' A'Collective Goods” book fair is planned at the Bridge Café & Supper Club from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 12 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13.

' Arts, crafts, music and food vendors will be at the Riverfront Shelterhouse from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12-13.

' Pioneer Historical Museum will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 and noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 13. No admission fee is charged.

' The second annual Quilt Show at the United Methodist Church features numerous quilts, crafts and a bake sale. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 and noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 13.

Birmingham

' The Trash & Treasure Sale will have a vast amount of garage sale items, flea markets items, antiques and collectibles in the Birmingham City Park. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13. Birmingham Lions will serve lunch both days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lebanon area

' Yoder's Indian Creek Furniture will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12, with free coffee and doughnuts all day. Door prizes will include a glider rocker as the grand prize.

' Richardson's Point is an 1846 Mormon encampment site. The site has memorialized marked gravesites of the first deaths of the Mormon Exodus, pioneer camp life exhibits and demonstrations. It will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. No admission fee.

' Bloom and Bark Farm Glass Blowing & Local Artisan Market will have artisans at work, glass blowing demonstrations, clay oven bread baking, arts, crafts and more. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12.

' Amish School Breakfast & Bake Sale will be 7:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 12. The menu offers homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and drinks for a free will donation.

Douds

' Lunch Box Café will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 serving big foot tenderloins, Texas tators and rib-eye steak sandwiches.

Cantril

' Dutchman's Store is an old-fashion general store with bulk food, fresh produce, deli counter, fall flowers, pumpkins, gourds, hard-to-find goods, and a quilter's paradise. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. On Oct. 12, there will be a Mennonite bake sale on the porch starting at 8 a.m.

Milton

' Milton Creamery will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free samples of over 20 flavors of locally made cheeses and fresh curds will be available.

' 'Grandma's Homemade Dinner” will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Milton Christian Church. Enjoy homemade chicken and noodles or beef and noodles, real mashed potatoes, homegrown sweet corn, green beans, homemade rolls and a variety of salads and desserts. A fee is charged.

' The Tractor, Truck, Motorcycle & Car Show is planned 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 at Milton Christian Church. Restored and unrestored tractors, trucks, motorcycles, cars and small fly wheel engines will be shown. The Sonshine Band plays at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Fall Harvest Historical Barn Tours

Several historical barns will be open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12.

' The Clark Barn, 27882 107th St., Stockport, is a 1916 Old English Bank Barn. The foundation features small windows.

' Morris Park Barn, 10938 Timber Road, Stockport, is a replica barn filled with antique farm machinery with an attached museum. See the Stockport listing for special activities.

' NEW! The Barker Barns, at the corner of Peach Avenue and 170th Street, Keosauqua, are Civil War era barns. One barn has an interior silo. The large barn was used as a multipurpose barn.

' The Finney Barn, at 17248 Highway 1, Keosauqua, is an English Bank Barn built about 1898. It has louvered windows on all elevations. It was recently moved onto a new foundation.

' The Paulek Barn, at 17727 Route J40, Keosauqua, was built in 1924 and renovated in 2018. It was originally built with a poured foundation and a Dutch gambrel roof line.

' NEW! The Miller Barn, at 21803 Clover Road, Keosauqua, is an Amish barn constructed this year using old-style techniques. Open barn tours, buggy rides, pony rides and refreshments are planned.

'The Wickfield Farm Sales Pavilion, at 17451 260th St., Cantril, is a 1918 four-story round sales pavilion and rooming house. Guides will share its fascinating history.