Many enjoy another year of Kalona Days

KALONA — From life-long residents to newer Kalona transplants to visitors from nearby, many enjoyed the Kalona Days festivities over the weekend.

Kicking things off Friday night, crowds meandered the Downtown Kalona Night Market.

Many local stores stayed open late, and vendors lined the sidewalks with fresh produce, cotton candy, artwork, jewelry, and other local wares.

Vendors ranged from small business owners with curated products to children dipping their toes into entrepreneurship.

As people made their way up and down the sidewalks, they sampled lemonade and beer while chatting happily with one another throughout the beautiful summer evening.

While some people shopped, other groups met outside of the Kalona Brewing Company for horse drawn wagon rides around town.

In addition to shopping and wagon rides, children, and some adults, sat for face painting outside the chamber office while others chose to receive intricate Henna art at the KCTC Lot.

As one grown man entered the KCTC Lot he wore a Poke Ball facepainting directly in the center of his forward along with a wide grin.

While live music played on one end of the lot, a group set up a volleyball net on the other.

Families gathered around picnic tables and enjoyed food from various vendors as they listened to Aces and Eights played, children danced, and others played cornhole.

Families, like Hollie Lins’ family, enjoyed the mellow kick-off to Kalona Days before participating in more family-friendly activities Saturday.

For the Lins, attending Kalona Days comes with many years of memories and Hollie looks forward to continuing to share these traditions with her daughter.

“I grew up in this area, so it’s a tradition,” Hollie Lins said as her daughter, Elena, experimented with turning a cornhole board into a slide.

The Lins enjoy all of Kalona Days like the kids’ water act, bounce houses, parade, and pony rides throughout the weekend.

Transplants to the Kalona area, like Rachel Vondrak, have also come to appreciate the sweet traditions of Kalona Days.

“We love it,” Vondrak said. “It’s cute and we love the live music.”

Vondrak enjoyed the food trucks and music at the KCTC Lot, Friday evening. Vondrak, her partner, friends, and even her dog Gus, finished their evening with a dance as Aces and Eights played their last song of the night.

Friday’s festivities wrapped by 9:30 p.m., but the rest of the fun began again bright and early with the fun run, Saturday morning.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com