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Crooked Creek Days blends tradition, laughter, and local pride
From greased pigs to parade candy and hot dog heroes, Winfield’s annual festival delivered three days of sunshine, small-town charm, and unforgettable moment
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WINFIELD — When the weather holds and the community shows up, there’s magic in the air — and Crooked Creek Days 2025 had plenty of both.
From Aug. 1 to 3, Winfield’s annual summer celebration transformed downtown into a hub of small-town joy, family tradition, and chaotic fun. The weekend offered everything from greased pig scrambles to pedal pulls, and from parades to jalapeño eating contests — all under clear skies and a shared sense of belonging.
“For the first time ever that I can remember, the weather is pleasant,” said Winfield Mayor Willie Bender. “Once again, the community members are stepping up. A very special thank you to Jen Lemke and Angie Oepping. They really answered the call for help and put together a really amazing lineup for all ages.”
The celebration opened Friday evening with music and a street dance. But it was Saturday that captured the full energy of the weekend, as residents and visitors lined the streets for the parade and scattered across town for food vendors, kids’ games, and contests of every variety.
Kelsey Pence was one of many who came home to Winfield for the weekend.
“My grandparents are here and we just come visit them every year for Crooked Creek Days,” she said.
She stood with her kids — Brieyr, Brekyn, and Balyre — just after they finished getting airbrush tattoos at Ascension Tattoos and Piercing. The twins, Brieyr and Brekyn, have been coming since they were one.
Others came from further away — or stepped into town for the first time as business owners. The Emerald Grinds Coffee House, newly opened just three weeks ago, was bustling with customers all weekend. So was the tattoo shop down the street, where kids waited in line for airbrush tattoos and temporary ink. One kid grinned as he showed off a star design.
“I was trying to find a yin and yang but I couldn’t find it, so I went stars,” he said, still holding his arm out.
Many of the most raucous moments came during Friday night’s animal scrambles.
“We had 42 kids sign up for the chicken scramble and 38 for the pigs,” said organizer Jennifer Lemke. “By the second heat, people were starting to feel sorry for the pigs. We greased the kids’ hands and the pigs, brushed them in. It was hilarious.”
Tanya Pettit, who brought her kids to the event, said, “It was a new experience, the pigs and chickens, but fun — and the kids had a blast. That’s what really matters.”
Families like the Cordrays, who travel for pedal pulls said Winfield’s event stood out.
“One of the coolest parts of doing these pedal pulls is getting to visit all kinds of fairs and hometown events we wouldn’t go to otherwise,” said Katie Cordray.
“Tonight, we were at Crooked Creek Days in Winfield, IA — and the boys ended up in a chicken scramble,” she posted to social media following the event Friday night. “Casen took first. Both boys had an absolute blast. Little towns. Fun memories. The biggest reason I’m thankful we get to do this as a family.”
Saturday afternoon brought out big appetites — and big performances — during the hot dog eating contest. Contestants bore nicknames like “Glizzy Champ,” “Beef Dog,” and “T-man,” while emcees hyped up the crowd and kept the clock.
“At the end of the five minutes, whatever you have left in your mouth, you have 30 seconds to swallow,” Greg Lemke told contestants.
Nick Sparrow earned fan-favorite status in the adult contest after donning a hot dog costume, ripping his shirt like the Hulk during his introduction, and downing hot dog after hot dog.
Not long after, another round of heat came in the form of jalapeños. Lu Titus took first in the adults’ jalapeño eating contest, but it wasn’t without suffering.
“I tried, but I hate spicy food,” he admitted after the win.
For others, the fun came in the parade and the chaos that followed. While 12 year-old Caleb Elam didn’t enter the scrambles or contests, he said he loves to attend Crooked Creek Days.
According to Elam, not only is the parade “the best one,” but he gets to spend the weekend hanging out with his friends.
“I brought my football, and everyone started playing jackpot,” he said. “It was right next to the pig scramble. Everyone was just hanging out and having fun.”
At the pet parade, the scene was no less theatrical. One participant said his pug, Helga G. Pitaki, loved the attention.
“I sashayed down the street carrying her like a purse,” he said. “Like, I had her right here, and when the announcer mentioned it, I kind of struck a pose. She loved it.”
All of these fun activities that create lifelong memories couldn’t happen without the community, according to Bender.
“The community shows up,” Bender said. “And that’s what Crooked Creek Days is all about.”
The weekend wasn’t just about fun — it was about connection. The Winfield-Mt. Union Class of 1975 returned for a special reunion tour with Mr. Gill and Mrs. Wahls, revisiting old memories and watching their town swell with activity once again.
“I think that’s what makes Crooked Creek Days so special,” said Lemke. “Even people who’ve moved away come back for it.”
That connection was clear in every corner of town — in the crowded sidewalks, the full picnic tables, the laughter between neighbors, and the newcomers getting to experience Crooked Creek Days for the first time.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
