Ed Griffin of Council Bluffs juggles potatoes as part of his act as a pirate at the Renaissance Festival and Gathering o' Celts in Middle Amana. The festival will be held again this weekend / Photo Courtney Sargent, The Gazette.

Looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend? Here’s a quick look at the fairs & festivals happening around the state.

Bedford in Bloom

Bedford - A pancake breakfast and pingpong ball drop are among the Saturday events. May 23.

Bettonsport Spring Fest

Bettonsport – Arts and crafts, flea market, antiques, demonstrations and more in this historic village, one of the Villages of Van Buren. May 23-25.

Celebrating the Arts

Amana -  See a variety of artists demonstrating such art as glass bead making, wood carving, stone sculpting, marbling, and much more. May 23-24.

Liberty Centre Blues & BBQ Fest

North Liberty – Live music, kids activitivies and food. Bands include The Wise Fools, Kevin “B.F.” Burt and Bob Dorr and the Blue Band. Fishing for kids, petting zoo, bouncy house, baseball zone, carnival games, dunk tank, obstacle course and climbing wall, basketball, face painting and visits with the firefighters. Barbecue cook-off, other food vendors.  May 24.

Iowa Renaissance Festival

Amana – Six stages of entertainment, jousting, livinig history encampments, childrens faery realm, beer garden & wine tasting, games of skill and fun and more than 300 costumed characters. May 23-25.

McGregor Spring Arts festival

McGregor - Wide array of Arts & Crafts, wonderful live, artistic entertainment including a strolling musician, local river music and food vendors. May 23-25.

North Iowa Band Festival

Mason City – More than 20 bands participate in this annual event. There’s a parade, carnival, craft show, car show, food and more. May 21-25.

Tivoli Fest

Elk Horn – This Danish festival includes parade, folk dancing, fireworks, tours of area attractions, Danish foods, arts and crafts, carnival, activities for children. May 23-24.

Whittemore Fun Days

 Whittmore – Rides and concessions, pie and ice cream social, famous Legion Burgers, entertainment, bingo, on Broad Street. May 25.

For addional Memorial Day weekend activities, consult our calendar.

Harley Alcox of Nevada, Iowa touches up his 1923 Ford T-bucket at the 2007 Cruisin' for Camp Courageous car show. The show will be held this Sunday Monticello / Gazette photo by Mark Tade.

Camp Courageous will hold the 22nd annual “Cruisin’ for Camp Courageous” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Presented by the Cedar Valley Street Rods, it is one of Iowa’s largest charity car shows. The event includes silent and live auctions, kids’ games, food, music and a craft show. Indoor swimming is included with the admission fee.
Admission is $5.

Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

By Katie Mills Georogio
HooplaNow.com
What do you get when you combine amazing art from across the country and a quaint city park? The Marion Arts Festival, of course! And there’s so much to do at the 17th annual, award winning (It was recently named the no. one festival of this size in a 13-state Midwest region. Take that Des Moines!) event that you’ll want to stay all day. The self-proclaimed “come-as-you-are” festival offers stunning art for purchase, hands-on art activities, entertainment (local favorites Junk Funk will be back), food and fun for the whole family. And best of all, it’s free.

 This year festival artists from Florida,  Washington, New Mexico and New York (15 states in all) to display their art. Plus, 21 of the 50 exhibitors are making their festival debut, so you’re bound to find something new and eye-catching. The “empty bowl” project is also returns to the festival. Student-made ceramic bowls created by area art classes and donated to the festival are sold for $5 to support food banks.

 But don’t just look and buy. The Marion Arts Festival allows you theopportunity to be an artist, too. The “Art in the Depot” program invites all attendees to work side-by-side with an Iowa artist to create a piece of public art. This year, festivalgoers will help guest artist John Paul Schafer produce a large-scale painting for Taylor Elementary, which is scheduled to reopen in August 2009 after being flooded last summer.

There’ll also be artist demonstrations, including a daylong large-scale metal sculpture welding demonstration by Mount Vernon artist Dale Merrill. And if you’re an early bird, get up and run (or walk) the Marion Arts Festival 5K.

 The Marion Arts Festival and related activities run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at City Square Park in Marion. It’s free. For more information go to www.marionartsfestival.com

Maypole dancers unwrap the maypole as they perform during the 2007 Houby Days Festival in Cedar Rapids' Czech Village. Last year's flood won't stop the festivities / Gazette photo

CEDAR RAPIDS — Last summer’s flood won’t prevent the biggest annual event in Czech Village from happening.
The Houby Days Festival, scheduled for Friday through May 17, will celebrate the mushrooms for which it’s named and the resurgence of Czech Village.

A flood curfew will be enforced. Outdoor events, including the carnival, will end by 9 p.m., but businesses can stay open and operate during their normal hours, said John Berge, Czech Village Association president.

At least half the businesses have reopened since last June’s historic flood inundated the village on 16th Avenue SW.
After months of rebuilding, antiques stores, bakeries, restaurants, gift shops and bars are ready for the festival, and a large-scale cleanup is under way this weekend.

Streets will be blocked off around flood-damaged homes. So festivalgoers are encouraged to park in lots by the Riverside Roundhouse and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library or on the other side of the Cedar River.
The museum guild’s Taste of Czech & Slovak will be at St. Ludmila Church on Friday night, and breakfasts are scheduled at the Local P3 building across the river at 116 14th Ave. SE, but other events are in Czech Village.
Following are some highlights.

For a full listing, see the Web site of the Czech Heritage Foundation: http://czechheritage foundation.org

Friday, May 15

• 5 to 7 p.m., Taste of Czech & Slovak, St. Ludmila Church Social Hall, 211 21st Ave. SW. $8 for 20 samples or $5 for 10 samples.
• 6 p.m. Walking Tour of Historic Czech Village, starting at museum building, 30 16th Ave. SW. $6 for members, $7 for non-members.
• 5 to 9 p.m., carnival behind Sykora Bakery. 
• 7 to 9 p.m., Czech Plus Band Summer Kickoff Concert at Kosek Bandstand.

Saturday, May 16

• 7 to 11 a.m., Egg and Houby Breakfast, P3 Building, 116 14th Ave. SE, $6 in advance, $7 at the door.
• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., car show at Sokol Park.
• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tractor Expo in parking lot at C Street and 16th Avenue SW.
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Houby Contest. Awards given for largest, smallest or most creatively displayed morel mushrooms, next to Sykora Bakery.
• 9 a.m., flag-raising ceremony, Kosek Bandstand.
• 9:30 to 11 a.m., concert featuring Czech Plus Band and Czech Heritage Singers, Kosek Bandstand.
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Carnival, behind Sykora Bakery.
• 11 a.m., Maypole Dance, Kosek Bandstand.
• Noon, parade.
• 1 to 2 p.m., Miss Czech & Slovak Iowa Pageant and Kroje Competition, Kosek Bandstand.
• 1 to 5 p.m., Bingo at P3 Building
• 2 p.m., National Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak Folk Dance Festival, Kosek Bandstand.
• 4 p.m., Folk Hymn Mass, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1230 Fifth St. SE.
• 6 to 7 p.m., Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Crowning Ceremony, P3 Building.
• 6 to 9 p.m., Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen on the C Street Stage.

Sunday, May 17

• 7 to 11 a.m., Egg and Houby Breakfast, P3 Building.
• 10 a.m., children’s tractor pull, A Street and 16th Avenue SW.
• Noon to 5 p.m., carnival behind Sykora Bakery.
• Noon to 5 p.m., Houby Identification Exhibition.
• 2 to 2:30 p.m., Svetlucky Folk Ensemble, Kosek Bandstand.
• 2:30 p.m., Cabbage Roll for all ages, in front of Sykora Bakery.
• 4 p.m., children’s parade.
• 4:30 p.m., children’s bicycle giveaway.

Crowds gather for the 2008 Friday Night Concert Series in Iowa City / Photo by Greg Frieden, North Liberty.

I don’t know about you, but the word FREE always gets my attention. The folks at Summer of the Arts, an organization in Iowa City that supports four outstanding local arts and cultural events, have combined two of my very favorite things: FREE and live music.  That’s right. Every Friday night they bring great live music to downtown Iowa City and it won’t cost you a thing. 

Friday nights 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., mid-May through August, the Ped-mall in downtown Iowa City is THE place for live local entertainment. Bring your lawn chair to the Weatherdance Fountain Stage, near the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel, and ease into the night as the sun goes down and the stage heats up. You can catch jazz, blues, bluegrass and beyond; every week is something different. Check out the full 2009 entertainment schedule. 

This is a family-friendly event. The kids stay cool by splashing in the fountain or they can burn some energy climbing and exploring on the playground close by. There’s no better place to sit back and just watch people than the tree-lined sidewalks of the Ped-mall in Iowa City. I hope you’ll discover (like I have) that people watching is even more fun when you’re tapping your toes to terrific live tunes.

Friday Night Concert Series is an ideal time to grab a bite to eat in downtown Iowa City. There are so many great choices; all within walking distance of the Weatherdance Fountain Stage. Discover a new favorite every Friday night. 

I keep my lawn chair in the trunk of my car just so it’s always handy for a Friday in Iowa City. You do the same, and I’ll watch for you on the Ped-mall in Iowa City this summer.

Wicked Liz and the Belly Swirls perform in Greene Square Park as part of the 2008 Uptown Friday Night Concert series in Cedar Rapids. The 10-week concert series begins in May/Photo by Stephen Schmidt, The Gazette

Friday’s in Cedar Rapids are extra special thanks to Uptown Friday Nights sponsored by the Cedar Rapids JayCees. It’s safe to say some of the most memorable times I’ve had in Cedar Rapids happened at Uptown Friday Night… but that’s a story for another day and another blog post.

Uptown Friday Night is an ideal way to usher in the weekend. Every Friday from Memorial Day weekend through July, you can find a party happening at Green Square Park located on the corner of 3^rd Avenue and 5^th Street SE in Cedar Rapids. The fun gets rolling promptly at 5 until 8 p.m. Parents, find your babysitter now because the kids are staying home. Alcohol is served and you must be 21 to enter and plan to pay a cover charge. By the way, don’t forget your ID, because you’ll be carded at the gate regardless of your wrinkles. (Thank you, Jaycees, for preserving my fragile ego.)

Green Square Park is a perfect party place to meet up with good friends. There are lots of shady trees to relax by and even more hard working Jaycee volunteers operating the event. Ample parking is available in the downtown area. One thing can make it better and that’s the rock’n area bands who take the stage each week. This year the crowd-pleasing The Swing Crew kicks off the summer season and they’ll be back for a second performance July 10. Take a look at this year’s outstanding schedule.

The Jaycees aim to throw a fantastic party, but they’re also raising funds for important local causes. They’ve donated nearly $300,000 Uptown profits to area charities.

If the weather looks questionable, tune into Mix 96.5 FM for updates.

I always make a point to make it to more than a few Uptown’s each summer. My pals and I will see you there!

For more event information visit www.uptownfirdaynights.com.

Blues & BBQ in North Liberty

You’ll find family fun in the Corridor in North Liberty  on Sunday, May 24, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s one day, one party, one cool time.

Bring your lawn chairs or your blankets to Liberty Centre located near the intersection of Penn Street and Hwy 965. But leave your coolers at home because they’re not permitted. The only alcohol allowed will be at the beverage garden where the beer is cold and the music sizzles. Be sure to bring your ID.

You’ll find free great regional blues talent jamming on the stage all day. Catch David Zolo, Ernie Peniston Band, Bob Dorr and the Blue Band, Kevin B.F. Burt and The Wise Fools.

You also won’t have to stash a lot of cash in your wallet because there’s no admission fee or parking fee, but keep in mind parking is limited. Here’s a parking tip. If you’re local and you can avoid driving to the party, lace up your walking shoes or pedal your bike on over to the Community Center. They’ll even have extra bike racks available so you can leave your bike there, and walk through the underpass to the party. Parking in nearby neighborhoods will be limited and some parking may be available at the Community Center and the Iowa Community Credit Union.

Blues & BBQ is designed for families. Kids will have plenty of free choices. They can try fishing, a petting zoo (who can resist those little fuzzy critters?) face painting, temporary tattoos, an obstacle course and climbing wall by the National Guard, a bouncy house (my personal favorite), Bound-4-Glory Basketball, and remote control vehicle demonstrations with Midamerica Hobbies. Reasonably priced carnival games and a dunk tank will be offered for all ages.

Come hungry because the at least a dozen local vendors will be on site serving up tangy barbeque favorites like ribs, pulled pork, and meat on a stick. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, try a burger, hotdog, falafel, or ice cream treat.

It’ll happen rain or shine. You only get one shot this year for this one day, one party, one cool time in North Liberty, Iowa. Don’t miss it.

Dancers weave around a Maipole at the Festhalle barn during the 2007 Maifest celebration in Amana.

AMANA – The Amana Colonies’ Maifest celebration welcomes springtime and offers a variety of entertainment next weekend. The celebration, themed Hope Springs Eternal, will begin with a morning parade Saturday, May 2, through Amana.

It will be followed by Taste of Amana Colonies, featuring favorite German foods, in the Festhalle Barn. Polka music, Maipole dancers, games and tours also will be part of the celebration.

From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, author Jennifer Sandersfeld and illustrator Gordon Kellenberger will autograph copies of “Kolony Kinder Stories” at Catiri’s Art Oasis. The book is written from stories and songs told by older residents about communal times. Proceeds go to the Amana Arts Guild.

A barn dance with The Gilded Bats, featuring caller Nikki Herbst, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday in Festhalle Barn. Admission is $5 per person; children 13 and younger are admitted for free.

Activities May 3 include a wine and beer walk and
Maipole dancing.

For more information about Maifest and a schedule of events for the festival, go to www.festivalsinamana.com

© Gazette Communications 2009