Villages of Van Buren County, Iowa will host the countywide Scenic Drive Festival which 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, antiques, car show, parade, live music and so much more! While in the area be sure to visit historic sites like Pearson House Museum Complex, part of the Underground Railroad located in Keosauqua, the Pioneer Historical Museum in Farmington to learn more about the Honey War, Richardson’s Point, an 1846 Mormon Encampment site near Milton and see the Van Buren County Courthouse, Iowa’s oldest in continuous use. The extremely popular home-cooked meals include a buffet held Friday and Saturday nights at the Sunrise Bakery, North of Bonaparte, Grandma’s Noodle Dinner for Saturday lunch in Milton, and breakfast Saturday morning at the Amish School in Lebanon. Each Village has so many options you definitely won’t go hungry! And of course, all the Specialty Shops & Antique Stores will be open! The festival is held rain or shine. There is no admission fee. Please practice physical distancing when possible. A face covering is strongly recommended when distancing cannot be met. For more details and a free brochure with map visit villagesofvanburen.com or call 319-293-7111 / 800-868-7822.
Bentonsport
- 46th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Festival featuring fine artisans demonstrating and selling their original work Riverside Park along the Rose Garden. Hours: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
- Riverfest with outdoor flea market, antiques, crafts, and food vendors in the Riverfront Park. FREE wagon rides, Amish baked goods, wine tasting, music, and local fudge. Pottery, rug-weaving, blacksmithing, artist demonstrations. Saturday Only: Fun Factory family entertainment with comedy, illusions and ventriloquism with Steven Parker. Hours: Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm.
- Indian Artifact Museum, 21929 Des Moines St. Thousands of artifacts impressively displayed. No admission fee. Hours: Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm
Keosauqua
- Fall Festival Hours: Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. Arts, craft, flea market & food vendors. Vendor’s set-up downtown along the river, city park and Senior Center. Book sale inside the Public Library. Pedal Pull and Corn Hole Tournament near Hotel Manning on Saturday. Live music in Riverfront Park outdoor venue Saturday night beginning at 5pm.
- Keosauqua Rotary Grand Parade on Saturday at 10am. “Serve to Change Lives” is this year’s theme. Line up begins at 8am at the Van Buren County High School, 503 Henry St.
- Hotel Manning will have music in the courtyard, chili supper & pie auction to benefit the Hotel Manning Restoration beginning at 6pm. VBCCSD Art Club artwork will be on display.
- Roberts Memorial Building & Fairgrounds Hours: Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. Arts, crafts & flea market. Be sure to stop by to check out the new building, located on Hwy 1 N!
- Pearson House Museum Complex, 718 Dodge St. 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. Kids activities. Tours available Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday 1-4pm. No admission fee but donations for future preservation efforts are appreciated.
- Fall Festival Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show will be downtown on First Street Sunday. Registration from 10am- 12pm. Show from 12pm-3pm. Registration $15. For more information call: 319-293-3752.
- 15th Annual Fall 5K/10K Run or 2 mile Trail Walkat Lacey Keosauqua State Park, begins at the Lodge (22026 Iris Trail) at 9am on Sunday. Registration begins at 8:15am, $25.
- Riverbend Pizza & Steakhouse will be open Friday & Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-7pm with daily specials and giveaways!
- Camping with showers & electric is available at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds. $15/night with electric. Reservations: 641-919-0566.
Bonaparte
- 4th Annual BCIA Gun & Trade Show, held at Bonaparte School Community Center, 602 8th Buy – Sell – Trade. Modern & antique guns. Unique items. Food & restrooms on the premises. Fundraiser to support the Bonaparte Improvement Association. Admission: $5, under 10: Free. Hours: Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 8am-2pm.
- Fall Festival Variety of vendors, citywide yard sales, local specialty shops businesses will be open. Hours: Friday-Sunday 9am-5pm
- Sunrise Bakery Amish Dinner Buffet, 21913 White Ave. (North of Bonaparte) 5pm-7:30pm on Friday & Saturday. Adults: $12+ tax, Seniors: $11+tax, Children ages 5-12: $6+tax, Under age 4: Free. Bakery hours: 9am-8pm.
- Bonaparte Fire Department Saturday Only: Lunch begins at 10am serving sandwiches, chips & drink. The mouth-watering chicken dinner begins at 4:30pm. Live music from 5-10pm. Beer tent opens at 5pm.
Stockport
- “Experience the Pioneer” at Morris Park Fish Fry on Friday at 5pm. Saturday & Sunday from 9am-4pm enjoy tours of the barn, schoolhouse and log cabin, free covered wagon rides, antique machine demos, Louden Equipment display, Standing Bear Indian demo, music jam and more! Friday & Saturday Hoovers Oxen Demo.
- Stockport Depot / Freedom Rock Open for tours Saturday Only from 10am-4pm. No admission fee.
Douds
- Lunch Box Cafe Open Friday & Saturday from 11am-7pm. Grab a bigfoot tenderloin, ribeye steak sandwich, Bug-Z burger, homemade taco & more. Homemade cooking at its best!
Farmington
- Crafts & Food Vendors at the Senior Center. Saturday 8am-4pm & Sunday 9am-4pm.
- Pioneer Historical Museum (205 S. 4th St, next to Casey’s). Open Saturday 9am-4pm & Sunday 12pm-4pm. Learn the fascinating story of the Honey War and check out the collection of historical artifacts & souvenirs.
- Quilt Show, Book Sale, Crafts, Bake Sale & Lunch (United Methodist Church, 407 4th St) Beautiful quilts on display, crafts, books for all ages and lots of homemade goodies. Saturday 9am-4pm & Sunday 1-4pm. Saturday Only: Chicken or pork sandwiches will be available for lunch.
- Horsing Around River Valley Lodge & Campground (29080 Hawk Dr) Saturday at 9am is the Lockridge Rough Riders Fun Show followed at 1pm with the 10th Annual Fall Horse & Tack Consignment Sale. On Sunday, enjoy Cowboy Church beginning at 9am.
Lebanon Area
- Yoder’s Indian Creek Furniture (22769 Rt. V-64, Milton; 3/4 miles S of Lebanon) 15th Anniversary Sale with FREE coffee & donuts all day. 10% off everything purchased or ordered. 15% off Wind Chimes. Door prizes with a Glider Rocker as the Grand Prize. Sat only 8am-5pm.
- Amish School Breakfast & Bake Sale (Junction of V64 & J40) Homemade biscuits & gravy, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and drinks for a free will donation, 8am-Noon.
- Bloom and Bark Glass Blowing & Artisan Market (18517 Rte J40) Watch artisans at work, glass blowing demonstrations, clay oven bread baking, Local Artisan Market, crafts, baked good and more! Open Saturday Only 10am-4pm.
Cantril
- Dutchman’s Store is an Ol’Fashion General Store with bulk food, fresh produce, deli counter, fall flowers, pumpkins, gourds, hard-to-find goods, and a quilter’s paradise! Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-5pm.
Milton
- Milton Creamery (202 E Hwy 2) Open 8am-5pm. Free samples of over 20 flavors of locally made cheeses and fresh curds.
- Grandma’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Dinner (Milton Christian Church, 301 E Oak St) From 11:30am-1pm enjoy made from scratch chicken & noodles or beef & noodles with real mashed potatoes, sweet corn, green beans, tomatoes, dinner rolls, salads, desserts, and beverages. Adults $12, Ages 12 & under $5.
The Scenic Drive Festival is made possible by generous contributions from Van Buren Telephone Co., City of Keosauqua, Hotel Manning, First Iowa State Bank, Dutchman’s Store, Amish Vacation Rental and several Van Buren County businesses and organizations.
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