Events calendar

To add an event to the community event calendar, send a press release to news@crestonnews.com.

Fridays After Five (May 28-Sept. 17)

Fridays After Five, each Friday at 5:05 p.m. at Creston Elks Lodge, 403 W. Montgomery St. Each week, from May 28 through Sept. 17, a different artist or band will perform with proceeds going to a local non-profit of community fundraising effort each week, such as the McKinley Park Aquatic Center, Creston Animal Rescue Effort, Creston Arts, Dollars for Scholars, Union County Fairgrounds, Kiwanis, Elks and Lions clubs. A full list of performers can be found the “Fridays After Five” Facebook page.

Union County Genealogical program (July 10)

The Union County Genealogical Society has announced that it will host their first Saturday seminar July 10, with a program by returning popular speaker, board-certified genealogist and Iowa native Alice Hoyt Veen of Prairie Roots Research, with “Military Bounty Lands: A Bountiful Harvest” from noon to 3 p.m. July 10 in the genealogy room at Gibson Memorial Library in Creston. The program will also be available via Zoom. For more information and to register visit https://unioncgs.org.

Jeep Fest at McKinley Park (July 10)

Jeep Fest: “A Jeep Show and Shine Event,” will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at McKinley Park.

Iowa VFW 100th Anniversary Celebration (July 17)

Creston’s Theodore J. Martens VFW Post No 1797 is hosting the state’s VFW 100th anniversary by having an all day event at Afton’s Three Mile Lodge. All events for the celebration are open to the public and include a free open fishing derby, starting 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., a golf tournament at Afton’s Lakeshore Golf and Country Club. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Tee time will be 9 a.m. Four-person teams enrollment fee $200. An evening cookout will be 4:30 p.m. at Three Mile Lodge, with free will offerings accepted. There will also be a raffle drawing with a chance to win prizes at the cookout.

Green Valley Amazing Race (July 17)

The Green Valley Amazing Race event will take place 5 p.m. July 17 at Green Valley State Park. Test out your outdoor recreation skills and Green Valley State Park knowledge. Park officials are searching for 12 two-person teams to compete. Each stage of the race will have different tasks to complete before you can receive the next hint. Each group needs a vehicle for transportation in the park and prizes for the top three groups will be available. Pre-registration is required and will start June 25. To register your group, call the park office at 641-782-5131 and leave a message. Registration is first come first serve for the first twelve groups.

Creston Farmers Market (June 1-Sept. 1)

Live music with locally grown vegetables, dairy, beef, baked and handmade goods and crafts will be available 4 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays.

Fuel Up for Summer Fun (through July 30)

The summer lunch program Fuel Up for Summer Fun for children and teens will begin June 7 and run through July 30, where free breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup at 11:30 a.m. to noon every Monday and Wednesday at Creston High School Commons and also at Afton City Park and Lorimor City Park. For more information contact Tawnya Jones, food service director at either 641-782-2918 or 641-464-5704.

Ringgold County Fair (July 7 to 11)

More details to come.

Co-ed sand volleyball (starts July 7)

Join in for a co-ed sand volleyball tournament July 7 at Taylor Park Sand Volleyball Court. A six-player volleyball game will take place every Wednesday and Sunday through July. For costs to register and for more information call Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center at 641-782-9622.

Adams County Fair (July 9 to 14)

More details to come.

Union County Genealogical program (July 10)

Clarke County Fair (July 13 to 19)

More details to come.

Taylor County Fair (July 14 to 18)

More details to come.

Green Valley Amazing Race (July 17)

Children swim lessons (July 19)

Children swim lessons are being offered at Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center, with six lessons starting July 19. To register and for more information call SPFFC at 641-782-9622.

Adair County Fair (July 21 to 25)

More details to come.

Union County Fair (July 22 to 27)

More details to come.

Lenox Rodeo Parade (July 21)

The Lenox rodeo parade is 7 p.m. July 21. All area fire departments, rodeo queens, fair queens, hitched and unhitched ponies, antique tractors and cars are invited to participate.

Lenox Rodeo (July 22)

The 76th Annual Lenox Iowa Rodeo begins 7:30 p.m. July 22. Featured events during rodeo week include a parade, youth activities, steer riding and mutton bustin’ with a Lenox Stock and Saddle Club riders main event each night. The grounds are located on East Iowa St. in the south east part of Lenox. It is to the north of the high school and across the street from the baseball field. For more info, visit the event page on Facebook.

Genealogy open class at Union County Fair (July 23-25)

The open class genealogy/history department are hosting an exhibit, with junior and adult open classes, as well as free beginning genealogy special workshops at the Union County Fair in Afton, 1 p.m. July 24 and 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. July 25. The community is asked to submit entries of their family history for the overall exhibit. Entries will be accepted from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 22, or from 8 to 11 a.m. July 23 in the 4-H building on the fairgrounds. Rules for entries are listed in the Union County Fair Book that can be obtained at the Union County Extension Office in Creston. For more information and to view the open classes visit unioncountyfairgrounds.com/county-fair-info.html. or call the department chair at 641-782-4525 or 641- 202-8734. Judging will be Friday, July 23 at 6 p.m.

Youth coloring contest at Union County Fair (July 24)

Children’s day at the fair is Saturday, July 24 and the history/ genealogy department will be sponsoring a youth coloring contest for ages up to 16 years from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Union County Genealogical Society is the genealogy/history division open classes’ sponsoring organization. For more information contact the department chair at 641-782-4525 or 641- 202-8734.

‘What do you know about the Chautauqua in Creston?’ (July 25)

A program entitled “What do you know about the Chautauqua in Creston?” will be 2 p.m. July 25 at the Creston Historical Village in McKinley Park. The historical program will be presented by Linda Huffman, Jerrie Henderson and Betty Wallace. Come learn about a piece of Creston’s history!

Youth Soccer Camp (July 26-30)

Youth Soccer Camp for 6th to 8th graders will be 2 to 3 p.m. and 1st to 5th graders will be 4 to 5 p.m. July 26 to 30 at Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center. For registration, cost details and more information call SPFFC at 641-782-9622.

Youth Volleyball Camp (July 28-30)

Youth Volleyball Camp for 5th and 6th graders will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m., and a camp for 7th and 8th graders will take place 11 to 12:30 p.m. For registration, cost details and further information call Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center at 641-782-9622.

Picnic in the Park (Aug. 5)

Ringgold County Conservation is hosting four picnics in the park at Poe Hollow Park, just east of Mount Ayr. During each picnic, Director Kate Zimmerman will present a free 30-minute educational nature program starting at noon. The program will be on predators and prey and food will be provided by Notorious BBQ. Food and program will be located at the Hawkins Hideaway shelter (the middle shelter). Anyone is welcome to come to the park to purchase food during their serving hours, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picnic tables will be set up and spaced outside the shelter house for you to have lunch or get food to go.

2021 Creston Uncorked & Uncapped wine walk (Aug 6)

Mark your calendars! Creston Uncorked and Uncapped 2021 Wine Walk is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 6. More info to come!

Creston’s ‘Crazy Summer Sale Days’ (Aug. 6-7)

Aug. 6 and 7 will be Creston’s Crazy Summer Sale Days and Iowa Sales Tax Holiday. No tax is collected on sales of select clothing and footwear during this time. The exemptions and rules are listed on the Iowa Department of Revenue website. The list of taxable and exempt items and other information has not changed from last year. This exemption applies to each article priced under $100.

Hinterland Music Festival (Aug. 6 to 8)

Three days of music curated for all who love music and the outdoors Aug. 6 to 8 at the Avenue of Saints Amphitheater in Saint Charles. Headliners include The Avett Brothers, Tyler Childers, Leon Bridges and more. Visit hinterlandiowa.com for more info.

Relay for Life and lighted parade (Aug. 7)

A Relay for Life and lighted drive-thru ceremony, hosted by the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life of Southwest Iowa, has been planned for Aug. 7 at McKinley Park Lake in Creston. The daylight drive-thru lighted ceremony starts at 7:30 p.m. through 9 p.m. and an evening lighted drive-thru luminaria runs from 9 to 9:30 p.m. To be part of the Relay For Life, register to join an existing team, start a new team, to donate, or to learn more about Relay For Life, visit relayforlife.org/southwestiowa or visit their Facebook page: Relay for Life of Southwest Iowa.

Trevor Regan ‘Train Ugly’ event (Aug 10)

The high school student session is from 1 to 2:15 p.m. for both Creston and East Union students, and they do not need to register. The education partners session is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Creston High School Gym. To register, and for more information, visit https://bit.ly/3vqsh5z. There is also an event created on Facebook at Union County Development Association.

Iowa State Fair (Aug. 12 to 22)

The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is Iowa’s great celebration, a salute to the state’s best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. Grandstand events include performances by Casting Crows, Blake Shelton with Matt Stell, Sam Hunt, Boyz II men, The Beach Boys and more. Visit iowastatefair.org for more info.

Evening concert at Holy Spirit (Aug. 14)

A meet-and-greet and evening concert will be 5:15 p.m. Aug. 14 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. This evening concert will feature a performance by Steve Angrisano, renowned songwriter, storysteller and musician, along with a 15 minute presentation during his intermission by Ellen Miller about Mary’s Meals. A meet-and-greet with cookies and punch will follow in the church basement. Free will donations will be kindly accepted. There will also be a Mass service at the church 4 p.m. prior to the event.

VA Mobile Medical Unit (Aug. 20)

Central Iowa VA Virtual Health is offering 2021 onsite visits to provide services to veterans in the Creston area. The VA Mobile Medical Unit will allow veterans to schedule and attend appointments in a secure and private Telehealth connection. The unit will be located at the Alliant Energy parking lot, 208 W. Taylor St. August 20, October 15 and December 15. Some of the services available are primary care, respiratory, cardiology, nutrition, occupational therapy and lab draws. To schedule a visit on the Mobile Medical Unit, call 515-699-5999, ext. 21501.

Ayr Days 2021 (Aug. 28)

Mount Ayr celebrates its annual town celebration with a parade, a large variety of vendors, food trucks, rides and games 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 28. For more info, follow the event page on Facebook.

Tingley’s 2nd Annual Ice Cream Social (Aug. 29)

Tingley’s 2nd Annual Ice Cream Social judged competition will be 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 29. Free will offerings will be accepted. Lunch will also be available to purchase at the event courtesy of the Cattlemen’s Association and Kids in Touch. A non-judged antique car, bike and tractor show will take place. Ringgold County’s Ranger Kate will be sponsoring an event for kids.

Picnic in the Park (Sept. 2)

Ringgold County Conservation is hosting four picnics in the park at Poe Hollow Park, just east of Mount Ayr. During each picnic, Director Kate Zimmerman will present a free 30-minute educational nature program starting at noon. Today’s picnic will be provided by Iowa Farm Kitchen and program will be on Monarch tags. Food and program will be located at the Hawkins Hideaway shelter (the middle shelter). Anyone is welcome to come to the park to purchase food during their serving hours, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picnic tables will be set up and spaced outside the shelter house for you to have lunch or get food to go.

Hopeville Rural Music Reunion (Sept 12)

The Hopeville Rural Music Reunion is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 12 at Hopeville Square Park in Hopeville. Gather up your instruments, your singing voices and plan to attend. There will be a great need of musicians, bands and singers to perform so hope to see everyone there!

Picnic in the Park (Oct. 7)

Ringgold County Conservation is hosting four picnics in the park at Poe Hollow Park, just east of Mount Ayr. During each picnic, Director Kate Zimmerman will present a free 30-minute educational nature program starting at noon. Today’s picnic will be provided by Smokin with E’s BBQ and the program will be fall colors. Food and program will be located at the Hawkins Hideaway shelter (the middle shelter). Anyone is welcome to come to the park to purchase food during their serving hours, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picnic tables will be set up and spaced outside the shelter house for you to have lunch or get food to go.