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 nawa
Events and Attractions
Welcome to Onawa. Every year Onawa is host to over 25,000 guests as visitors come to participate in one our great events or tour our attractions.
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The number of guests dwarfs Onawa's population of 3,300 but you'll find us friendly, helpful and excellent hosts. Welcome to Onawa:- The Gateway to the Loess Hills, Location of the only exact replica in the world of the Lewis and Clark Keelboat, Home of the Original Eskimo Pie, and the Widest Main Street USA.
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Loess Hills Prairie Seminar (May 30 & 31, & June
1, 2008) is held the 1st weekend after Memorial Day in the Loess Hills. This back to nature weekend of hiking and nature studies is open to all ages and has repeat participants every year. The Loess Hills are a natural land formation made by silt blown off of the ice age glaciers and Loess Hills are found only one other place – China. Follow the Scenic By-way signs to the seminar and some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Participation in the weekend long seminar is free, there is a fee charged for meals.
For more information contact the Monona County Conservation office 712-433-2400 or the AEA office eperley@juno.com 712-274-6000 ext. 6083.
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Treasure Sale and Demolition Derby (June 7, 2008) is held in June. The Treasure Sale is being expanded in 2008 to include a community-wide garage sale. Details can be obtained by calling the Chamber Office at 712-423-1801, or emailing at chamber@onawa.com. The evening concludes with a Demolition Derby at the Monona County Fairgrounds.
Rules for the derby can be found on the Monona County Fair website – mononacofair.com or by calling the Fair at 712-423-2096.
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Depot Art Show (June 14,
2008) Held annually for 20 years the Depot Art show is a juried art show. The art show is sponsored by the Onawa Kiwanis Club and is held at the Kiwanis Train Depot Museum on the Saturday of the Lewis and Clark Festival. No entry fee for visitors, entry fee for artists. Cash prizes, merit ribbons, and purchase awards are presented.
For more information contact Jean Virtue 712.433.1259 or email
jmvirtue@longlines.com
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Monona County Fair (July
16-20, 2008) is one of the last free county fairs around. Preliminary events start with the 4-H Horse Show on Saturday (July 12) along with a talent show on Tuesday eve (July 15). Wednesday evening is the fair kickoff night; the flags are raised, 4-H pies are auctioned off, and the grand finale - the announcement of the Monona County Fair Queen, her Court, and the Monona County Little Princess. Thursday evening entertainment is the Grand national Outlaw Tractor Pull. The Outlaw Pull is a popular grandstand event, and part of the western circuit, and sanctioned with a $30,000 purse! This year, the grandstand events for Friday and Saturday will be the Demolition Derby with over $14,000 in prize money plus numerous trophies. Sunday is the water fight conducted by the area Fire Departments, 4-H awards ceremonies, and the annual Monona County Fair Parade, concluding wit ha Combine Demolition Derby on Sunday evening which signals the end of another successful fair week. No carnival this year, but there will inflatable rides for all ages.
Contact the Monona County Fair Association 712.423.2096, mononacofair@onawave.net
for more information.
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ONABIKE
XIV (August 23, 2008) is Onawa’s version of that other famous bike ride but in a more manageable form and in some of Iowa’s most beautiful countryside, the Loess Hills. ONABIKE usually has over 400 registered riders. Choose between the 29 mile route that is mostly flat or the 63 mile route that is sort of flat for 54 miles and not at all flat for 9 miles. The long route includes a ride down Murray Hill, the highest elevation in Harrison County. Both routes begin and end in Onawa. The
registration fee includes sag wagon support, a t-shirt, port-a-pots, a meal, and map.
2008 registration fee will be $20. ONABIKE is always held the 4th Saturday in August.
For more information contact the Onawa Chamber. For further details and
contact information click here.
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Swap Meet (August
16, 17 2008)
The "CLASSICS" Car Club
will host their Annual Swap Meet at beautiful Gaukel Park.
The Swap Meet attracts a large number of vendors selling a variety of
auto parts, literature, tools, memorabilia, antiques, collectibles, toys and crafts. These
vendors come from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
The Swap Meet includes special exhibits, demonstrations and refreshments
throughout the day. It draws a number of enthusiasts to buy, sell and trade antique and
classic vehicles.
For additional recreation, the playground, Aquatic Center, Country Historical Complex and
Veteran's Memorial Museum are in walking distance.
Because it's difficult to predict the weather, this event is held rain or shine.
For more information contact William Wonder 712- 423-2411 or keeponcruisin@hotmail.com
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Ventures Craft Fair (September
9, 2008) held the 2nd Sunday in September and run solely by volunteers is one of the area’s largest (over 100 vendors) and very well attended craft shows. Vendors and buyers return year after year for some of the biggest crowds and nicest craft booths around.
2008 will mark Ventures 34st consecutive year. Ventures is organized by the Ladies in the Burgess Hospital Auxiliary, and all proceeds go towards our state-of-the art hospital located here in Onawa. For more information contact
Lou Hewitt, Ventures Chairman, dlhewitt@longlines.com
712.433.1281.
Other Community Events
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Easter Egg Hunt (March 22,
2008) held the Saturday before Easter on the lawn of Elmwood Care Centre, families look forward to the egg hunt all year long. A visit with the Easter bunny and collecting a basket full of eggs is a time-honored tradition organized by the Chamber. Elmwood residents stuff the eggs with candies and small toys. Egg Hunt age categories are 2 and under, 3 & 4, and 5 & 6 years of age. For more information contact the Chamber Office.
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Halloween Trick or Treating (October
31, 2008) Every year the stores are filled with pre-school age trick-or-treaters looking for treats at Chamber businesses. Once limited to the downtown stores, Chamber businesses all over town enjoy the afternoon parade of costumed youngsters.
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Legislative Coffees – On the first Saturday of February, March, and April the Onawa Chamber of Commerce hosts a legislative coffee with our State Senator and State Representative to discuss issues facing the Iowa Legislature.
To
See and Do
Other Events & Attractions
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