Community Notes: Public events back this spring and summer!

By Mark Wicks, Charles City Community Development Director

Are you ready to see people in 3D again?

After a year of being shut in, shut down and shut out, I’m happy to report in-person events are back this spring and summer. We still need to be mindful of COVID-19 safety protocols and ask everyone to take responsibility in that regard, but the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Charles City (formerly Community Revitalization) programs are a go this year for a number of events and activities.

It all starts this Saturday, May 1st, with the opening of the Charles City Downtown Farmers Market in Central Park. The market will offer fresh produce, baked goods, plants, crafts and more, and be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and from 3:30-6 p.m. on Wednesdays through mid-October.

On Saturday, May 8th, there will be a pop-up Drive-In Movie Night in the high school parking lot being put on by Main Street Charles City. The American film classic “ET: The Extra Terrestrial” will be shown around 8:45 p.m. when it gets dark enough.

Admission is a freewill donation in support of Main Street Charles City and there will be a concession stand on site featuring popcorn from the Charles Theatre. This event is dependent on the weather, as rain or high winds could force a postponement.

Party in the Park returns for its 18th season on Friday, June 11th. Enjoy live bluegrass music, a Lumberjack Camp with axe throwing, food and beverage vendors, children’s activities and more from 5-9 p.m. at Central Park. The National 19th Amendment Society is sponsoring this year’s “Chick Chip” tokens, which will be available for purchase that night in the park. Tokens from previous years will not be accepted.

There will be consecutive weekends of whitewater river fun with the Iowa Summer Games whitewater competition on the Cedar in Charles City June 19th, followed by the Charles City Whitewater Festival June 26-27.

The annual Fourth of July Celebration returns to its more traditional form July 2-4 after having to switch gears last year due to the pandemic.

Enjoy Kids Day activities on Friday, July 2nd, along with pony rides that afternoon, as well as a hot dog-eating contest and street dance that evening.

Because July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, the Firecracker 5K race, Independence Day Parade and the Central Park activities that normally take place on the 4th are all being moved to Saturday, July 3rd, so as not to interfere with church services.

Charles City’s own Endless Summer band will be performing its farewell concert in the park after the parade, so this will be your last chance to see and hear them.

The fun will continue in Central Park that evening with a special performance by David Williamson and The Bushmen, followed by the headliner band that night Shirts and Skins. Some of you may remember Williamson, who was the collaborative artist that worked with the community in developing the Revival sculpture to memorialize the historic Suspension Bridge that was lost in the Flood of 2008. He and his band, like Endless Summer, are both inductees into the Iowa Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Sunday, July 4th, is being promoted as a family and community day, to spend time with friends and loved ones prior to the annual Patriotic Concert that evening by the Charles City Municipal Band. The traditional Fireworks Show will also return on the 4th, site to be determined yet.

A special treat being offered all three days during the Fourth of July Celebration will be a synthetic ice rink down by Central Park, that people can bring their own ice skates and use or rent skates. There will be a number of other free activities in the park to enjoy as well throughout the celebration.

Speaking of winter fun during the summer, there will be a Christmas in July retail promotion in town on Saturday, July 10th, along with a Santa’s Shine & Show Car Show at Central Park put on by the Charles City Rotary Club. Local band PV & The Phantoms will be providing musical entertainment and The Pubcrawlers will have a mini beer garden in the park that day.

The local brewery will also be hosting a 5K run as well that day, while the Chamber’s BBQ Challenge will take place downtown across from Central Park. That fun competition is open to amateur and professional BBQ smokers alike, with the public able to taste the results at the end!

The second Party in the Park will be July 30th in Central Park, featuring the area teen band The Spacemen and a Science theme that night, while the final Party in the Park event will be August 13th. The entertainment that night will be Dueling Pianos by Felix & Fingers. The Arts in the Park theme will include a street chalk art competition as well as make-and-take crafts.

Be on the look out for one to two other pop-up Drive-In Movie Nights as well throughout the summer and early falls months. Dates and films to be announced.

For more information on any of the above activities, please contact the Community Development Office at (641) 228-4234 or email events@charlescitychamber.com.