Floyd County Museum’s Heritage Fest is Saturday, July 27

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Music, food, activities for the kids and celebrating the history of Floyd County are on the program for the annual Heritage Fest, to be held Saturday, July 27, at the Floyd County Museum and nearby Andres Park.

Included in the free event, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be music by Kris Karr and Jordan Jeffrey Messerole, a petting zoo, popcorn served from the iconic Charles City popcorn wagon, food from the Shiverin’ Squirrel and Churasan food trucks, historic tractors on display, and cricket games with Tom Melville and other history-inspired crafts and games.

Karr, an Iowa Rock ’N Roll Music Association Hall of Fame inductee, is a singer and songwriter who performs with his Kris Karr Band and also does solo acoustic shows like the one he will perform from 10 a.m. to noon at the History Fest.

Messerole, a fifth-generation Iowan and award-winning songwriter from Des Moines, will play from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Floyd County Museum will be open free of charge all day, including the Charles City Model Railroad Club room, said Mckenna Lloyd, the museum director.

“Heritage Fest is the museum’s largest event of the year,” she said, adding that more than 400 people attended last year’s events and the organizers are hoping for an even bigger crowd this year.

“Some new things to look forward to this year will be a petting zoo, more antique tractors, new crafts and games, a miniature ‘train’ ride, and operational antique machines from the Cedar Valley Engine Club,” Lloyd said.

“Everything is free,” she added, except for purchases from the food trucks.

Vendors and partner organizations for this year’s Heritage Fest include The Minneapolis Moline Collectors’ Club, Artisan Creek LLC, Charles City Historic Preservation Commission, Hart Parr Oliver Collectors Association and Great Plains Oliver Collectors.

Also the National 19th Amendment Society, Fossil and Prairie Park Preserve/Floyd County Conservation, JLM Designs, Crafty by Nature, BioInspired and the Cedar Valley Engine Club.