Fort Madison, Iowa

Events you WON'T want to MISS include:
Rock the Dock, Sidewalk Sales, Lumberjack Shows, Wine Tasting,
The Siege of Old Fort Madison, and Art in Central Park!

Sept. 21, 22, 23, 2007

Lumberjack Shows @ Riverview Park

Friday-1:00pm

Saturday-12:00pm/3:00pm/5:00pm

Sunday-12:00pm/3:00pm

Fort Madison's own beautiful riverfront will showcase three exciting Family Entertainment Events: an All American Lumberjack Show, a Kid's Lumberjack Sport Camp, and Chain Saw Carving Demo's- ALL held MULTIPLE times during the MRSD three-day event!

Come see the Red team on one side and the Blue team on the other and going head to head at ten exciting lumberjack events with only one team coming out on top!

Free to all youngsters-young and old-get taught how to log roll and X-cut saw by the PRO'S!

And in between shows and sport camps, Lumberjacks will take time out to carve small bears, chairs, cactus, mushrooms, etc. And the items will be sold to festival guests!

ROCK THE DOCK
Friday, September 21st
7:00pm-11:00pm @ Catfish Bend Casino

Start the weekend off right and join us at Catfish Bend Riverboat Casino down in Riverview Park.  They are bringing back "Rock the Dock" to kick the weekend off in STYLE!  We have booked The Blues Brothers Band out of Chicago for your listening pleasure! 

Gee Willie Inflatables
Saturday, September 22nd & Sunday, September 23rd
Times: 12:00pm-6:00pm @ Riverview Park

Gee Willie entertainment is KNOWN for providing entertainment for all ages in a fun, professional manner. Kids of ALL ages love their bouncers.  Come and play! 
You won't forget this adventure!
www.geewillie.com

SIDEWALK SALES
Friday, September 21st & Saturday, September 22nd
Downtown District (Ave G)

Shop our Downtown District for SIDEWALK SALES on Friday and Saturday!  The business district is home to treasure-filled antique shops, specialty shops, and boutiques that still believe in "good, old-fashioned' customer service.

WINE TASTING
Saturday, September 22nd
12:00pm-6:00pm in Riverview Park

Come join us for an afternoon of winetasting from some of the states best wineries!  Give your taste buds satisfaction by sipping wine while overlooking the mighty Mississippi!

September 22-23

Siege of Old Fort Madison
Saturday-1:30pm
Sunday-1:30pm

In the fall of 1812, the United States Army outpost called Fort Madison on the Mississippi was attacked at dawn by a force of 350-400 Native Americans made up of members of the Sac and Fox, Winnebago, and Pottawatawi tribes led by the young warrior Black Hawk.  In the initial action, a soldier named John Cox was shot dead, and the men who were to have watched from the block house learned they were surrounded.  The ensuing battle lasted for four days, from dawn until dusk.  During the heat of battle, with flaming arrows flying over the stockage fence, the soldiers had to invent "squirts" to apply water to the wood-shingled roofs of the Fort.  One soldier was killed by a spear injury as he fired from between the stockade fence at the Natives.  During the battle the Native Americans forces burned the Fort's gardens, and killed all of the livestock, thereby effectively taking the main food supplies.  Despite the overwhelming odds, 50 soldiers of teh U.S. Army 1st Infantry regiment led by Lt. Thomas Hamilton, consisting of the highest number of foreign-born, mostly Irish soldiers held the fort.

The volunteers and staff of Old Fort Madison will commemorate this historic event by staging a battle re-enactment for two days, Saturday and Sunday, utilizing re-enators of 1812 forces throughout the Iowa-Missouri-Illinois area. 

Entertainment is planned for the events of the weekend, including Iowa Arts Council Master Artist Tim Britton on Irish and Scottish bagpipes.  You can see him at the Old Fort on Saturday at 11:00am/1:00pm/4:30pm and on Sunday at the Old Fort at 12:00pm & 3:30pm and at Art-in-the-Park at 1:30pm.  Call us for more details-319-372-6318.

Tim Britton
http://www.skep.com/britton

Old Fort Madison
Riverview Park

Friday, Sept. 21st, Saturday, Sept. 22nd, and Sunday, Sept. 23rd
9:30am-5:00pm

Historical Museum/Old Santa Fe Depot/Santa Fe Caboose
Riverview Park
Open Friday, August 21st & Saturday, August 22nd from 10:00am-2:00pm

*Steve Rippeteau-"Railroad Presentation"
11:30am Saturday, August 22nd
Open Sunday, August 23rd from 1:00pm-4:00pm

Old Lee County Jail
7th & Ave F
Open Sunday, August 23rd from 12:00pm-3:00pm

Above picture taken at the first Art in the Park (1980)

Sunday, September 23rd

Art in Central Park

Sponsored by the Fort Madison Area Arts Association
Sunday, September 23rd
10:00am-5:00pm

Musicians:

Several varieties of fine artists will display their work for sale. Over $600 in purchase awards will be ascertained for fine artists on site the day of the event. Musicians will perform from the gazebo in the afternoon, highlighting the diverse sound spectrums of blues, Latino, and Celtic music. Food vendors will be on site as well.

FMAAA Gallery Depot
Riverview Park
Friday, Sept. 21st-10:00am-4:00pm
Saturday, Sept. 22nd-10:00am-6:00pm

          Click Here for Additional Info for Art-in-the-Park

DuPont 70th Anniversary Open House
801 35th Street/Hwy 61 across from McDonalds
Sunday, Sept. 23rd-12:00pm-6:00pm

The public is welcome to come tour the plant with a guided tour at 1:00pm/2:00pm/3:00pm/4:00pm. The Jeff Gordon car will be on display! There will be food and drinks provided and fun to be had by all!

For More Information on any or all of Fort Madison's exciting events happening this weekend, please call either Tara Johnson at 319-372-5471 or
Rachel Benda at 319-372-5472.

FUNDED IN PART BY

This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National Endowment for the Humanities.