After months of planning the 36th annual Bell Tower Festival will officially open this Friday at 7 pm with a brief ceremony and the presentation of the Bell Tower of Fame Award on the Plaza Stage on the south side of the courthouse. Roy Bardole of Rippey is this year’s honoree. He has distinguished himself with three decades of efforts on behalf of soybean farmers in Iowa and across the nation.
Despite the “official” opening at 7 pm, activities will be under way well before that. The carnival will open at 4 pm Friday on the east side of the courthouse square. The Cattlemen will serve a beef barbecue from 5 to 7 pm at the Greene County Community Center, the Jefferson park and recreation department will host its bags tournament on the square at 5:30 pm, and the Elks and Does will conduct their Flag Day ceremony on the south side of the square at 6 pm.
The complete schedule for the festival, with a Bell Tower Big Top theme, includes the parade Saturday at 11 am, a car and motorcycle shows, an art show at the Greene County Historical Museum, several fundraiser meals by local groups, 3-on-3 basketball and runs of one mile, 5K and 10K, and much more.
The beverage garden one block north of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, will feature Mike on the Mic with karaoke Friday starting at 8:30 pm, and the arena-style, high energy band PopROCKS Saturday starting at 8 pm. So that families and teens can enjoy PopROCKS, a Family Park will also be available. No IDs will be needed and only non-alcoholic beverages will be sold.
For a complete Bell Tower Big Top schedule, visit www.belltowerfestival.org. To download and print a convenient tri-fold schedule, click here: Bell Tower Big Top schedule
The Bell Tower Festival is an annual event planned and hosted by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and its events committee, chaired by Toni Linberg Wetrich. Angie Pedersen has served as Bell Tower Festival coordinator since early April.
Lion Tamer sponsors ($1,000 or more) are Home State Bank, Jefferson Telecom, Peoples Trust & Savings Bank, Wild Rose Jefferson, Greene County, and A & W Root Beer.
Tight Rope sponsors ($500 to $749) are Greene County Medical Center, Wells Fargo, Farm Bureau, Rueter’s Red Power and Raccoon Valley Lawn Care LLC.
Side Show sponsors ($250 to $499) are Eye Care Associates, Excuses/Peony, Wilcox Law Firm, Alliant Energy, Louis Dreyfus, Hy-Vee, Regency Park Nursing and Rehab, West Central, The Gardens, Medicap Pharmacy, Raccoon Valley Radio, Hotel Pattee, Casey’s General Stores, Farmers Mutual Insurance and Deal’s Orchard.
Clown Sponsors ($100 to $249) are Brooker & Company Inc, Herald Publishing, Krieger Greenhouses Inc, Unger Insurance LTD, Kingsgate Insurance and Edward Jones. State Farm Insurance is a Tent Tender sponsor.
