The 37th annual Bell Tower Festival will run this weekend in Jefferson. The highlight of the event will be the first-ever concert of the full carillon of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. Here
Following is a partial listing of the activities. A complete, updated list is available on the Festival website located at here.
Friday, June 9
- Bell Tower tours 10 am – 9 pm. Saturday 9 am – 10 pm.
- Bounce Around Inflatables 4 – 9 pm. Pre-Sale wristbands available for purchase at Home State Bank, Kum & Go, and Greene County Chamber office.
- Vendors and booth exhibits: Friday setup 10 am – 2 pm. Booths open 3 – 8 pm Saturday booths open 9 am – 8 pm.
- Ring Out For Art sculpture contest: Sculptures located on the north side of the courthouse. Public voting on sculptures at Jefferson Matters: Main Street booth Friday until 6 pm and Saturday until 3 pm. Sponsored by Jefferson Matters: Main Street and Home State Bank.
- Aktion Club popcorn sales. Friday: 4 – 8 pm. Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm.
- Barbecue – 5 – 7 pm on Lincoln Way in front of the courthouse. Grilled by Greene County Beef Producers, served by Greene County Education Association.
- Thomas Jefferson Gardens open house 5 – 6:30 pm. Tour the new community “front door”, home of the Greene County Chamber.
- Greene County Singers 5 – 5:15 pm. Plaza Stage.
- Class reunions – by graduation year 5 – 7 pm. Tables reserved at barbeque and Beverage Garden either night. Saturday, reunions at off-site venues.
- First Annual Game Changing Performance Games 7 pm. 708 N Cedar.
- Opening ceremonies and Tower of Fame Award presentation 6:30 pm, Plaza Stage. Reception for Tower of Fame Award recipients following in courthouse rotunda.
- Art show Friday 8 – 9 pm, Saturday 1 – 9 pm, Sunday 1 – 4 pm. Greene County Historical Museum one block east of Thomas Jefferson Gardens.
- History Boy Theatre Co presents Johnny Guitar: The Musical, 7 pm Friday and Saturday. 2 pm Sunday. 115 S. Wilson.
- Beverage Garden- Music by The Back 9, 9:30 pm- midnight.
- Star Watch – dusk, Corner of Lincoln Way and Wilson Friday and Saturday
Saturday, June 10
- Firemen’s breakfast 6 – 10 am, fire station in 100 block of E. Washington St.
- Ding Dong Dash – Check-In 7 -7:45 am. One mile, 8 am. 5k, 10k, Run/Walk, 8:20 am. Greene County Community Center. Sponsored by Jefferson park and recreation department.
- Show and Shine Car Show – Registration, 8 -11 am. Show, 11 am- 3 pm. Awards, 3:30 pm. Corner of State and Vine St.
- Motorcycle Poker Run – Registration and ride, 8 am- 5 pm (last bike out by noon.) Bell Tower Festival Beverage garden. Website: www.btfcycle.info. Online registration recommended.
- Motorcycle show – Registration, 8 am – 1 pm. Show, noon- 4 pm. Judging at 3. Peoples Trust & Savings Bank parking lot
- Petting Zoo – 9 am – 8 pm, Shadran south lawn, 100 block of W. Washington St.
- United States Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble. 9:30 – 11 am, Plaza Stage.
- Parade – Line up 9 – 10:30 am at Greene County High School. Wheels roll at 11 am. Registration at BellTowerFestival.org. Email belltowerfestival@gmail.com or call Chamber 515-386-2155. Parade route: Start at Greene County High School on Chestnut Street to Lincoln Way west to Vine St. then south to the middle school. Parking and shuttle service provided at the middle school for parade participants. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Jefferson.
- Watermelon feed – After the parade on N. Wilson, in front of Masonic Lodge.
- GaGa Ball tournament – following the parade at Webb House, 401 S. Wilson.
- Spaghetti lunch fundraiser – 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. VFW Hall (east side of courthouse square).
- AAI/Spalding Hoop Shoot in the Park- 12:30 pm check in time. Tournament at Russell Park. Sponsored by Jefferson Park & Rec Department & AAI-Spalding
- Antique tractor show – 12:30 – 3:30 pm. Home State Bank parking lot.
- Slip-N-Slide Kickball at Kelso Park – Check in 1 pm, tournament begins 1:30 pm.
- Entertainment on the Plaza Stage includes Rhythm Room Dancers, Elite Tumblers, Town and Country Band, Professional Magician David Casas, Prairie Blue Creative Arts Dance.
- Jaws of Life Jinga – 1:30 – 2:15 pm, corner of Lincoln Way and Wilson.
- Tower Tunes – Rick Morain soloist 3:15 – 3:30 pm.
- Spelling Bee – 2 pm, Greene County Community Center. Sponsored By Greene County Historical Society.
- Trivia Contest – 3 – 5 pm, city hall, 2nd floor. Hosted by Bell Tower Festival steering committee.
- Bill Riley Talent Show – 5 – 7 pm, Plaza Stage. Sponsored by Bolton & Menk.
- Chicken noodle dinner – 5 – 7 pm. United Methodist Church
- Beverage Garden with music by Brad Morgan – 7 – 8:30 pm. Ladyies of the ‘80s perform 9 pm. – 1 am.
- Star Watch at dusk.
Sunday, June 11
- Kids Fishing Derby – 1 – 4 pm at Spring Lake State Park for youngsters ages 4 – 15. Sponsored by Greene County conservation board
