The 2023 Bell Tower Festival, themed “Live Your Legacy”, will fill Jefferson’s downtown with activities, entertainment and refreshments this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
A Downtown Dinner Party is again planned for under the sun shades in the 100 block of W. Lincoln Way Thursday evening. A social hour with cocktails and games will begin at 5 pm, with dinner and dessert at 6:15 following by entertainment and raffles at 7 pm. Attendees will be eligible to win nearly $5,000 in prizes. Music and DJ services will be provided by the Shuffle Couple.
The dinner is a fundraiser for future festivals. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Registration is available at https://belltowerfestival.com.
“There is a dream to be widely known as ‘the best small town festival in Iowa.’… There also is a dream to be able to host major musician headliners and have them perform in Jefferson. This dinner party event is part of the plan to help make that a reality. It is in part a fundraiser, though it’s also meant to be the most radical fun you could possibly have at a community event while helping make these goals a realty,” said BTF steering committee chair Phillip Heisterkamp.
The Greene County Medical Center Foundation is holding its annual golf tournament Friday at the Jefferson Community Golf Course. Call Foundation director Nancy Houska at 515-386-2114 for information.
The traditional opening ceremony will be held Friday at 6 pm on the Plaza Stage on the south side of the courthouse. Julie Fie, a 1977 graduate of Jefferson Community High School, will be honored with the Bell Tower of Fame Award. Fie recently ended a 41-year career in media and public relations for the National Basketball Association. A reception will follow inside the courthouse until 8 pm.
Live music Friday evening will be provided by Caleb Elliott at 7 pm and Royce Johns at 8 pm.
The Bell Tower Festival parade, once again sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jefferson, will step off from Greene County Middle School Saturday at 11 am. The route has been changed to accommodate the sun shades on W. Lincoln Way. Rather than turning west onto Lincoln Way and going past the courthouse and bell tower, the parade will turn east and disband in front of the Historical Museum.
Shuttle service for parade participants will be provided from the fairgrounds. All participants are encouraged to use the shuttle, as there will not be parking at the middle school. Entries should be lined up ready for judging by 10 am.
A traveling trophy will be awarded to the best overall parade float, along with plaques for the entry that best depicts the “Live Your Legacy” theme and best float in commercial and non-commercial categories.
Parade registration is open until Friday at https://belltowerfestival.com. Entries the day of the parade will be required to pay a $20 cash same-day entry fee.
Reunion Rendezvous, hosted by the Greene County Schools Foundation, will be on the south side of the courthouse under the sun shades Saturday from 12:30 to 3 pm. Live music will be provided by Jake Doty. All class reunion groups are welcome.
The Elks will host their annual hamburger feed after the parade at the Elks lodge on W. Harrison St. Servicing will be from 12 to 2 pm.
JPRD’s three-on-three basketball tournament will begin at noon at Russell Park, with the pickleball tournament at 12:30, also at Russell Park.
This year’s Saturday afternoon car show will be hosted by the Jefferson Herald on W. State St following the parade.
A new event for the festival will be a mobile escape room from 1 to 9 pm, provided by The Escape Unit. Groups of up to 10 participants will have up to 30 minutes to find their way out. Visit https://belltowerfestival.com for available time slots.
A carnival will be open on the east side the courthouse Friday from 5 to 10 pm and Saturday from 12:30 to 10 pm. The brew station will open Saturday at 12:30 pm.
Another new event will be wine tasting from 3 to 4:30 pm on the shady north lawn of the courthouse. The registration fee includes sampling of 4-5 wines, charcuterie board of appetizers, and a wine glass to take home. Registration is limited and must be in advance. Visit https://belltowerfestival.com for information.
Live music Saturday evening will be provided by Exchange on the Eighth at 7 pm and Dirt Road Divide at 9 pm.
