Fruitland Fun Day Celebrates Community Spirit in a Tight Knit Town
by Margaret Hurlbert
August 31, 2019

Even though Labor Day has passed, Muscatine County still has plenty of fun weekend events going on. A family favorite since 1985, Fruitland Fun Day will once again provide festivities for all on Saturday, September 7th. The region’s best early fall festival, this event will entertain all who attend and help provide scholarships to Louisa-Muscatine Junior-Senior High School seniors preparing for post-secondary education. 

 At 7:00 am, the early birds really will get the worm, or rather delicious pancakes served by the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department (FVFD). An all you can eat pancake buffet, this delicious fundraiser helps the FVFD cover their operating costs and keep Fruitland and surrounding communities safe. For those willing to work up a sweat (or work off all the pancakes they ate!), the Fruitland Fun Day run/walk will kick off at 8:00 am in Drake Park. Following the race, anyone wanting to participate in the parade can line up at City Hall at 9:00 pm and march through town at 10:00 am. 

Once the parade finishes, Drake park will come to life with many free activities for families. These will include a cake walk, Cinco, face painting fishing, a Hot Wheels race, mini golf, plinko, selfie station, sock dodgeball, spin the wheel, sucker tree, and toilet toss. For a $20 registration fee, cornhole players can test their skills in the annual tournament. Fruitland Fun Day attendees can also enjoy the eleventh annual car show (one of the most popular in the region) and a craft fair. 

New this year, kids can participate in a scavenger hunt, sponsored by Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA). According to Fruitland Fun Days organizer Becca Shoppa, MCSA will provide a list of supplies to each participant. Kids will go around the park and to their neighbors requesting supply donations. The first kid to complete their list will get a prize, and all donations collected will go to help the homeless at MCSA.  

In the evening, music lovers can listen to a pair of free concerts by Lynn Allen, an Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Van Britt. A local band led by Fruitland’s own Carter Williams; concert goers will surely dig this world class sound with a down home touch.

Throughout the day, visitors to Fruitland Fun Days can purchase food from three delicious vendors, Missterssippis, Mr. Pigg’s BBQ, and Tony’s Tacos. Beginning at 11:00 am, the beer tent will begin serving drinks as well, with profits from the $5 cover charge (along with entry fees from the car show, craft fair, and the like) going to the annual scholarship fund.

A wonderful event that helps area students afford higher education, Fruitland Fun Days has a lot to offer the community. It also draws neighbors from Fruitland and beyond together through a special bonding experience. As Fruitland resident Ashley Loveless put it, “it’s truly a time for the community to come together and celebrate our awesome little town!” 

Recent Stories

Recent Shows

Get Discover Muscatine in Your Inbox

Select list(s):
en_USEnglish