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Get to know the Loess Hills at these signature events! There are a variety of different events and festivals throughout the year in the Loess Hills, from county fairs to First Day Hikes to small town celebrations. You can really get a sense of place by attending the numerous events held annually in the seven byway counties.
The five events selected below will give a new visitor to the Loess Hills an excellent introduction to the intrinsic qualities that make the Loess Hills of western Iowa so unique. From learning about prairie plants at the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar to cultivating a community of stewards on the LoHi Trek, there are plenty of opportunities to explore and learn about the unique landform that runs from Akron to Hamburg in western Iowa. Check out the events calendar for more fun and exciting events on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. |
Click to image above to watch the short reel.
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Loess Hills Prairie Seminar
Photo: Lance Brisbois
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Explore, learn, and relax in Monona County at the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar! This seminar attempts to connect attendees from all walks of life to the Loess Hills, one of Iowa's last wilderness areas.
The seminar was developed to serve students of all ages, educators, families, professionals in the conservation field, and all community members. It has grown to be a multi-generational event. From the pre-seminar Great Race Against Shrubs and Shade land restoration event to the free, hands-on educational sessions, there is something for everyone! The seminar is held annually the weekend after Memorial Day in the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area, where a temporary campsite is established for seminar attendees. |
Woodbine Applefest
Photo: Woodbine Applefest
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From pies to pastries to slushies to caramel, the last Saturday of every September is dedicated to a festival of everything APPLE! Since 1988, people have traveled the historic Lincoln Highway and the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway to reach Applefest in Woodbine in Harrison County.
Along with apples, Woodbine Applefest hosts one of Iowa’s largest car shows, which has attracted over 350 makes and models from as early as the Model T Ford. There is also a craft show and outdoor market that support many local business vendors….it’s a great time to start your holiday shopping! If food is your passion, we offer a wide variety of delicious cuisine, sure to fit any taste! |
Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo
Photo: Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo
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Over the past 101 years, the Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo has evolved into one of the premier rodeos in the United States. Sidney’s population of 1,150 hosts over 38,000 visitors during the five days of Sidney Iowa Rodeo, which ranks in the top 12% of the nearly 800 rodeos approved by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Come and enjoy PRCA saddlebronc riding, steer wrestling, tie downroping, team roping, as well as bullriding, and bareback riding. Children love the mutton busting as the crowd hoops and hollers to cheer on the kids. City and country folk alike will enjoy Iowa's Championship Rodeo. Held in late July and early August, the rodeo begins on Tuesday with a parade and rodeo queen contest. Rodeos are held every night through Saturday, with dances held after the rodeos on Friday and Saturday. |
LoHi Trek
Photo: Kyle Ranney
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You don’t have to drive hours and hours to do a multi-day hike. And you don’t even have to lug your gear with you. On the LoHi Trek, organizers arrange an INCREDIBLE private camping area, feed you every meal (and plenty of morning coffee!), and get you to or from the trail to your campsite each day. In-depth learning about the Loess Hills, the conservation challenges, and the compelling reasons to preserve this wild area. You will make trail friendships that never fade, and you will own large swatches of public land with leg equity. (text source)
The LoHi Trek is an annual multi-day hiking and camping excursion in western Iowa’s unique Loess Hills. In late 2020, Kelly Madigan hiked the length of western Iowa's Loess Hills (learn more about her hike here). In June 2021, more than 30 people participated in the first-ever LoHi Trek organized by Kelly Madigan and Golden Hills RC&D. |
Southwest Iowa Art Tour
Photo: Southwest Iowa Art Tour
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The Southwest Iowa Art Tour connects southwest Iowa communities through art! It is a grassroots event hosted by a group of artists from throughout the region who collaborate to provide opportunities for the public to view and purchase their work, culminating in a weekend-long road trip through southwest Iowa to multiple locations with dozens of artists. The first art tour was held in the fall of 2014, and has since grown exponentially.
The art tour encourages participants and attendees to chart their own course and visit some of the great businesses and eateries along the way, while discovering phenomenal art and artists in southwest Iowa! The Southwest Iowa Art Tour is held the third weekend in September. |
Three more for the road . . .
Bruguier’s Cabin Memorial AnniversaryAnnual memorial service at historic log cabin.
Photo: Girls of '68, Sioux City
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OnabikeOnawa's annual bike ride through the Loess Hills.
Photo: Randall D. Williams
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Woodbine Saddle Club Rodeo
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Annual rodeo in July in Harrison County.
Photo: Woodbine Saddle Club Rodeo
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