COOPER, Iowa, September 29, 2008 – The third annual Fall Festival on the Raccoon River Valley Trail in west central Iowa on Saturday, October 4, includes a free breakfast in Redfield for holders of 2008 trail permits, a “Trick-or-Treat Trail Trek” for costumed dogs in Panora, free tram rides on the trail from Jefferson, a “burgers & brats” lunch at a trail bridge over the North Raccoon River two miles south of Jefferson, and much more.

 A complete listing of festival events appears at the end of this story, and will be updated throughout this week.

 “For trail users, especially bicyclists, fall is the best time of year to be out enjoying nature on the RRVT,” said Bob German, of Dallas Center, events chairman for the sponsoring Raccoon River Valley Trail Association.  “The air is crisp, it’s cooler, there is usually less wind to deal with and if you’ve done your part in being out on the trail over the summer, you’re in better physical shape to go out and enjoy the ever changing scenery.”

 The festival has grown a little in each of its first two years, and German said the RRVT Association hopes to make it a much larger end-of-the-season celebration of the trail.

“We hope that in the long run, this annual Fall Festival on the RRVT can become a ‘must-do’ event for all trail users, from one end of the trail to the other,” he said. “As the trail expands with a new North Loop, and smaller spurs in the adjoining towns, the Fall Festival will also grow to include more activities, more neighborhoods and more people.”

This year’s events begin early on that Saturday, with all holders of a 2008 trail permit on the RRVT invited to eat breakfast free from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Redfield.  The free breakfasts are being sponsored by the RRVT Association and are partially funded by a grant from the tourism group Discover Dallas County, Inc.

Julie Bailey, an RRVT Association board member who lives in Redfield says the big breakfasts at the Legion Hall are a real tradition with local people and trail users. The menu includes pancakes, eggs however you like them, biscuits & gravy, potatoes & gravy, plain potatoes, toast, bacon, sausage patties, coffee and milk.  The normal Saturday morning crowd is from 150 to 200 people.  Volunteers staff the breakfasts, raising money for community activities and projects.

“The Redfield community breakfast has been operating every Saturday for over 15 years and provides a wonderful venue for meeting friends and catching up on news,” Bailey said.  Because the trail goes through Redfield, many bikers have caught on to the fantastic breakfast that awaits them at the Legion Hall each weekend.”

She noted the Fall Festival is an ideal time for trail users “to explore central Dallas County if they haven’t ridden through the Redfield area before.  And, we hope they will continue on to Guthrie and Greene counties as well, when they are finished with a hearty breakfast in Redfield.”

On to the west and north on the trail, in Panora, the “Trick-or-Treat Trail Trek” for dogs will be held for the second consecutive year.  Last year’s event proved to be hilarious, with 15 dogs competing, 11 of them in costume and several of the pet owners in costume, too!

The dog trek is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, starting at the trailhead in Panora that is adjacent to P.J.’s Drive-In Restaurant in that community.  The event is sponsored by the Panora group “PETS,” which stands for “Protecting Even The Strays.”  The admission cost is “50 cents per paw,” with no charge to the humans accompanying any dog.  Proceeds are going to “TNR” program – that’s “Trap, Neuter & Return” – for stray or feral cats in Guthrie County.

“I’m excited about the Trail Trek in Panora because the road construction here is done now, our new trail surface here is fantastic, and I just adopted a little, four-pound poodle from a neglect and abandonment case, and I just got a costume for him, too,” said Kristine Jorgensen, who is in charge of the trek.

She said the event will be set up along the trail, and “folks will walk there with their pooch, or if they don’t have a dog, they can still walk the trail to watch the dogs.  There will be stops at various stations along the way for tricks and treats.  We are encouraging owners to bring dogs in costumes because that makes the event so much more fun for all, but costumes aren’t required.”

At noon, there will be contests for “best costume” and “best trick.”  There will be prizes, “but every pooch is a winner because they get a lot of treats and toys during the trek,” Jorgensen said. “The cost is only 50 cents per paw – and, yes, we had a three-legged dog last year!

“It’s a fun event, but also one where we hope to raise a little bit of money to help our local animal rescue group,” she continued. “Our funds are running low, but the number of animals needing our help is not. So far this year, we have assisted 157 homeless, lost, abandoned or owner-surrendered animals – and that’s without even having an actual shelter.  For the entire year of 2007, we assisted 87 animals.”

In Greene County, there will be free tram rides for the public on the trail, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hourly departures from the Jefferson Depot trailhead.  The open-air tram, which can hold a dozen to 15 people, will be pulled by a tractor and will travel one of the prettiest portions of the RRVT – from Jefferson four miles south to Winkleman Switch and back, crossing the North Raccoon River twice on the 600-foot-long trestle bridge.

“We’re providing the tram rides especially so people who might not be able to ride a bicycle or go on a long walk on the trail, can still get out and experience it,” said Carla Offenburger, of Cooper, the president of the RRVT Association.  “The fall colors should be spectacular by October 4, and we’ll probably see a lot of harvest activity and wildlife during the tram rides.”

The tram will try to stay close to a schedule of leaving the Jefferson Depot at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 p.m., and leaving Winkleman Switch at the half-hour.  There is vehicular parking available at both spots. If the crowd keeps coming, another tram trip will be added, leaving Jefferson at 2 p.m. and returning by 3 p.m.

One stop the tram will make is at the Kiwanis Club kiosk at the south end of the trestle bridge over the North Raccoon River, where a lunch of “Burgers & Brats at the Bridge” will be available for purchase.

Meanwhile, in Jefferson, The Old Lincolnway Hotel, across the street from the Depot at the trailhead, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that people can see the rooms that are now available there for overnight stays. And the bicycle shop Raccoon River Wheelsports, celebrating its first anniversary, will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, also across the street from the Depot.

RRVT permits can be purchased on this Internet site, from dispenser tubes at several of the trailheads and at several businesses along the trail. The annual passes cost $10. 

You can help support the promotion and marketing of the trail by joining the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, with the annual membership fee of $20 per person including a year-long trail permit.  Family memberships in the association are $35 and include two year-long trail permits.  RRVT Association memberships sold in the last quarter of each calendar year include trail permits for the following year.

NOW, HERE IS THE UPDATED LIST OF RRVT FALL FESTIVAL EVENTS:

– Redfield American Legion Hall serves breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. And those showing their 2008 trail pass will get a free breakfast, compliments of the RRVT Association (with a little help from a grant from the tourism group Discover Dallas County, Inc.).  The menu includes pancakes, eggs however you like them, biscuits & gravy, potatoes & gravy, plain potatoes, toast, bacon, sausage patties, coffee and milk. 

– In Linden, the Shiloh Bible Church youth group is planning a bake sale, raising funds for a mission trip to Argentina.  They are also planning a little guitar music to entertain you.

– In Panora, the “Trick-or-Treat Trail Trek” for dogs. The actual dog trek is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, starting at the trailhead in Panora that is adjacent to P.J.’s Drive-In Restaurant in that community; the judging of dog costumes and tricks is at 12 noon.  The admission cost is “50 cents per paw,” with no charge to the humans accompanying any dog, or for those who want to check out this pet spectacle on their bikes. 

– Also at P.J.’s in Panora, lunch and ice cream are for sale, there will be the three-piece band “Star Dusters” performing.  And RRVT apparel, including several new items, will be for sale at the Sew Inspirational booth outside P.J.’s. 

– In Yale, it’s the all-city garage sale day. About five miles east of Yale, and off the trail (mostly on black top) is a “Pumpkinpalooza” – follow the signs – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are crafts from area artists, a petting zoo, homemade pies and baked goods, gourds and ornamental corn. More information: (641) 439-2435.  

– In Greene County, there will be free tram rides for the public on the trail, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hourly departures from the Jefferson Depot trailhead.  The open-air tram will travel from Jefferson four miles south to Winkleman Switch and back. 

– “Burgers & Brats at the Bridge” will be served (for a small charge) at the North Raccoon River trestle bridge.  We’ll start serving at 11 am and probably continue until 2 pm.

– In Jefferson, The Old Lincolnway Hotel, across the street from the Depot at the trailhead, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so people can see its accommodations. And the bicycle shop Raccoon River Wheelsports, celebrating its first anniversary, will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, also across the street from the Depot.

Questions about the Fall Festival can be directed to Carla & Chuck Offenburger in Cooper at (515) 386-5488 or Bob German in Dallas Center at (515) 993-2004.

Article Published: 09-22-2008