2023 Bentonsport Events

Check back for updates and added events.

April 15 Bentonsport village shops open weekends. Dates and times open for all Bentonsport shops are listed on "Places to Shop."

May 1 Shops maintain weekly hours thru October. Below left is the days and hours each shop is open.

May 24-26 Plein Air artists from around the Midwest will compete in "Paint Van Buren County Iowa." On Friday, the 26th, artists will create artworks in Bentonsport and Bonaparte until 3 p.m. Then from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., a "Quick Paint" competition occurs with works from that special  effort will be for view and sale from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Bentonsport Stone House.  Event is sponsored by Van Buren County Art Council.

May 27-28 Flea Market/Craft Show 10 a.m. to 
5 p.m., outdoor flea market, crafts, antiques, food, music, and demonstrations. Call Van Buren Conservation at 319-293-3589 for information about this event.

May 28 Memorial Day Observance Program Sunday, 6:30 p.m., historic Bentonsport Presbyterian Church. Milton American Legion Post 483 will present and retire the colors and perform Twenty-one Gun Salute on church lawn. Larry Shipley officiates. "If You're Reading This," sung by Tom Allen. Readings from Civil War diary. Historic and popular patriotic songs, official songs of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, and popular patriotic songs, and Star Spangled Banner played by pianist Mindy Kralicek.

June 4 thru Sept. 4 non-denominational church services are held in Historic Bentonsport Presbyterian Church at 9 a.m. Sundays. All invited to attend.

June 23-25 Bentonsport Rendezvous reenactment of pre-1840s mountain men camp in Bentonsport Riverside Park. Enjoy their storytelling, games and activities. 

June 24 Bentonsport Heritage Day/Home and Garden Show
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy Bentonsport as it was in the 1850s.
Several private historic homes and gardens and other historic buildings will be open for tours. Visitors will meet characters from the past who portray life in Bentonsport as it may have been. Drawing for a gift basket from the Bentonsport shops at 4 p.m. (Need not be present to win.)

Oct. 14-15 Bentonsport River Fest 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (part of Van Buren County's Scenic Drive Festival). Flea market, crafts, music, and artisan demonstrations. Tour History on the Move Museum, courtesy of the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Call Van Buren Conservation at 319-293-3589 for information about this event.

Oct. 14-15 Annual Bentonsport Art Show featuring artists from IA, IL, and MO, demonstrations and sales. 

Nov. 1 - Dec. 14 Shops reduce hours to weekends only,
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. See schedule at left.

Nov. 25 Shops open Black Friday and the rest of the weekend.

Dec. 4 Bentonsport Christmas Enjoy holiday shopping, treats, door prize drawing.

Dec. 23 Shops close for winter except Greef General Store/Addie May Fudge will continue to be open weekends.
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What you'll find at Heritage Day 2023 

  • Breakfast pastries, donuts, coffee and juice available for purchase.
  • Home, school and garden tours begin at 9 a.m. Horse driven wagons will take visitors to tour destinations: Vernon School House; Albert S Bigelow House; Capt. Frederick Hancock House; Bentonsport Academy first floor; Herman Greef House; Indian Artifacts Museum; Bentonsport Presbyterian Church; and more to be named. Goodwill donations for tours will go to the upkeep of buildings owned by the Bentonsport Improvement Association.
  • Craft demonstrations​ of weaving, wood carving, pottery, blacksmithing, rope making, and more.
  • Picture yourself in 1850s Bentonsport. Take a selfie in period clothing. Mens', ladies', and children's clothing in different sizes and styles available to slip on. Pose with the Bentonsport sign backed by the river and iron truss bridge.
  • Shop in the historic district shops and at vendors set up in the park. Antiques, hand-made goods, crafts and fine art, wines, flower and garden plants, and Addie May Fudge are among the choices. More will be added to the vendor list.
  • Food may be purchased from Big Guys Barbeque or the chefs that create the meals for the Manning Hotel's Thirsty Thursdays; with more snacks from specialty vendors. Or, pack a lunch to enjoy at a picnic table along the river.
  • Enjoy fresh baked pies whole or by the pie at the Bentonsport Improvement Association Pie Sale Table. Free will donations help to go to Bentonsport community improvement projects.
  • Tap your feet to the music played by fidler Tom Shadonix on the Greef Store porch.
  • This list will be updated.

Highlights from Heritage Day 2022