Organizers Announce Waverly Heritage Days Lineup July 13-15

By Karen Heinselman, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Jul. 7–WAVERLY — Those who didn’t get their fill of music, food and fireworks this Fourth of July will have another chance to celebrate county, community and family next week.

Waverly’s 20th annual Heritage Days celebration will be Friday through next Sunday. The theme for this year’s festivities is “All Roads Lead to Waverly.”

Residents and visitors can expect the return of favorite traditions, said chairwoman Donna Kay Oberheu. Many activities take place at the Bremer County Fairgrounds.

“We’ve always had good Heritage Days here,” added volunteer Eileen Bodeker.

The Hall of Fame ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday will recognize Liebau’s Strictly Hair, Schneider’s Milling Co., Spahn & Rose Lumber and Marvin Walston. The event is at the 4-H building. Patriotic music and a tribute to troops is at 6:30 p.m.

The Heritage Days parade will start at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community. Residents are invited onto the lawn to watch the floats and other exhibits.

“If it wouldn’t start here, we probably wouldn’t be able to all go out and enjoy it,” said Jen Happel, leisure services team leader at Bartels. “The residents like it. It makes them feel they are part of the community.”

Those interested in submitting a float in the parade should register by Monday.

John and Laurel Kurtt, grand marshals for Heritage Days 2007, will lead the parade. The U.S. submarine veterans also will return this year.

At 10 p.m. next Saturday, Waverly firefighters plan to set off about 800 shells of fireworks.

“I’ve been told it will be bigger and better than last year,” Fire Chief Dan McKenzie said.

McKenzie sees the responsibility as a thrilling act of community service.

“What more fun can there be than to stand up there on the hill and light fireworks off and hear the crowds cheer?” he said.

Next Sunday, firefighters invite the public to tour the new fire station on First Street Southwest. A brief dedication will take place at 1 p.m., and the facility will be open for tours until 4 p.m.

Weather permitting, an antique Stearman PT-17 World War II era training biplane will visit the Waverly Municipal Airport before noon next Saturday. The plane will also be on display the morning of July 15. The plane was built in 1941 and restored in 2003.

Typically Heritage Days falls on the third weekend of July. This year’s three-day celebration was moved up a week by oversight, organizers said. Heritage Days 2008 will return to its traditional slot.

Also during Heritage Days weekend is the annual Waverly Coca-Cola Baseball Classic. Games will take place at the fairgrounds and at the Wartburg softball complex for a fee.

Most Heritage Days events take place at the Bremer County Fairgrounds. Some events may cost money. Events include:

Friday

— 1 to 5 p.m., $1 swim with games and races.

— 5:30 to 7 p.m., free carriage rides and photograph.

— 6:30 p.m., patriotic music at 4H building with a tribute to our troops.

— 7 p.m., Hall of Fame inductees at 4H building.

— 8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., Vic Ferrari Band at Heritage Days stage.

Saturday

— 7 to 11 a.m. 4-F Good Sam Club pancake breakfast at fairgrounds.

— 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., pony rides.

— 11 a.m., lineup for kiddie parade, up to age 12.

— 11:30 a.m., kiddie parade at grandstand.

— 1 to 4 p.m., Bremer County Historical Museum open.

— 1:30 p.m., Heritage Days Parade. Route from Bartels to fairgrounds.

— 3 to 5 p.m., Floyd Junker and his Beaver Creek Bluegrass band outside tent area.

— 4 p.m., Friendship Quilters raffle at tent area.

— 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Whitesidewalls on main stage.

— 10 p.m., fireworks.

Sunday, July 15

— 7 a.m. to noon, Lions Club Fly-in pancake breakfast.

— 8 a.m. to noon, airplane and helicopter rides at Waverly Municipal Airport for a fee.

— 1 to 4 p.m., open house at new Waverly Fire Station.

— 1 to 4 p.m., open house at Bremer County Historical Museum. Includes tours, entertainment. Advance sign-up is encouraged.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.

—–

To see more of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wcfcourier.com/.

Copyright (c) 2007, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.