50th Osborne Heritage Days Will Be Last One

It will be the end of an era as the 50th Annual Osborne Heritage Days will also be its last. 

Clayton County Conservation will host the final Heritage Days on Saturday and Sunday, October 11th and 12th from 10 am to 4 pm in the Pioneer Village of Osborne Park south of Elkader. Travel back in time to experience some of the sights, sounds, smells and activities of early pioneers during this family event. 

This year will be the last of the traditional Osborne Heritage Days, where some of the crafts, skills and lifestyles of the early pioneers are recreated. Visitors get to experience what life was like long ago during this glimpse of the past. Over twenty demonstrations are featured, including spinning, basketry, soap making, printing press, woodcrafts and candle making.

Many pioneer-era foods are featured at Heritage Days too. Treats include homemade root beer, kettle corn, fresh baked goods and jerky. Samples of buffalo stew are also given out during the weekend. A farmer’s market features pumpkins, apples, honey, preserves, maple syrup, sorghum, horseradish and much more. Lunch options include sandwiches, barbecue, pork on a stick, and a Heritage Days favorite – smoked turkey legs.

Some of the featured events will include Gary Froiland’s One-Man-Band and storyteller Pat Coffie on Saturday, October 11th. Sunday, October 12th will feature a pioneer church service, music from The Andregg Family Band, pumpkin contests, an auction, and the 25th Annual Iowa Championship Buffalo Chip Throwing Contest. The kiddie train will also be back.

And there are plenty of contests to participate in – the Great Pumpkin Contest, the best decorated pumpkin contest, and the Championship Buffalo Chip Throw. Anyone interested in participating in any of these contests can go to claytoncountyconservation.org for details or contact Clayton County Conservation at 563-245-1516.

All the demonstrations and events at Heritage Days are free. 

Clayton County Conservation says this will be the final Heritage Days due to a lack of volunteers and demonstrators. After this year’s event wraps up, they’ll begin planning a new fall market-type of festival that will take the place of Heritage Days in the coming years.