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Cresco Area Fine Arts Show
This year's show is the 47th Annual and takes place on Sunday August 3rd, 2008. Each year Cresco's beautiful Beadle Park fills with artists displaying and selling a wide variety of art-work.
Music and activities delight young and old alike. Guest musicians perform beginning at 10:30am and continue throughout the day. Each year a few participating artists demonstrate their craft for the crowd. The Art Council is focused on promoting artists as well as providing opportunities for people of all ages to explore the artistic creativity we all possess.
Also available is a variety of delicious food and wine tasting from a local winery. The public is invited to take in the Art Show as well as the Fly-In Breakfast prior to the Art Show at the Cresco Airport. Call the Cresco Welcome Center at 563-547-3434 for more details.
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Howard County Fair
The Howard County Fairgrounds is home to the "Mighty" Howard County Fair. The most progressive county fair in Iowa. The fair is always held the last full week in June from Wednesday-Sunday. The Grandstand Shows are spectacular with a wide variety of entetainment including national musical headliners, rodeo circuit, stock car races and much more. The midway is full of rides, games, and food. The local involvement is a large part of the success too. 4H and their livestock shows, Master Gardeners, Expo Center Exhibits and local food stands all add to the festivities.
Check out our website at www.mhcfair.com for a schedule of events, other links and information.
The 2008 Fair is scheduled for Wednesday June 25 through Sunday June 29th.
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Bronze Statues of Cresco
When you visit Cresco you can't help but notice the beautiful bronze statues located throughout the entire City. All of the statues depict children having fun. All of the staues were brought here by the gracious residents and businesses of Cresco that donated the funds. This ongoing project to beautify our City conttinually adds new statues. In the Summer of 2008 we will add 6 more to bring the total to 20 statues.
Stop by the Cresco Welcome Center to find out where they are all located or to donate to the project.
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Farmer's Market
Why Buy Local? Locally grown foods are fresher and healthier, taste better are safer to consume, and are better for the local economy and the environment.
Cresco's Farmer's Market is held every Tuesday and Friday afternoon from 2pm - 5:30pm, May 1st through October 30th.
Located between Balk Park and Fareway on the north side of Grube's Lawn & Garden on 1st Ave SW.
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Full Circle Corn Maze
One of the top attractions in northeast Iowa and definately one of the most unique. Open to the public from August 1st through October 31st this corn maze has a one-of-a-kind design. For 2008 the theme will be "Recycle the Earth - Save Yourselves". The past themes have been "I Believe" in 2006 and "LIVE" in 2007. The maze is available for group outings and to any individual that wants to enjoy a unique and fun activity. For more details please contact the Full Circle Art Gallery at 563-547-5900 or on the web at www.fullcirclegallery.net
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Cresco Public Library
Cresco's Public Libary is a beautiful ‘Carnegie Library’ that dates back to 1913 when construction began. Dedication of the new Cresco Public Library was held on February 10, 1915. In 1991 the library experienced a major renovation and addition. After seven years of planning, a new, historically accurate addition was added to the south side of the original Carnegie Library. This new addition doubled the size of the library building and was funded through a federal grant, local donations, fund raising, and many volunteer hours by local residents.
The Board of Trustees and staff of the Cresco Public Library provides free, unlimited access to its resources, both material and informational, to the community. In today's society, the services of the Cresco Public Library are designated to meet the various needs of those on the community. Special emphasis is placed on providing popular materials in a timely manner, on the collection, and on programs and services for preschool children, school age children and young adults.
Please visit our new website at www.cresco.lib.ia.us for more information.
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Cresco Theatre
From Vaudeville to surround-sound, from silent movies to major musicals, the Cresco Opera House has long served as the entertainment center for the greater Cresco, Iowa area and beyond.
This architectural beauty has spanned the entertainment world from the early 20th Century into the 21st Century and, thanks to the dedication of the people of Cresco, for the forseeable future.
This unique, versatile building is as viable today as at any time in its long and illustius life. It is enjoyed by youngsters and oldsters alike as they sit back to enjoy a the latest blockbuster movie or a live stage show produced by Cresco Community Theatre. Movies are shown nightly at 7:30pm. The exception is when the building is the site of a live production by the local theatre group or some other entertainment or program.
The two types of uses - movies and live shows - are possible because of the original design of the building. Constructed in 1914 and opened in early 1915, the Opera House designers not only wanted a facility for the present but for the future. Vaudeville was still the rage in the pre-World War I years, but silent moviesloomed on the horizon. The result was a design that incorporated footlights that front the stage for live shows and a projection booth at the rear of the large balcony for movies. Had it been built a few years earlier, the facility would probably have centered on live productions only. Had it been built later, it probably would have been only a movie house.
Today local residents and visitors alike enjoy both venues.
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The Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation
A non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting education programs and projects which reflect the lifetime achievements and philosophy of Dr. Norman Borlaug. Please visit our website at www.normanborlaug.org to find out more information about how this foundation is working to make Dr. Borlaug's boyhood home a National Monument. The Borlaug Farm is located 12 miles southwest of Cresco.
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Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Foundation was established in April of 1970. The purpose is to honor Iowa natives who had major contributions to amateur wrestling including athletes, coaches and officials.
The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame is located at 101 2nd Ave SW at the corners of Hwy 9 & N. Elm St. inside of the Cresco Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce. We invite you to stop in and view the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Gallery and review the rich history of wrestling in Iowa.
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Norman Borlaug Statue
Located in Beadle Park - Norman Borlaug is credited with saving millions of people from starvation and the founder of the Green Revolution. Borlaug, who grew up on a farm near Cresco, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in agriculture. In 2007 Dr. Norman Borlaug was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Borlaug is one of just five people in the entire world to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Prairie's Edge Nature Center
Cresco's most recent addition to the community was the Prairie's Edge Nature Center at Vernon Springs. The Nature Center is managed by the Howard County Conservation and Naturalist. They have a wide selection of programs from insects and trees to wildflowers. For more information visit the Howard County Conservation Board.
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Heritage Train
Admired and photographed by visitors, this uniquely restored 101A/Model FP7 diesel electronic locomotive serves as a reminder of our community's founding based on local rail service. Built in LaGrange, Illinois, in 1951, it was the first model ever sold to the Milwaukee Road railroad line. The train is available for tours by calling the Chamber.
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Cresco Opera House
The Cresco Opera House has recently been renovated, once hosted traveling music shows and theatrical performances. It is now used as the Cresco Theatre and also hosts community plays and performances by the Cresco Community Theater group.
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Historic Log Cabin
Located in Beadle Park - this cabin was continuously occupied from 1854 to 1964 just east of Cresco. The cabin is original throughout, with the exception of a new roof and a floor downstairs. The cabin is available for tours by calling the Chamber.
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The Kellow house
built in 1880 William Kellow and was acquired by the Historical Society in 1969. The house is of Second Empire design. William Kellow Sr., a farmer and stonemason, quarried the stone and built the foundation for his son's home. Window sills are white cut stone and trim above the window is ornamental wood brackets. The roof was designed by a French Architect. The Historical Society has restored the interior, but made no structural changes. It is furnished in the period of the late 1800's and early 1900's with several of the furnishings being Kellow family heirlooms.
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