Reinbeck….the place to be!

Classic car show. Photo by Julie Russell-Steuart

Reinbeck was the place to be on Saturday! The temperature was “a bit” warm, but the activities throughout the day kept the town buzzing! The Art Festival provided a great variety of interest and color from the new banners lining Main Street to the chalk decorated sidewalks created by students under the leadership of art teacher, Kassie Nelson. The Glampers: Madonna Merchant, Roxanne Ervin, Deanna Berkey, Carol Hedberg and Lydia Robertson, came to town Friday night, circled their glamorized vintage campers and were ready for their open houses throughout the day on Saturday.

The artists and the volunteers started arriving on Main about 6 a.m. Reinbeck is blessed to have such willing volunteers who help in making the day successful. The list of volunteers: Tom and Kress Boheman, Gary Poppen, Dale Wambold, Chad and Linda Hinzel, Lily Hinzel, Sadie and Paul Brockett, Jill Lauuterbach, Brian Scheumann, Ash Larsen, Wade VanHauen, Carolyn Thesing, Peg Schick, John and Carol Petersen, Kathy Etringer, Sharon Wambold, Cheryl Pease, Greg and MaryLou Moser, Irma Thede, Jean Silver, Ginny Poppen, Sherris Brown, Kathy Beenken, Nancy Barsic, Christine Benham, Mary Kubik, Colton Clark, Diane Barker, Margaret Ehrig, Susie Petersen and the city employees. (If I forgot someone, I am truly sorry).

The Show and Shine Car Show was a success! As this was our first year, we had high hopes of having at least 12 cars, we more than doubled that! Cars were shown by: Craig Schlidroth, Emery Shutters, Eric Beck, Dick Rickert, Delbert Beenken, Tom Held, Rick Parker, Del and Nancy Jungling, Wade VanHauen, David Hach, Kate Schlidroth, Samuel Schildroth, Gary Miller, Randall Rohach, Dean Snow, Jake Monegham, Michael Lyons, David Duna, Larry Pullin and Krystal Meggers.

The artists and crafters who lined Main Street and filled the City Hall had beautiful and unique items for sale. Many shoppers commented that the quality and variety were excellent. Patrons could eat, shop, listen to the music by Kirk Eastman and Van Sederberg, learn and create Zen Doodle designs, enjoy tasting wine and food samples or just sit and relax while absorbing the scent of kettle corn by Angie. Children were treated to creating in the children’s tent with Mrs. Etringer. It was a delightful mix of color, sound, scent and taste.

The raffle winners are: Broad Street Brewing print: Sharon Wambold; Caveworks print: Kyle Blohm; JT’s Corner Cafe gift certificate: David Dirks; Northey’s gift certificate: Dannette Andersen; Emile Bellet print: Dick Rickert; and the Watercolor original painting: Jane Dirks. The artists who benefitted from our Buy Great Art promotion were: Mark Drury, Doug Cole, Charles Anholt, Bob Hertges and Vahan Bedian.

Glampers Photo by Julie Russell-Steuart

Now, this may sound like a lot for our small town, but wait, there was more happening! GR hosted a volleyball tournament, there were three soccer games Saturday afternoon, Broad Street Brewing celebrated Becktoberfest all weekend long, and the Methodist Church sponsored the Harmans Bluegrass/Gospel Concert in the park.

The Art Festival was sponsored by: Reinbeck Pharmacy, Cooley Pumping, Peterson Contractors, Lincoln Savings Bank, Trunck’s Country Foods, CJ’s Salon, JT’s Corner Caf, Kathy Etringer, Northey’s Bar & Grill, Casey’s General Store, Crop Production Services, Moeller & Walter, Farm Bureau: Kyle Blohm and Associates, Smoldt Seed, Country Closet, Lon’s Plumbing and Heating, Hoien Enterprises, Reinbeck Woman’s Club, Wilkerson Hardware, Parkview Manor, MaidPro Cedar Valley, Broad Street Brewing, Angie Thesing; REMAX Home Group, Julie Russell-Steuart; Caveworks Press & Studios, and Watercolors & Acrylics by Marion; Jack and Marion Boyer. The City of Reinbeck, the Reinbeck Development Board and all of these donors combine to financially support this annual event.

The Art Festival Committee is comprised of: Julie Russell-Steuart, Angie Thesing, Joyce Wild, Dana (Schoenbeck) Laidig and Marion Boyer. But, as this article explains, our small committee is only the tip of the iceberg of the numbers of people and businesses that make the Reinbeck Fine Art and Craft Festival a success! Please mark your calendars for next year’s event as: September 22, 2018!