Events and Activities : Winter snow days: Perfect time to save the date for summer events

With the optimistic hopes that Punxsutawney Phil was right and Spring is coming early, it is approaching that time when many of us flip through our calendars and start filling up those summer weekends. If this is what you’re getting ready to do, we have a few events that will make for some great times for you.

RIVER RATS Aug. 3

If you, your family, your friends or your clubs and organizations are looking for opportunities to volunteer, the Cedar River R.A.T.S. has just the event for you. On Saturday, August 3rd, the R.A.T.S. will take to the Cedar @ 9:00 AM for our 6th Annual river clean up. Starting at the Mt. Auburn boat ramp, we will float the Cedar to the Vinton ramp and pick up “treasures” of every type along the way. Volunteers are needed on the water, at the offload sites, moving vehicles from the start to finish points, and helping with lunch. All participants are provided with gloves, bags, buckets, water and lunch! Shirts are available for the 1st 60 volunteers. Anyone interested in helping with this event, or needing more information, please call: 319-558-7476.

BOOMTOWN Aug. 23-24

Coming in August, the Benton County Fairgrounds will once again play host to our Annual Vinton Boomtown pyrotechnic display, presented by Veridian Credit Union. This year will mark the festival’s 7th Anniversary and each year the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association manages to “shock and awe” every spectator within miles around. The event will kick off on the evening of Friday, August 23 with live music and food vendors at the Fairgrounds. Saturday, August 24th is the day you won’t want to be anywhere else except Vinton! Starting Saturday morning, there is something for everyone with events and activities at downtown’s Boomfest and going all day right up until the gates open @ 4:00 on the Fairgrounds. Live music by “Large Midgets”, activities for the kids, food vendors of all types and the best up-close and personal fireworks you will ever see, all starts at 6:00 PM! Be sure to be inside the fairgrounds to feel the heat as the sky rains fire in sync with carefully selected music – all artfully planned to entertain you as no other show can! Follow us on Facebook or visit our website at www.vintonboomtown.com