DYSART – From prairie tours to a kiddie bike rodeo and seemingly everything in between, Dysart is ready to celebrate 150 years since its founding.

In just over a week’s time, the community of Dysart will officially commemorate its Sesquicentennial year by hosting two full days of mostly free events from July 2-3 in and around the city park and community building.

Like its neighbors Traer to the west and Garrison to the east, the city of Dysart got its start by way of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern railway which had made it as far as Vinton by 1872. Thanks to the efforts of Joseph Dysart – a former editor of the Vinton Eagle newspaper, Republican state senator, and Iowa Lieutenant Governor – the geographic location that is now Dysart was chosen for a depot 150 years ago.

Dysart’s Sesquicentennial Committee has been busy organizing the 150th celebration for months and plans to welcome visitors from as far away as Pennsylvania, committee member Marcia Knupp told the Telegraph.

“The first day [Sunday, July 2] is designed for those who love history and the second day [Monday, July 3] has been designed with an emphasis on the kids,” Knupp explained of the festivities. “Anyone can join in either day. Add music and food and we’ve got a fantastic line-up!”

Sunday's schedule.

Of the multitude of activities planned, Knupp said if she could only pick one to highlight, it would be the Irvine Prairie tour on Sunday and the costume contest on Monday.

The Irvine Prairie, located just north of Dysart, is currently one of the largest tracts of restored prairie in eastern Iowa. Its nearly 300 acres were donated over the course of the last five years by Dysart resident Cathy Irvine to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation which then signed the land over to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation after attaching a permanent conservation easement to the land. Today the preserve is managed by UNI’s Tallgrass Prairie Center.

On Sunday, July 2, folks are asked to line up by 1:45 p.m. near the Lion’s Club concession stand in Dysart City Park to board a bus which departs at 2 p.m. for the Irvine Prairie tour during which the 1916 Hayward Round Barn will also be featured.

While visiting Irvine Prairie, participants will also have the chance to check out the painted silo located on Cathy’s farm and across the road from the original prairie parcel. The silo was painted with a prairie mural by former Dysart resident, artist Adam Eikamp.

The following day, on Monday, July 3, the Festive Dress and Hat Contest will take place at the Community Building beginning at 2 p.m. The event is described as a way to “connect to the past and celebrate the history of Dysart.”

Monday's schedule.

Families are encouraged to enter the contest together under one of four categories including Historical Dress 1873-1923, Historical Dress 1924-1973, Historical Dress 1974-2023, and Dysart Celebration Dress-show your pride for Dysart.

There is also a Festive Hat category that spans the entire 150 years of Dysart history, as well as a Children’s Hat category for which youngsters are asked to make their own hat showcasing their favorite Dysart location or historical figure.

To enter the costume contest, arrive by 2 p.m. for the judging. A winner will be chosen for each category with prizes sponsored by the Dysart Community Foundation. All entries in the Children’s Hat category will also receive a prize.

Below is a sampling of the many other events set to take place during the two days of Dysart’s Sesquicentennial celebration.

Sunday, July 2 – Dysart history comes alive!

The two-day event kicks off at 9:55 a.m. in the city park with an address by Mayor Tim Glenn. The town’s founders will also be recognized.

Following the mayor’s speech, an ecumenical church service will take place from 10-11 a.m., after which the Union High School Jazz Band will perform from 11 a.m. to noon. From noon to 3 p.m., Trevor Parrish Music will perform.

The day’s music line-up ends with Denny & Bernie performing from 4-5:30 p.m. The duo describes themselves as: “Two guys, two guitars. Nothin’ too fancy but pretty swell just the same. Music that makes you happy!”

To go along with all the music, there will be food trucks and vendors throughout the park beginning at 11 a.m.

Several self-guided tours will be available on Sunday including an arboretum tour in the park, the Iowa Historical Mobile Museum (look for the bus parked on the west side of the park), the Dysart Barn Quilt Block tour, and the Dysart Historical Center Quilt Show (refer to page two of this week’s newspaper for more information on the quilt show). All of the self-guided tours except for the quilt show begin at 11 a.m. and run through 5 p.m., while the quilt show is from noon to 5 p.m.

There will be a tour of Dysart Cemetery from noon to 1:15 p.m. with transportation provided from the park. According to Marcia Knupp, the mausolem at Dysart Cemetery will be open during this time. Rita Callahan mapped out the cemetery by name, plot, and row specifically for the tour. A similar tour of the Catholic Cemetery will take place from 4-5 p.m.

From noon to 2 p.m., an ice cream social will take place in the park via a freewill donation.

The Lion’s Club will hold a tree planting and dedication from 4-4:30 p.m., while a blacksmithing demonstration is set to take place from 4-5:30 p.m.

For a freewill donation, mini-sized covered wagon rides are planned from 5:45-6:30 p.m. in the park.

Finally, for those who might be looking to stretch their legs after such a jam packed day of Dysart history, the C.R. Roberts trail located north of downtown will be open for a luminary walk from 7-8 p.m.

Monday, July 3 – For the kids!

The second day of Sesquicentennial festivities is geared toward the youngest members of the community and kicks off at 9 a.m. by the Dysart Community Building with several different activities including pony and cart rides (9-11 a.m.), an animal pelt game courtesy of Tama County Conservation (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), and the Dysart Police Department’s Bike Rodeo.

Both the Dysart PD and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office are sponsoring the bike rodeo from 9-11 a.m. at the community building. The event will include a bike safety demonstration and a bike skills challenge course for ages 4-7 and 8-13. Participants are asked to bring their own bike and helmet, if possible, and to sign up in advance at the Dysart City Clerk’s office. Registrations will also be taken the day of the event starting at 8:30 a.m.

From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., participants in Vision Dysart’s scavenger hunt – which kicked off this past Monday – are asked to stop by the new Main Street Pocket Park to be entered into a drawing for one of five $10 Dysart Dollar prizes. For more information on the scavenger hunt including how to participate by snapping photos of various landmarks throughout town, refer to the Dysart 150 Year Celebration Facebook page.

Also at 11 a.m., free cookies will be available at Farmers Cooperative Telephone Company located at 332 Main Street – a few buildings north of the community building.

Musical act Gary Smith will perform on Main Street from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., while balloon animals artist Anna Love will showcase her talents (free of charge!) from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Wolf Creek Players will perform skits from 1-1:45 p.m. at the community building after which the costume contest will begin at 2 p.m..

Following the costume contest, the Beard and Mustache Contest winners will be crowned before the Dysart Sesquicentennial Fine Arts Contest winners are announced at 2:30 p.m.

The crowning of the oldest and youngest Dysart residents is set to round out the community building events at 2:50 p.m.

Be sure not to miss the drone photo of the community taking place at the recently repainted Great Dysart Gorge at 3:10 p.m.

Sesquicentennial festivities will end with a time capsule burial at 3:40 p.m. after which Club Dysart is set to take the helm with its annual 4th of July activities in the city park including (but not limited to!) the Lions Club tenderloin supper at 4:30 p.m., the Kiddie Parade on Main Street at 6 p.m., and the annual Dysart Lions Club Grand Parade which takes off from Union Middle School the next day, July 4, beginning at 11 a.m.

Whether participants can stay for just one event or plan to hit up everything possible across the two days, Dysart’s Sesquicentennial Committee is excited to celebrate and commemorate 150 years as a community.

For more information including events not detailed here, follow the Dysart 150 Year Celebration on Facebook.