Greetings, Members, and Happy Summer!
Founders Day 2025
This year’s Wilton Founders Day is celebrating Anchors Aweigh! See you downtown August 15-16! (and at the Community Center Thursday, August 14 and at City Park Sunday, August 17) For registrations, and for the schedule of events once it is finalized, go to wiltonevents.org.
This year the Fun Zone ($20 Wristband, good for both Friday & Saturday) will be on Cedar and 4th Streets and will feature Little Bouncers, Classic Bouncers, Obstacle Bouncers, a Huge Slide, and the Wipeout both Friday & Saturday. Friday evening there will also be Kids’ Games and Big Wheel Races downtown on Maurer and the Youth Bags Tournament at the basketball court behind the City garage. Saturday after the parade, the Pirate’s Revenge carnival ride, bumper cars, and 24-foot rock wall will be added to the Fun Zone. The same wristband gets you into everything both days!
The Eager Beaver Run will kick off the activities on Saturday morning, followed by 3-on-3 Basketball and Bags at the basketball court behind the City garage. The Founders Day Parade will be at 11:30 am. The theme is Anchors Aweigh! It is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Navy, and our own hometown Rear Admiral, WHS graduate Will Pennington and family, will be the Grand Marshals! Time to get creative and think of fun float ideas! What’s your favorite, fishing on the Mississippi, a Love Boat cruise to Acapulco…or are you a Pirate of the Caribbean?
There will be vendors along 4th and Maurer Streets both Friday and Saturday and food vendors will be along Railroad Street across from the stage and beverage area. There will be plenty to enjoy at the Hy-Line North America Stage behind City Hall. We’ll be kicking off Friday night with the classic rock sounds of Gray Wolf Band at 8 pm-12. Saturday 3-7 pm we will enjoy the party rock of Mindy’s Stereo, the awesome band featuring a couple of local faces, including City Council Member Stevie Whitehead! Then we finish Founders Day with the fun, high-energy rock band Fair Warning at 8-12.
New this year, on Thursday night is the Miss Wilton Founders Day Pageant for girls aged 3-18. The theme is “Glow with Confidence” and the emphasis is on public speaking as well as poise and presentation. We are also offering an opportunity for anyone to show us their abilities on the Hy-Line Stage with “Wilton’s Got Talent” Saturday afternoon before the bands start; and Young Life is hosting a High Schoolers’ Open House & Dance on Saturday evening.
Look forward to plenty of other activities like free BINGO, a dunk tank, and our local dance groups entertaining the crowd. The Historical Depot will be open Saturday afternoon, the Tractor Show will take place west of the Depot, and the Masonic Lodge will have a Pancake Breakfast Saturday morning.
Finally, on Sunday there will be a Community-Wide Church Service held at City Park and led by the local pastors. Bring your lawn chairs and dress for the weather!
We need volunteers! We need volunteers of all ages and abilities! Some opportunities are posted at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DAFA822A4F5C52-57409104-founders, and some volunteer opportunities are organized by the specific event coordinator, so please contact us and we can get you signed up.
Memorial Day Freedom Rock Smorgasbord
We had a beautiful day Monday, May 26, to honor our veterans and enjoy the cooling sprinkles from the firefighters’ water hose battles. Approximately 275 people ate the 25-cent meal and several lucky people won amazing raffle prizes! Thank you so much to our sponsors, all those who provided prizes, and the many hardworking volunteers who made it happen!
Wilfundy Golf Outing
Friday, June 13, was a beautiful day! Many thanks to all the volunteers, hole sponsors, prize donors, and everyone who participated!
Winners of Chamber Bucks were:
First Flight
1st place: Sanders Auto
2nd place: Doc Stanley Team 1
3rd place: West Liberty State Bank
Second Flight
1st place: Heinsite Team 1
2nd place: CBI Bank & Trust Team 2
3rd place: White Pigeon Agency
Pin Contests
Longest drive on #5: Cody Stanley
Longest putt on #6: Austin Croson
Closest to pin in 2 strokes on #9: Leslie Timmerman
In Other News
Wilton Candy Kitchen was honored by Joni Ernst as her “Small Business of the Week” on May 29. As part of her effort to spotlight exceptional businesses across Iowa’s 99 counties, Senator Ernst praised The Candy Kitchen’s historic significance, commitment to community, and continued success under the ownership of Lynn and Brenda Ochiltree.
United Way Muscatine County
Thanksgiving in July Help United Way stock the shelves of local food pantries. Donations will be picked up on Friday, July 18.
Muscatine Triathlon Volunteers Needed! Saturday, August 2, at Deep Lakes Park in Muscatine. Please sign up at volunteermuscatine.org or reach out to mason@unitedwaymuscatine.org.