MUSCATINE, Iowa – RAGBRAI L is coming to Muscatine this year with the announcement that the City of Muscatine will be a Meeting Town for riders on the final leg of the event on July 29. The 67.1 final leg of RAGBRAI L begins in Coralville and passes through Iowa City and West Liberty before riders see the Mississippi River for the first time in Muscatine’s Riverside Park.
Vendors and support vehicles will be lined up inside Riverside Park as riders have the opportunity to take a break from the ride and/or dip their tires into the Mississippi River before beginning the final 27-mile ride along the river up to Davenport.
The last 4 miles of the 2022 route along the Mississippi near Lansing stunned riders with its beauty after one of the most challenging days of the week, Phippen said. So the stretch between Muscatine and Davenport will give riders a longer view of the river they worked all week to reach for the traditional front-tire dip.
“This year, I wanted that same feel, to hug the river as much as possible,” Ride Director Matt Phippen said. “For that entire stretch out of the corner of their eye, they’re going to see the river that they’re going to eventually dip into.”
Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark noted that the community is excited to have RAGBRAI back in Muscatine.
“We have been working hard for the past several months to have RAGBRAI back for the first time since 2016,” Bark said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us but I know this community is ready for the challenge.”
Muscatine was the ending town for RAGBRAI in 1976, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – Downtown Muscatine is the place to be this weekend with a variety of activities to kick off the holiday season including the Parks & Recreation Candy Cane Hunt, Jingle & Mingle sponsored by Discover Muscatine, and a visit by the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.
Not least among these events is the Friday premiere of a featured event that quickly became a holiday classic and a must see for Muscatine residents and visitors. Muso Lighting has again partnered with Muscatine Power & Water (MPW) and the City of Muscatine to bring a musical light show featuring Muscatine’s Norbert F. Beckey Bridge.
The final touches are currently being made to the design of this year’s show that will include an introduction, eight songs including several new songs, and a running time of 13 minutes. Last year’s production had a running time of eight minutes and proved to be a huge success.
The 2022 version will premier at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 2, with residents able to tune into 87.9 FM to listen to the special holiday music while watching the light show from the warmth and convenience of their vehicles while parked in Riverside Park. The program will run every day from 5:00 p.m. to 12 a.m. through January 8, 2023.
Jingle and Mingle in Downtown Muscatine Friday
The premier follows the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony that will be held from 5:30-5:45 p.m. at MidwestOne Bank at the corner of Cedar and 2nd Street. Jingle & Mingle (formerly Holiday Stroll) will be held from 5:30-8:00 p.m. along 2nd Street from Mulberry to Pine, and is expected to bring thousands to Downtown Muscatine Friday night. Visit https://pearlcityjingleandmingle.com/ for a complete list of activities.
Hunt for Candy Canes Friday in Riverside Park
The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Candy Cane Hunt will be held at 6 p.m. near Pearl City Station located in Riverside Park. Hunters and spectators will gather outside of the Pearl City Station with two age-group areas (pre-kindergarten through first grade and second through fourth grade girls and boys) set up for the hunt in the green space near the basketball courts.
Children will be able to sweep through the designated areas gathering up the sweet treats that they will be able to keep. The young hunters will receive a prize for each candy cane found. “Special” candy canes will be sprinkled around that can be redeemed at Pearl City Station for a special toy.
The Candy Cane Hunt will be held in the dark, so bring a flashlight if you wish. LED flashlights will be available from our sponsors if you do not have one.
Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information.
Holiday Train arrives Saturday night
Riverside Park will also be the place to be Saturday night as the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train makes its first stop in Muscatine after an absence of several years due to the pandemic. The train is anticipated to arrive at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a 20-minute program from the boxcar stage that will be opposite the downriver boat ramp. (See earlier story).
The Iowa Avenue railroad crossing will be closed to traffic during the train’s arrival and the performance but the Cedar Street entrance will remain open.
Christmas with the Symphony
For those looking for musical entertainment in, perhaps, a warmer location, the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra will present “Christmas with the Symphony” at 7 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 3) at the First Presbyterian Church, 401 Iowa Avenue, Muscatine. Admission is free but those attending are asked to bring a toy or a canned good donation to the performance. Free books for children will be provided by the Muscatine Literacy Coalition. For more information visit www.muscatinesymphony.org.
Weed Park Festival of Lights opens December 12
The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department will also be sponsoring the Festival of Lights in Muscatine’s historic Weed Park. Residents and visitors can enjoy a large variety of beautiful displays as the park will be aglow from 5:30-7:30 p.m. starting Monday, December 12. The Festival of Lights concludes on Monday, December 26.
Viewers may drive through the park to view the spectacle beginning at the Washington Street entrance and proceeding to the Colorado Street exit. Non-perishable goodwill food donations may be dropped in the container at the Washington Street entrance to benefit local food pantries.
I want to extend my best wishes to you and your families during this Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving is a cherished American holiday which reminds us of the values and ideas that form the foundation of our great nation. On this special day, we embrace our differences, celebrate our diverse heritage, and come together in gratitude for our blessings of freedom, family, and faith. There is so much to be thankful for as we spend time with our friends and family.
May this amazing day serve as an opportunity to reflect upon our blessings. Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate and be thankful for the men and women who keep our community, state, and nation safe. I would also like to give thanks to everyone that works in healthcare who keep us safe and in education who teach the future leaders of tomorrow. I am very thankful for our city employees and partners for their outstanding work throughout our community in fulfilling our shared vision of creating a vibrant, safe, and sustainable community.
I remember during Thanksgiving standing around a circle holding hands and everyone sharing what they were thankful for. My father always reminded us of the importance of family, helping one another, and being there for each other. Muscatine is fortunate in that we are also there for one another. Our residents, staff, businesses are one big family.
Be thankful for the good times and difficult times, as each situation will allow you to grow. Be generous with gratitude, for it is contagious. Also, be thankful that there is only one Muscatine in the world…WE ARE MUSCATINE!!!
On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for our community. Take a moment to look your family members and friends in the eye and tell them how thankful you are. May your blessings be multiplied this year and into the next.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – A popular event will return to Muscatine this weekend as the Muscatine Fire Department, Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine Sheriff’s Department, and Muscatine County Joint Communications (MUSCOM) join forces to host the 2022 Public Safety Open House. The event will be held from 12-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, inside and around the Public Safety Building, 312 East 5th Street.
This is a golden opportunity for young and old to visit the Public Safety Building for an enjoyable learning experience that will include demonstrations, discussions, and games. Visitors will be able to meet and interact with Public Safety staff, and learn a little bit more about what they do and the equipment they use.
Visitors will be able explore various fire and emergency apparatus inside the Central Fire Station, and visit a variety of booths to learn more about the Explorers Program and how Hands Only CPR could save a life. A smoke house will be located in the alley behind the fire station that teaches children how to safely exit a house in a smoke-filled atmosphere, and a mini smoke house that will demonstrate how smoke flows.
The Fire Department also plans to have a recruitment booth with video and handouts for fire pits and fire safety, a gear demonstration booth, and a photo booth with Freddie the Fire Truck. Also inside the station will be games for the children including a hose trace where children are blindfolded and have to follow the hose like a firefighter would to exit a building.
A vehicle extrication demonstration will show how the jaws, cutters, spreaders, rams, etc., are used to extricate victims from automobile accidents, a demonstration of the aerial tower truck, and a demonstration on how to use a fire hose to shoot water into a house.
The Muscatine Police Department is planning a variety of static displays of a squad car, armored vehicle, and tactical equipment. Children will not want to miss an opportunity to meet Muscatine’s K-9 officer and learn about the work he does, and parents will not want to miss the opportunity to visit the drug trailer and see some of the warning signs of drug use. You may also want to give the drunk goggles a try.
The Iowa State Police will have a seatbelt impact trailer on hand that is designed to simulate how a seatbelt can save you. The Muscatine Police Tactical Team also plan to demonstrations with the Muscatine Police robot. There will also be games where children can earn prizes.
MUSCOM will have a couple of games set up and some 911 giveaways in the Public Safety Building basement. Anyone interested can also tour MUSCOM as long as they are escorted by a staff member.
The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department will also have their K-9 officer on hand as well as static displays of squad cars, boats, and other related items in the alley parking lot.
October is fire prevention month and this year’s theme is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is marking the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, which will be held October 9-15. The Muscatine Fire Department is planning several events during the week to highlight the theme.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – An unusual event will occur this evening on the Muscatine riverfront but it could be a preview of what is to come as the American Duchess will make a trial port stop in Muscatine. The cruise ship will be stopping for the port trial in front of the Pearl City Station in Riverside Park between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
The exact time will be determined by the traffic on the river and the river itself.
“We encourage everyone to come out and welcome the American Duchess to Muscatine,” Brad Bark, Mayor of Muscatine, said. “This is something that we have worked a long time for and we are confident that the test will be successful and Muscatine will be added to the list of stops for these river cruises.”
The cruise ship will be in Muscatine for about a half-hour before returning to cruising the Mississippi River.
If successful, Muscatine could be added to future stops for the Duchess or one of her sister ships owned by the American Queen Steamboat Company.
On August 14, 2017 the American Duchess was christened with a bottle of bourbon at the waterfront in New Orleans. The Duchess features some of the largest accommodations on the river, with rooms ranging from 150-630 square feet. She holds up to 166 guests.
Before she became the American Duchess, she was originally designed and built for Isle of Capri Casinos and harbored in Bettendorf Iowa. On October 16, 2016, Bettendorf locals gathered on the levee to bid their farewell to the 21-year-old casino boat. They watched her pull off the river bank, free at last! Sailing to follow her dreams.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – A flotilla of hovercraft will be on the Mississippi River and on the Muscatine riverfront this weekend as the Hoverclub of America conducts Hoverally 2022 in Riverside Park.
The old boat launch located on the downstream end of Riverside Park will be closed to public use Thursday, July 21, through Sunday, July 24. Parking will also be restricted in the area of the old boat launch but a lane will be kept open for access to the parking lot near the basketball courts.
Those who plan on attending the “Almost Friday Fest” event from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday are reminded that parking will be unavailable south of the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park.
Please be patient and enjoy all the activities and amenities available on the Muscatine riverfront, in Riverside Park, and across all City of Muscatine parks and recreational opportunities.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend this year at the Muscatine Art Center with a special performance of Brinton Surprise, a Red Cedar Chamber Music production, at 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day (May 8) in the Muscatine Art Center’s Music Room. The performance is free and open to the public.
Red Cedar Chamber Music’s Directors and core ensemble, violinist Miera Kim and cellist Carey Bostian, present the third in a series of programs featuring early silent films and magic lantern slides accompanied by chamber music. The core ensemble is joined by flutist Claudia Anderson and guitarist John Dowdall in accompanying these rare films. Historian Michael Zahs will narrate the program.
This is Red Cedar’s third program built on the Brinton Collection. Red Cedar produced Brinton Silent Film Project in 2015, and followed that up a year later with Music and Magic Lanterns. Each project featured multiple commissions, some of which are present in today’s Brinton Surprise program. In all, 10 new works have been commissioned to accompany and enhance the incredible films and slides selected from the collection. In addition to performances in Eastern Iowa, the ensemble has presented in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington state.
BRINTON SURPRISE is a multi-media extravaganza featuring magic lantern slides and early silent films from the Brinton Collection of early entertainment materials. Michael Zahs, who rescued the collection from the garbage heap in 1981 and gifted the entire collection to the University of Iowa Special Collections, was the subject of the 2017 documentary Saving Brinton. Red Cedar will reprise several commissioned works from previous programs and have commissioned three new works to accompany six more films from the collection.
Philip Wharton has created a magical score for The Fairy of Springtime, a 1902 French film which features hand-painted color. Michael Kimber has scored Venetian Tragedy, a nine-minute drama with a surprise ending. New to Red Cedar for this project is a duo of French composers, Jean-Francois Charles and Nicolas Sidoroff, who have teamed up to create a major multi-media work (A Méliès Voyage) that explores the life of the great French filmmaker Georges Méliès, known by most from the 2011 film Hugo.
The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers, housed in a dedicated room at UI Special Collections, is over 50 linear feet and includes films, projectors, glass slides, 78 rpm records, wax cylinders, memorabilia from travels, patent applications with drawings, plans for flying machines, posters, and tickets.
“The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers provide inspiration for students, faculty, and the curious alike,” Elizabeth Riordan, lead outreach and instruction librarian for the UI Libraries Special Collections and Archives, said. “The collection’s rare films and film ephemera are enough to make it special, but the story of Frank and Indiana Brinton’s journey across the central swath of the United States showing early film is what makes it remarkable.”
Red Cedar’s founding directors, flutist Jan Boland and guitarist John Dowdall, began their partnership with historian Michael Zahs following Red Cedar’s first Rural Outreach concert at the Ainsworth Opera House in 2001. Over the years, they have collaborated with him on several concert programs featuring Michael’s collection of original civil war letters dating from 1861-1865, as well as two bus trips celebrating Red Cedar’s 10th Anniversary Season. Zahs had been showing some of the films from the Brinton Collection at the opera house since 1998.
While the three had talked about the collection, it was not until Humanities Iowa and the University of Iowa Special Collections partnered with Michael Zahs to preserve, digitize, and develop the collections that the idea of a concert program came about. In August of 2013, Jan, John and Carey traveled to Ainsworth to meet with Michael and the project was officially launched. Accompanying them was Red Cedar’s videographer and filmmaker John Richard, and the idea of a documentary about Michael and the collection took shape.
John Richard teamed up with Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines, and began documenting the project and Michael’s other endeavors. The feature length documentary Saving Brinton was premiered in 2018 and in part documents the journey that Zahs and Red Cedar undertook together to highlight the incredible life of Frank Brinton.
This series of concerts is made possible by support from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, AEGON Transamerica Foundation, the McIntyre Foundation, the Grandon Foundation, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, and Hills Bank. Additional support comes from the City of Marion, the Giacoletto Foundation, Farmers State Bank, CRST International, United Fire Group, and the Iowa Arts Council (a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts).
Special thanks to Artist Sponsors Juanita Dennert and Don & Irene (Naxera) Hamous.
To find out more about Brinton Surprise and all Red Cedar Chamber Music events, visit
Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m-5 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit the Muscatine Art Center website, visit the Art Center page on the City of Muscatine website, or follow the Art Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Please contact Katy Loos, Program Coordinator, with any questions about upcoming programs at (563) 263-8282 or email her at kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – Back by popular demand this summer is the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department coed adult sandpit volleyball league.
Matches are played Wednesday evenings in the sand of the Weed Park Courts located behind the Lagoon just off of the Colorado Street entrance. The season runs from mid-May through mid-August.
Select your teammates and stop by the Parks and Recreation office in the lower level of City Hall to register for this fun yet competitive league. Players must be at least 18 years of age to participate. A completed roster and all fees are due at the time of registration. Registration forms, rosters and league rules may be found on the City website.
Registration is now open with a $100 team fee. There is an additional fee of $5.00 per non-resident on the team roster. Register in the Parks and Recreation office located in the lower level of City Hall by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022.
Gather your team and plan to enjoy Wednesday evenings at the Weed Park Sand Volleyball Courts this summer. Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – Opportunities for seasonal employment take center stage this weekend as the City of Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department hosts a seasonal job fair from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday (March 12) in the clubhouse at the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course.
The Parks and Recreation Department is actively recruiting dependable, hardworking individuals to fill seasonal positions for the spring and summer of 2022. The Muscatine City Council recently passed an increase in the hourly rate for seasonal workers making this a great opportunity for individuals, including high school and college students, seeking seasonal work.
A variety of opportunities are available including Aquatic Center Manager, lifeguards, slide attendants, cashiers, equipment operators, office clerk, Golf Clubhouse supervisors, gas dock attendants, recreation program leaders, seasonal maintenance laborers, groundskeepers and College Search Kickoff program assistants. A complete list of opportunities are available on the City of Muscatine website at SUMMER POSITIONS.
Make plans to come out to the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course to talk with current staff, review open positions, and fill out an application. Interested persons may also fill out an application ahead of time by downloading a copy from the City of Muscatine website (Seasonal Job Application).
For more information, please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241.
Other opportunities for employment with the City of Muscatine include:
Maintenance Repairperson – Performs a variety of tasks of skilled and semi-skilled nature requiring the manual use of tools. Click on the link for a complete job description and how to apply. Applications are due by March 18, 2022.
Fire Fighter – The Muscatine Fire Department is compiling a list of prospective candidates for the position of firefighter. If you are interested in joining our premier team of firefighter-paramedics, please submit your application to be placed on the current selection list by the May 18 deadline. Click here to view our recruitment video.
Substitute Refuse Collector – The Muscatine Transfer Station is accepting applications for individuals to serve as a substitute refuse collector on an as needed basis. Hours will vary depending on need. Individuals applying should be reliable, physically able to lift 75 pounds and be able to work flexible and early morning hours. The position will remain open until filled.
Transit Driver – The Transit Division of the Department of Public Works is looking for a few people who love driving and providing excellent customer service to the community. Click on the link for more information on hours and qualifications. The position will remain open until filled and all applicants are welcomed.
For more information, visit the Employment Opportunities section on the City of Muscatine web site. The City of Muscatine is an equal employment affirmative action employer.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – A new show will premiere this Thursday through the cooperation of Muscatine Community College (MCC) and the City of Muscatine.
“Muscatine in Focus,” hosted by Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark, will premiere at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 3) on Muscatine Access Channel Nine available on the Muscatine Power & Water cable network. The presentation will be available after the live airing on the Muscatine in Focus (formerly Our City) YouTube channel sponsored by the City of Muscatine, and on the Muscatine Access Channel Nine YouTube page.
Producing the show is Chad Bishop of the MCC Video Department who worked with Mayor Bark in the development of the program that is broken down into four segments and each lasting three to four minutes.
The first show will feature Hannah Howard from the Muscatine Chamber of Commerce, Tony Tone from the Muscatine Community School District, City Administrator Carol Webb, and City council member Peggy Gordon.
The show will air each week with approximately 35-40 episodes planned.
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