The Kalona Historical Village is constantly bringing in new exhibits and trying new things that will bring in new visitors and keep things fresh for returning visitors.

This year we joined Harvest Host, a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions across the United States that invite RVers to camp in unique places.  That has certainly attracted a group of people that we normally wouldn’t see and makes things new and interesting for Nancy, Heather, and Sue.

People with a motor home or any kind of travel trailer, camper, etc., can park it overnight at no charge on the Historical Village grounds. Campers understand that our facility has no hook ups and their unit must be 100% self-contained, and that sometime during their visit they should pay at least one admission and/or make a purchase in the gift shop.

Before they arrive, campers must call the Village and let us know they are going to spend the night, and we let them know where to park.

Visitors come from all over the United States and several foreign countries.

The one thing we find out in talking with our guests is that most of them can’t comprehend that a town of 2,600 people has such a facility and such interesting collections, including one of the better quilt collections in the country.  Our quilts date from 1850 to about 1940, with over 800 quality hand-sewn quilts, including 300 Amish quilts.

We also have a marble collection with over 25,000 marbles, the largest public display of spool cabinets in the country and are home of the Mennonite Museum & Archives.

Visitors are amazed to know that we offer educational summer camps for school children, have professional displays that tell the history of the area before Kalona existed, and then explain how the town developed when the train came through in 1879 and why it developed so fast. Visitors who have never been to Kalona leave knowing more about it than many of the locals do who have lived here for years.

In a few short weeks the Kalona Historical Village will celebrate its 50th Fall Festival Anniversary. It will be the biggest and the best Fall Festival ever, including fireworks at 9:10 p.m. Friday night.

The other reason it will be the biggest and best Fall Festival in 50 years is that last week Edwards Creative Company of Milan, Illinois, installed phase three of the Street Scape Concept in the new Wahl building rebuilt six years ago. Phase three covers how and why Kalona grew so fast after the train came through; tells about early families, individuals and businesses that made all this happen; and describes the many early fires that destroyed early buildings. Thousands of hours of research have gone into this project by committee members of the Street Scape Concept. I think you will find it very informative and interesting.

To handle the increased number of people attending this year, the Village needs another two to three dozen volunteers to cover buildings, take tickets, and work in the gift shop. If you can cover a four-hour shift on Friday or Saturday, it would be greatly appreciated. Many of these jobs allow you to sit for the four hours, greet people, and answer their questions.

To volunteer, go to the Village web site, kalonaiowa.org, click the Fall Festival tab, and scroll down to the Volunteer Sign-Up button, or call 319-656-3232 and talk to Heather, Sue or Nancy to find out how you can help.

Admission to the Fall Festival is $6, which buys you a wristband for both days.  Fall Festival is the way we are able to keep doors to the Historical Village and Mennonite Museum Archives open.

We appreciate your help and your support.