By Jacob Tellers

FOREST CITY, Iowa — At first glance, Puckerbrush Days in Forest City seem like they have a rather unusual name.

Puckerbrush is a word that often receives a second look, usually followed by a Google search to determine what exactly it means. But that was not always the case.

Puckerbrush was one of several names for Forest City before it was incorporated in 1878, according to Forest City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Rollefson.

“Puckerbrush was prevalent in town,” Rollefson said. “It was a dense brush used for fences. It had a berry that would make you pucker if you ate it.”

While there is no longer any puckerbrush in town, the term remains as a reminder of the city’s heritage.

The annual festival decades ago was called Frontier Days. The name was changed in the mid-1980s, Rollefson said.

Puckerbrush also can refer to a remote place, or somewhere a person did not intend to be, according to Carleton County Colloquialisms.

With all of the events taking place over the rest of the summer, that’s one definition that doesn’t fit the Puckerbrush Festival.

The four-day event takes place from July 17 to 29 and is packed with more than 50 different activities including scavenger hunts, fireworks, a 5-kilometer run, go-kart racing and a contest called Battle of the Businesses.

Food vendors will be available with meals such as walking tacos and rotary barbecue chicken.

“Lost in Space” is the theme of this years parade.

 

Schedule 

Thursday, July 17

11 a.m.- 4 p.m.: University of Iowa Mobile Museum at WIT Visitor Center

5-7 p.m.: Local authors meet and greet at the public library

5-7 p.m.: Color Guard brat and hot dog feed at S. Clark St.

5 p.m.-close: Boy Scout snack shack at the courthouse lawn

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Scavenger hunt beginning at S. Clark St.

7:45 p.m.: Waldorf Theatre Production, “600 Years of History in 6,000 seconds,” at Smith Theatre

8-10 p.m.: Middle School pool party at city pool

 

Friday, July 18

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Salad luncheon at Immanuel Lutheran Church

4 p.m.: Waldorf Theatre Production, “600 Years of History in 6,000 seconds,” at Smith Theatre

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Lions’ corn feed with pork at S. Clark St.

5-6:30 p.m.: Free watermelon at the courthouse lawn

5 p.m.-close: Boy Scout snack shack at the courthouse lawn

5-7:30 p.m.: Ice cream social at courthouse lawn

5-6:30 p.m.: Registration for 5K/1K Tot Trot at Salvenson Hall Porch

5:15 p.m.: Flag disposal ceremony at S. Clark St.

5:30-7:30 p.m.: Bounce houses at courthouse lawn.

5:45 p.m. Crowning Little Miss/Mr. Puckerbrush at S. Clark St.

6 p.m.: Pee Wee baseball tournament at Pammel Park

7-8 p.m.: Battle of Businesses at S. Clark St.

8:30 p.m.-Midnight: Beer garden at Bear Creek Golf Course

 

Saturday, July 19

6:30 a.m.: Registration for 5K run/walk, 1K for kids 12 and under and Tot Trot at S. 6th St. by Salveson Hall

7:30 a.m.: 5K run/walk at S. 6th St. by Salveson Hall

8:30 a.m.: 1K for kids 12 and under and Tot Trot at S. 6th St. by Salveson Hall

7:30-9:30 a.m.: Fishing contest at Pammel Park

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Craft show at courthouse lawn

9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Walking tacos at courthouse lawn

9 a.m.: Pee Wee baseball tournament at Pammel Park

9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Boy Scout snack shack at the courthouse lawn

10 a.m.: Parade line-up at John K. Hanson Drive

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Bounce houses at courthouse lawn

11 a.m.: Rotary barbecue chicken at West J St.

11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.: Photo booth inside Nu2U at 117 N. Clark St.

11:30 a.m. registration, noon start: Kid Power Pedal Pulls at S. Clark St.

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Sheltered Reality performance at courthouse lawn

Noon: Pie and ice cream at Methodist Church

12:30-3:30 p.m.: Laser tag at N. Clark St.

12:30 registration, 1 p.m. start: Bean bag toss tournament at Waldorf College lawn

1-3 p.m.: Waterball competition at S. Sixth St.

1-3 p.m.: Fire truck rides at J St.

1-5 p.m.: Mount Valley Winery Open at 20306 340th St.

1:30-2:15 p.m.: Hansen Family Entertainment at courthouse square

2:30 p.m.: K-9 demonstration at Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office lawn

6:30 p.m.: Go-cart racing at Southtown Speedway

9-9:45 p.m.: Municipal band at Pammel Park

9:50 p.m.: Fireworks at Pammel Park

 

Sunday, July 20:

7-11 a.m.: Flight breakfast at municipal airport

8 a.m.: Heritage festival at Heritage Park

9 a.m.: Pee Wee baseball tournament at Pammel Park

1-4 p.m.: Tour at the Mansion Museum