Paint the town in McGregor and Marquette! October 3, 12-4pm Do you like to paint? Join us for the first ever Paint the Town event in McGregor and Marquette! Enjoy an afternoon creating your own painting of the most beautiful historic towns in a fall setting! No need to be a pro – come enjoy the scenery! Spots are limited so register today! Register with the Chamber of Commerce at 563-873-2186. Prizes will be awarded! Cost is $15. Rain date: Oct. 10.

Witches’ Night Out (Warlocks welcome too!) October 8, 4-8pm in Elkader Come in costume for a spooktacular shopping experience! Pick up your Give a Hoot game card at Keystone Park for a chance to win $50 in Chamber Dollars.  For more information, call 563-245-2857.

2D and 3D art by gallery artists on display from September 18 to November 6.

HawkWatch to be Celebrated on October 3rd On Saturday, October 3, 2020 the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, in partnership with Upper Iowa Audubon Society and Driftless Area Bird Conservation will host HawkWatch. This event celebrates the magnificent fall migration of hundreds of thousands of raptors and other birds along the Mississippi River Flyway. HawkWatch is a free event, designed to appeal to everyone including families, amateur birders and raptor enthusiasts. HawkWatch activities will be held at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, located at 509 US 18 in Marquette, Iowa, 0.5 mile west of the Marquette-Joliet Bridge on Hwy 18. Daytime activities will begin at 10:00 AM and will wrap up at 2:00 PM. Birding experts will be on hand to help identify raptors and other birds migrating through the area. River Valley Raptor staff will present “Falcons of the Driftless” live bird programs. All programs will be held outdoors. In an effort to limit crowd sizes, two 15-minute programs will be held in the morning and they will be held again in the afternoon. Weather permitting, local ornithologist, Jon Stravers will bring raptors captured at his banding station to the Wetlands Centre for release. Hands-on activities will not be held this year due to Covid-19 but take-home activities will be available for families. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Marquette Driftless Area. Visitors are encouraged to wear a mask and practice social distancing. A schedule of events will be available at the Centre or online at www.driftlessareawetlandcentre.com. Sponsors for this year’s HawkWatch event include Upper Iowa Audubon Society, Friends of the Marquette Driftless Area and the City of Marquette. Please contact the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre at 563-873-3537 with any questions.

The Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl is online and in person this year! Visit www.visitiowa.org for a list of participating businesses. FarmCrawl 2020 Designfile

Celebrate Drive the Great River Road Month all September long Motorists encouraged to experience ‘America’s Greatest Drive’ this fall The Mississippi River Parkway Commission is inviting motorists to celebrate the Great River Road—whether they’re taking a daylong excursion or just dreaming about their next road trip—during Drive the Great River Road Month, which celebrates one of America’s oldest and longest National Scenic Byways every September. Drive the Great River Road Month is a nearly 3,000-mile route that follows the Mississippi River through 10 states, from Minnesota to Louisiana. The unique scenic byway is a gateway to the Mississippi River Valley’s great recreational options and unique historical and cultural attractions. The Great River’s long list of must-see attractions includes magnificent natural wonders, captivating historical sites and unique cultures to experience. September is also an ideal time to take in the Great River Road’s agritourism options, like orchards, cheese factories, wineries and farmers markets, as well as outdoor attractions like scenic overlooks. To help celebrate Drive the Great River Road Month, the Drive the Great River Road Month Sweepstakes will be held from Sept. 1-30, offering travelers a chance to win $500 to use on their own trip along the Great River Road. More information can be found on www.experiencemississippiriver.com and www.facebook.com/GreatRiverRoad. Learn more about the Great River Road National Scenic Byway with the help of www.experiencemississippiriver.com. Here you’ll find information on all the Great River Road states, Interpretive Centers (museums and historic sites showcasing the stories of the Mississippi), and must-see attractions, along with suggested itineraries and maps to help plan a trip that’s just right for you. You can also order a free 10-state map or download the Drive the Great River Road app. You can also find the Great River Road on Instagram (www.instagram.com/greatriverroad), on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/GreatRiverRd) or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/TheGreatRiverRoad).

Art and Craft Festival in McGregor’s Triangle Park and Backwoods October 3-4 and 10-11 Saturdays 10am-5pm Sundays 10am-3pm

Maiden Voyage Tours is offering sunset cruises on Saturdays and Sundays at 7pm, launching from Marquette. Book online today or call 563-880-8970 for an unforgettable Mississippi River experience!

Warmer weather is here and with it, farmers markets! Find fresh produce, flowers, and more at one of Clayton County’s seven markets!