Volga Days honors past while looking toward future
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
Over three decades ago, the city of Volga was crowded with people celebrating Turkey Days, lining the streets for a parade, taking part in a duck float and gathering round for a turkey dressing dinner. Then, it came to an end.
While the actual history of Turkey Days and why it ended is somewhat forgotten, what has not been lost is the stories people tell, memories and the nostalgia of community.
It is under this guise, and guided by history, that the Shaping Volga Committee (SVC) set out “exploring ways” to not only help people recognize, but also remember, what a “gem” Volga is.
Advertised as a beautiful city nestled in the Volga River Valley of northeast Iowa, it has lumbered through some negative publicity many, including the SVC, believe is an inadequate representation—and perhaps an incomplete picture—of what every resident feels about their small town that has proven its resiliency.
They’ve revealed this characteristic historically, in the numerous hands that have restored and brought new life to the opera house, and more recently when they came together during the Covid-19 pandemic for the grocery program. Even the new library project is emblematic of what a small, committed community can do.
Bringing back something old like Turkey Days, and refashioning it for the present—into Volga Days—is just another example of this.
“The goal of the Shaping Volga Endowment is to celebrate and remember Volga’s history while supporting a successful future. There was a lot of talk during these discussions about bringing back the old, nostalgic community feeling that we all feel truly represents our hometown,” members of the SVC said.
Efforts began back in March, when conversations surrounding the 100th anniversary of Sacred Heart and 175th anniversary for the Methodist church were underway. It got SVC “exploring the idea of celebrating as a community.”
It’s also important to note that, this year, Volga is not hosting the truck cruises or Bump and Run events, so there was a void to fill for a “family friendly, town-centered activity.”
“We knew that the old Volga Days was a family centered community celebration and that is what we were all hoping to recreate, [and] this committee is spearheading getting this tradition started up again,” the SVC said.
The group is attempting to bring back some of the original activities, like the duck races which elicited a lot of memories and positive comments, while also providing an opportunity to utilize and incorporate the Volga River into the celebration.
“One goal of the Shaping Volga Committee is to honor Volga’s history and bring some of these events back, and this seemed like a great way to do that,” the SVC said.
Volga Days will be held this Saturday, July 20. Along with the duck races, it will feature a 5K walk/run at 8 a.m., tractorcade at 10 a.m., parade at 2:30 p.m., line dancing in the park, kid’s waterball wars, bounce houses, sand and water volleyball, pop-up photo booth provided by local Volga photographer Beth Petsche, EMS wellness checks and fire truck tours.
The latter was an idea the SVC said was at the “top of the list,” given how many community members are involved in emergency services. It also highlights an important aspect for the SVC: celebrating the intergenerational nature of Volga. This is evident in the emergency services, with multiple generations volunteering.
“We are a rural community and the EMS crew personally know most of the people who are the reasons for our service calls,” the SVC said. “It is also a way for our crew to give back to those that have so generously supported and donated to our unit over the years.”
Volga Days will also offer food options for breakfast and lunch, including meals provided by local churches. Sacred Heart will be at the Volga U Campground from 8 to 10:30 a.m., then the Calvary Church will at the new church hall and Methodist Church at the city park shelter between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., enjoy walking tacos in the opera house, made by the Central FFA as a fundraiser for their trip to Ireland.
The 2:30 p.m. parade was one of the first events the SVC knew it wanted to include in Volga Days. It will feature a host of local businesses and organizations, and an announcer will share information regarding each entry as they pass the Volga City Opera House.
Additionally, and importantly, the parade will include a color guard that “a lot of thought” was put into because the SVC wanted to represent both past and present members of the armed services. Among this group of honored veterans are Ryan Bergan, Doug Ayslworth, Tim Klingman, Tim Rupard, Fred Schaeffer (Vietnam float), Ray Horns and Duane Druecker, while a trailer will be used for veterans who are unable to walk the parade route.
“Several others have been invited and we are trying to make it as multi-generational representation as possible,” the SVC said.
Within the parade is another tradition the SVC is looking to carry on: honoring local townspeople as the grand marshal. This year, the group selected Willis Chase, a Volga native and Army veteran who spent 50 years as an active member of the Volga Fire Department.
As Volga Days approaches on Saturday, July 20, there is an anticipation that the family friendly event will bring people together, not just from Volga, but from surrounding communities as well. While honoring the past, the SVC hopes to shine a spotlight on Volga that emphasizes what a great place Volga is to live in and visit.
“Our goal is to help build a sense of community and bring people together. We hope this celebration will help to improve Volga’s perception or image as a family friendly community. Hopefully make people realize that it is a great place to live,” the SVC said.
More simply, though, Volga Days is about recreating a time when the streets were lined with people, a parade would proudly make its way down Pine Street and Washington and smiles adorned the children’s faces.
Further information about Volga Days can be found on the Shaping Volga Endowment Facebook page.
