Allamakee County Thunder in the Park

01/19/2017

Thunder in the Park is cancelled.

I want to thank everyone that help, or came to just sit around the campfires for the last four years.... Special thank you to the reenactors.

But as with many small events, it's always a problem to get volunteers, find the funding, get the vendors and sutlers and then draw in the spectators to provide the enthusiasm to keep the event alive.

Again thank you.

10/13/2016

10/13/2016

06/14/2016

These guys were great sports! Especially when it came to 'flinging the bull!'
It was a great group this year :) Hoping to have them and more next year!

Blistering heat and high humidity on Saturday followed by rain on Sunday kept the public away, but we had a great time, anyhow! Huzzah to the organizers! This is a fun event and we plan to put it on our calendar for 2017!

06/14/2016

Huge shout out to all those that participated in our event this weekend! The weather went from 84 to 54. The enactors were fun to talk to and a true joy to have! Thank you for coming and we hope to see you next year.

Also thank you to the spectators that braved the heat on Saturday and those that came on Sunday to support our town! You guys rock!

06/08/2016

Where the camps and Event Areas are.

06/08/2016

A Living History.
Take a deep relaxing breath and step back in time. The fourth annual event, Thunder in the Park, will be held in the Waukon City Park Saturday and Sunday, June 11th and 12th.
Confederate and Union camps will transform the peaceful rolling hills of the park into a living photograph of the past. At the event you will be able to talk with men, women and children in the camps who bring the past to life by portraying families affected by our Country’s battle with itself, and you might catch a glimpse of President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Lance Mack, as he strolls through the park.
Sit and enjoy the Patent Medicine and Magic Show of Professor Chalmers Bodkin-Childs as snake oil is transformed before your eyes into a healing elixir. And be entertained by the sleight of hand and magic tricks of the hour long show.
Come see Civil War weapons demonstrations, tours of horse drawn carriages, and a presentation on women in the Civil War; their participation on the battle field and clothing for battle, daily life, and special occasions.
Throughout the weekend there will be ongoing events such as the weapons displays and demos, military drills, and medical demonstrations. Kids games will feature “graces”, “quiots”, and dolls made from fabric scraps and are all participation events.
Cannons “Thunder” through reenactments of Civil War battles, demonstrating military skirmishes, victories and defeats and how doctors treated the wounded at field hospitals.
Other scheduled events include the Saturday Evening Dance featuring Western Home String Band, Cannon Night Fire, a presentation by Lance Mack and Jessica Michna as President Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and more.
The event is free to the public. This event is funded entirely by donations. All donations, greatly appreciated, go toward next year’s event. For more information about this year’s event or to make a donation call 563-568-3807 or go to Facebook “Allamakee County Thunder in the Park.”

06/08/2016

This amazing woman will be at Thunder in the Park. Stop in and say hello!

Sunday

06/06/2016

Stop in on Saturday and meet the First Lady, Mrs. Lincoln!

Saturday.

06/03/2016

Thunder in the Park 2016

A living history.

Green grass, shady trees, rolling hills, and a quiet pond are the backdrop for a medicine show, a comedic skit by Allamakee Community Players, and artillery fire. These are just a few of the things you will experience in the Waukon City Park, Saturday and Sunday, June 11th and 12th.

This living history event offers glimpses of the past where you can experience things that used to be part of daily life. Money was rare, stores were a luxury. Items necessary for daily life were made by hand. Night light was supplied by candles made by dipping beeswax, soap was made with ashes and lye, strong rope useful for tying animals and jumping rope was created by twisting thinner weaker strands together. Children made their own toys by tying sticks together or carving twigs and branches into figures. Dolls were made from scraps from mom’s sewing basket. And games were played with cow chips.

Horse drawn carriages took families to church and social events. Grand Balls were held and war ravaged the land and families. President Abraham Lincoln wrestled with a country divided against itself. Cordelia Harvey from Wisconsin worked to establish convalescent hospitals for the wounded soldiers that returned home.

Women dressed in fancy ball gowns for celebrations, or day dresses for work, or donned men’s clothing and went to war at the front lines.Men joined their Units and practiced field drills to prepare for battle and be directed by Generals in skirmishes.

Come experience these, and more, glimpses of times past offered at ‘Thunder in the Park’. The event is free to the public and is funded entirely by donations. All donations, greatly appreciated, go toward next year’s event. For more information or to make a donation call 563-568-3807 or go to Facebook “Allamakee County Thunder in the Park.

06/02/2016

It's here!! The schedule has gone thru many, many approvals and is finally finalized for you! Take a look at the different activities that are offered through out the weekend. There are many new items added to our list of events; Hands-on soap making offered by our own Paint Creek Soaps from Waterville, make your own candles, make your own rope courtesy of Keith Kerr from Postville, and a hilarious comedy presented by Allamakee Community Players, Inc! Don't forget our favorites from years past; a speech given by President Lincoln, Traveling Medicine show that is sure to entertain the entire family, and don't forget to be here for the "Thunder" in the park!

We are excited to offer to you our hometown Jet's Meat Processing, who will be one of the food venders during Thunder in the Park. They offer a meal of hot dogs, brats, or steak sandwich with chips and a drink. Walking into their shop, their coolers are packed with amazing food and their walls are lined with plaques and trophies! Stop down after the battle and grab a lunch from Jet's Meat Processing.
We are pleased to offer SuggaShack from Clinton, Iowa as another food vendor this year. They offer treats like fried oreos, snickers, twinkies, deep fried fudge brownies, cotton candy, and funnel cakes, along with blooming onions, corn dogs, curly fries, shrimp kabobs to name a few of their items. Swing by on your way to the skit presented by ACPI!

This event is free to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated. Donation cans will be thru-out the park. Please help support our Waukon event; a few dollars add up!