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Celebrate Hayden Fry, Iowa football at FRY Fest

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Carly Weber

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Former University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry waves to the crowd at Kinnick Stadium during a halftime ceremony honoring him at the homecoming game against Michigan on Saturday Oct. 4, 2003 in Iowa City.

What better way to celebrate everything Hawkeye than hosting a festival honoring one of Iowa’s most beloved coaches? FRY Fest, named after legendary Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry, will be held Friday in Coralville.

“It’s to celebrate Hawkeye spirit,” says Alyssa Dahmer, communications intern for the Iowa City-Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It also will celebrate Fry’s 20-year coaching career at Iowa and his humanitarian effort supporting local farmers, Dahmer says.

This year marks several milestones for Fry. He celebrated his 80th birthday in February, and 2009 is the 30th anniversary of his hiring and the 10th anniversary of his retirement as the University of Iowa’s winningest football coach.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Hayden Fry Way will be unveiled at a ceremony at the intersection of First Avenue and East Ninth Street in Coralville. The stretch between Interstate 80 and Highway 6 is the most traveled in Johnson County and is the stretch of road Fry drove for 20 years to his office. Fry plans to attend the ceremony.

But that’s not all. There will also be “The World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow & Tailgate Party,” featuring more than 60 exhibitors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E Ninth St. Current athletes and coaches, as well as former Hawkeyes, including Dan Gable and Tim Dwight, will make appearances.
At 1:30 p.m. Fry will be on a panel with Hawkeye broadcasters Bump Elliot, Jon Miller, Ed Podalak, Bob Brooks, Ron Gonder, Gary Dolphin, George Wine, Frosty Mitchell and John Campbell.

Campbell, who started at KCRG-TV9 in 1979, the same year Fry started as UI’s coach, says Fry was an interesting person to cover as a reporter.

“You never knew what you would get,” Campbell says. “He could be funny, he could be serious, he could chop your head off.”

But Fry was always respected and was always thinking, Campbell says.

“When you went to games when Fry was the coach, there was a good chance Iowa was going to win,” he says.

Other tradeshow activities Friday include exhibits, a car show, Hayden Fry look- and sound-a-like contests, a Hayden Fry namesake photo and a Hawkeye pep rally at the Iowa River Landing on corner of Ninth Street and Quarry Road. In recognition of Fry’s 143 victories, 143 Harley-Davidsons will ride down East Ninth Street to kick off the pep rally. After the pep rally country artist Jake Owen will perform, followed by the Outlaws and the Charlie Daniels Band.

Organizers hope FRY Fest will become an annual event. While this year particularly celebrates Fry’s accomplishments, future events will focus more on the Hawkeyes.

— By Angela Holmes, The Gazette

What: FRY Fest
When: Friday
Where: Various locations in Coralville
More information: (319) 337-6592 or http://fryfest.com/

Schedule

10 a.m.: Dedication of Hayden Fry Way, intersection of First Avenue and East Ninth Street
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Tradeshow and tailgate party, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E. Ninth St.
1:30 p.m.: Hawkeye broadcasters panel, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
3:30 p.m.: Hayden Fry contests, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
5 p.m.: Hayden Fry namesake photo opportunity, Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
5:30 to 6:15 p.m.: Hawkeye pep rally, Iowa River Landing, corner of Ninth Street and Quarry Road.
6:30 p.m.: Concerts begin at Iowa River Landing. Features Jake Owen, The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band.

Start planning
Fourth of July festivities

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Carly Weber

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From Aurora to Williamsburg and Belle Plaine to West Union, this Fourth of July is sure to be poppin’. There’s fireworks every where you turn. Plus plenty of good old fashioned Fourth of July fun in the form of parades, food-eating contests, races and more. Not to mention a few tractor pulls, water ski shows, street dances and plenty of fun and games. So whether you stay home, head back to your childhood home or venture off to someone else’s hometown, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

Find your Fourth here. All events are July 4 unless otherwise noted.

Aurora - “There’s No Place Like Home” Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration: Opening ceremony and tractor pull, 11 a.m.; parade, 1 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Belle Plaine - Traditional July 4 activities (plus games, food and rides), Williams Park; parade, 10 a.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 444-2200
Bellevue - Parade, 10 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities, afternoon, Cole Park; Water Ski Show, 6 p.m., Mississippi River; live music and fireworks, dusk, municipal parking lot. www.bellevueia.com
Cedar Falls - 5K for Independence Day walk/run, 8:30 a.m., George Wyth State Park; Jaycees Star Spangled Sky Fireworks Festival, 5-10:30 p.m., UNI Dome. (319) 273-8600
Cedar Rapids - Freedom Festival: Alliant Energy Walk/Run (8K and 5K), 7:30 a.m., May’s Island; Patriot’s Bazaar and Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge; Grand Ol’ Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge & First Street W; KCRG-TV9 Show You Care Kids’ Parade, 10 a.m. Third Avenue Bridge; Hawkeye Pedal Pull, 10 a.m., Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum/City Hall; City Pools Fourth of July Swim, 1 p.m., Bever and Jones pools and Cherry Hill and Noelridge Aquatic Centers; Music-for-the-Community and Action Zone, 3 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Water Ski Show 2009, 7 p.m., Cedar River at Ellis Park; Fanfare to the Fireworks with Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, 8 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Celebration of Freedom Fireworks, 9:45 p.m., Kirkwood Community College. www.freedomfestival.com
Central City - 7-11 a.m. Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Falcon Civic Center; Parade, 10 a.m.; Street dance and hog roast, all day; fireworks, dusk. (319) 438-1713
Coralville - 4th FEST: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7-10:30 a.m., Northwest Junior High; Rockin’ the Paradise Parade, 10 a.m.; Carnival, noon, Coralville Community Aquatic Center Parking Lot; American Legion Bingo, noon-9 p.m., S.T. Morrison Park; Panchero’s Burrito Eating Contest, 4 p.m., Showcase Stage; Community Band Concert, 8 p.m., Showcase Stage; fireworks, dusk. www.coralville.org
Dubuque - Fireworks Spectacular, July 3, dusk, over Mississippi River at Lock and Dam No. 11. www.dubuquechamber.com
Dyersville - July 3: Rides and Games, 5 p.m.; Music and Celebrity Dunk Tank, 6-10 p.m.; Square Dancing Lawnmowers, 7:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (563) 875-2311
Dysart - Firecracker 5K run, 8 a.m.; Grand Parade, 10:30 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities (plus cakewalk, kiddie tractor pull and talent show), noon-9 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Earlville - Traditional July 4 activities, Ball Diamond; fireworks, dusk. (563) 923-3365
Ely - Fireman’s Breakfast 7 a.m.-12:30, Ely Fire Department; Parade, 6 p.m., starts at Fire Department. (319) 848-4103
Hills - Co-ed volleyball tournament, 9 a.m., Hills Ball Park; Horseshoe tournament, 1 p.m.; “Fun in the Sun” Parade, 5 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 679-3197
Independence - 149th Fourth of July Parade, 9 a.m., First Street E and Second Avenue NE; Traditional July 4 activities (plus volleyball tournament, duck race and Guitar Hero tournament), 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks; Fireworks, 10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks. www.celebrateindee.com
Iowa City - Fireworks, Hubbard Park, dusk. (319) 356-5000
Maquoketa – Stock Car Races and Fireworks, 6 p.m., Jackson County Fairgrounds. (563) 652-4602
Marengo - Sesquicentennial Celebration, July 3: Parade, 6:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk; July 4: Kiwanis Breakfast, 7-10 a.m.; Car Show, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Children’s Parade, 10 a.m.; Marengo Olympics, 10 a.m.; Ioway Indian Presentation, 10 a.m.; Horseshoe Tournament, 10 a.m.; Pioneer Heritage Museum, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tiny Circus, noon-9 p.m.; inflatables and games, noon-9 p.m.; beer garden, noon-2 a.m.; Castle Ridge Band, 1-2 p.m.; Dixieland Band, 2 p.m.; Brian Troester Band, 3-4:30 p.m.; Library Tours, 4-6 p.m.; IV School Foundation Open House, 4-6 p.m.; Womanless Wedding, 4:30 p.m.; All School Reunion Dinner, 4:30-8 p.m.; Twins/Multiples Event and Cutest Baby Contest, 5-6 p.m.; Atomic Hoss Band, 6-7:30 p.m.; Cemetery Tour, 7-8:30 p.m.; Alumni Band and Choir, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Quilt Raffle, 7:30 p.m.; Twist and Shout, 8:30-10 p.m.; All School Reunion Dance, 9 p.m.-midnight; KC All Stars Band, 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; Street Dance. www.marengo150.com
Marquette - American Legion Pancake Breakfast, July 3-5, 7-10 a.m., Marquette City Park; Flea Market, July 3-5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., under the bridge; Independence Day Parade, July 4, 11 a.m., downtown; fireworks, July 4, dusk, riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Marshalltown - Traditional July 4 activities, 3 p.m., Central Iowa Fairgrounds; fireworks, dusk, Central Iowa Fairgrounds. (641) 753-6645
McGregor - Cannon shoot and ceremony, 10 a.m., Riverfront Park; Traditional July 4 activities (plus live music and bean bag tournament), 11 a.m.-4 p.m., riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Monticello - Firemen’s Breakfast, 6:30-10:30 a.m.; “Proud to Be an America” Parade, 11 a.m., traditional July 4 activities, noon-8 p.m., Monticello Eagles Club; Fireworks, dusk, fairgrounds. (319) 465-6435
Monona - Back Home Fourth of July Celebration (plus music by Juiceman Sound and the Back Home Boys), 5 p.m., Birdnow Chevrolet; fireworks, dusk. www.mononaiowa.com
Mount Vernon - Heritage Days, July 9-11; Fireworks, July 9 @ dusk, Hillcrest Country Club. (319) 895-8742
Oelwein - Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown; Celebration Oelwein (plus entertainment, food, games, boating and Miss Oelwein contest), afternoon, City Park; fireworks, dusk. www.oelwein.com/attraction.php
Solon - Fireworks, dusk, Lake Macbride beach area. (319) 624-2200
Tipton – Traditional July 4 activities (plus bouncy rides, food games and a petting zoo), all day, City Park; “Movies on Parade”, 2 p.m., Meridian Street and North Avenue; Free Swim, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Aquatic Center; fireworks, dusk. www.tiptoniowa.org
Toledo - Fireworks, dusk, Toledo Heights Park. (641) 484-2160
Waterloo – Jaycees Fireworks Festival, 6 p.m.-midnight, West Fourth Street and Commercial Street. (319) 291-4301
Wayland - Lions Club Breakfast, 6:30-9:30 a.m., Wayland Community Center; 5K walk/run, 7 a.m.; Parade, 10:30 a.m., Main Street; Firefighter Water Fights, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Main Street; Tractor Show, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., North Street; Family Fun Games and Food, 12:30-4 p.m.; Main Street Museum Porch Tour, 1-2 p.m., Main Street Museum; Parkview Benefit Supper, 4:30-7 p.m., Parkview home; fireworks, dusk, football field. www.waylandiowa.com
Wellman - Traditional July 4 activities (parade and entertainment), North Park; Fireworks, dusk. www.cityofwellman.com
West Branch - “An Old Fashioned Independence Day” celebration, music by the Marengo Civil War Band and dramatic performance by Lance Mack as President Abraham Lincoln, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. http://hoover.archives.gov
West Union - Fireworks, dusk, West Union Recreation Center. (563) 422-3070
Williamsburg - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7 a.m., Fire Department; Williamsburg Recreational Department Fun Run and Tot Trot, 9 a.m.; Children and Adult Relay Races and Park Vendors, 1-3 p.m., east side of the square; Parade, 4 p.m.; Fireworks, dusk. (319) 668-1133