Bronson festival offers 'slice of small-town Iowa'
By Alicia Ebaugh Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, July 05, 2007
BRONSON, Iowa -- Sitting in metal folding chairs and on wooden bleachers, a few hundred spectators lounged in the late-afternoon heat as girls and boys tapped, clogged and spun across the stage.
The younger girls flitted throughout the Bronson School gym after their performances, flashing with sequins and glitter. Grandmothers and grandfathers, sisters and brothers -- all were there to see who would win the show. It also didn't hurt that it was a welcome break from the glaring hot sun.
Bill Riley's Iowa State Fair Talent Search is just one of Bronson's many July Fourth traditions. That morning more than 130 entrants in the annual Fourth of July parade wound their way through the small town's streets.
Bronson, population 269, has kept the week of July Fourth packed with activities for more than 40 years as a way to celebrate and promote the town, said mayor Ava Lewon.
"We're a friendly community," Lewon said, as family members milled around her home and yard. "Everyone likes to come out and have fun."
Sioux Cityan Cindee Arnett said the candy thrown at the parade is her daughter Annie's favorite holiday treat -- and, of course, the fireworks at the end.
"They said they were going to be in 3-D this year," Arnett said. "We come here practically every year, it's such a great celebration."
Arnett's nephew, 18-year-old Jake Groth, was up to perform next on the gym stage. Clad in a black cowboy hat and gold chaps over blue jeans, Groth took over the stage with energy and enthusiasm. As he clogged through, "What Was I Thinking," his legs moved faster and faster, urging more cheers and applause.
"Oh, he's so good, isn't he?" Arnett asked. The judges thought so -- in the end, he grabbed second place and qualified to represent Bronson at the Iowa State Fair.
Many of Arnett's family members came to see Groth, but they are also rooted in the Bronson July Fourth tradition. Her husband Craig's parents and grandparents were raised here and participated in the festivities for decades, she said.
"It's a slice of small-town Iowa," Arnett said. "I think it's neat."
Before the results were read, Paytin Stover, 6, and her tiny 4-year-old cousin Emma DeStiger spun in circles at the side of the gym, the smaller following the larger. The skirt of Paytin's purple and red-polka-dotted dance costume flared and flounced with each turn, and Emma's lavender ballerina tutu bounced.
"She was excited to perform -- it's her first time trying to get to the state fair," said Paytin's mom, Leslie Stover of Moville. "Even though she's won awards before, what's great is that everybody gets a ribbon; it's not too competitive."
Even though her name wasn't read, Paytin didn't seem to mind -- too much.
"Mom, I really wanted the $100," she said, thrusting her green ribbon at Stover and then flashing a grin that showed her missing front tooth -- a tooth she lost just an hour before she got on stage.
"I know you did, honey," Stover said, and chuckled as she ran away again with Emma.
It was time to get on with the celebration. The crowd trickled out into the heat of the setting sun, walking down the hill toward the kids' crafts area and the food stand. Some walked downtown to JR's Bar and Grill, where shady umbrellas and tents gave the over-21 crowd a cool(er) place to imbibe. A few even set themselves up a few hours in advance on some couches dragged out to the school field for the night's fireworks show.
For a small town, Stover said Bronson offers a lot of things to do this holiday, especially for families.
"It's not overwhelming or too big for kids. They get to see their friends and everyone's really friendly," she said.
The younger girls flitted throughout the Bronson School gym after their performances, flashing with sequins and glitter. Grandmothers and grandfathers, sisters and brothers -- all were there to see who would win the show. It also didn't hurt that it was a welcome break from the glaring hot sun.
Bill Riley's Iowa State Fair Talent Search is just one of Bronson's many July Fourth traditions. That morning more than 130 entrants in the annual Fourth of July parade wound their way through the small town's streets.
Bronson, population 269, has kept the week of July Fourth packed with activities for more than 40 years as a way to celebrate and promote the town, said mayor Ava Lewon.
"We're a friendly community," Lewon said, as family members milled around her home and yard. "Everyone likes to come out and have fun."
Sioux Cityan Cindee Arnett said the candy thrown at the parade is her daughter Annie's favorite holiday treat -- and, of course, the fireworks at the end.
"They said they were going to be in 3-D this year," Arnett said. "We come here practically every year, it's such a great celebration."
Arnett's nephew, 18-year-old Jake Groth, was up to perform next on the gym stage. Clad in a black cowboy hat and gold chaps over blue jeans, Groth took over the stage with energy and enthusiasm. As he clogged through, "What Was I Thinking," his legs moved faster and faster, urging more cheers and applause.
"Oh, he's so good, isn't he?" Arnett asked. The judges thought so -- in the end, he grabbed second place and qualified to represent Bronson at the Iowa State Fair.
Many of Arnett's family members came to see Groth, but they are also rooted in the Bronson July Fourth tradition. Her husband Craig's parents and grandparents were raised here and participated in the festivities for decades, she said.
"It's a slice of small-town Iowa," Arnett said. "I think it's neat."
Before the results were read, Paytin Stover, 6, and her tiny 4-year-old cousin Emma DeStiger spun in circles at the side of the gym, the smaller following the larger. The skirt of Paytin's purple and red-polka-dotted dance costume flared and flounced with each turn, and Emma's lavender ballerina tutu bounced.
"She was excited to perform -- it's her first time trying to get to the state fair," said Paytin's mom, Leslie Stover of Moville. "Even though she's won awards before, what's great is that everybody gets a ribbon; it's not too competitive."
Even though her name wasn't read, Paytin didn't seem to mind -- too much.
"Mom, I really wanted the $100," she said, thrusting her green ribbon at Stover and then flashing a grin that showed her missing front tooth -- a tooth she lost just an hour before she got on stage.
"I know you did, honey," Stover said, and chuckled as she ran away again with Emma.
It was time to get on with the celebration. The crowd trickled out into the heat of the setting sun, walking down the hill toward the kids' crafts area and the food stand. Some walked downtown to JR's Bar and Grill, where shady umbrellas and tents gave the over-21 crowd a cool(er) place to imbibe. A few even set themselves up a few hours in advance on some couches dragged out to the school field for the night's fireworks show.
For a small town, Stover said Bronson offers a lot of things to do this holiday, especially for families.
"It's not overwhelming or too big for kids. They get to see their friends and everyone's really friendly," she said.
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KRM wrote on Jul 5, 2007 5:50 PM:
Go Bronson wrote on Jul 5, 2007 3:14 PM:
curious wrote on Jul 5, 2007 10:11 AM: