Hundreds of tractors and their riders will make the Central Iowa Fairgrounds their home base and travel to surrounding communities and back to Marshalltown for three days from June 19-21, 2023.
“It’s an opportunity for us to experience a new part of Iowa and some of the most beautiful agricultural landscape,” said Scot Knock, organizer of the event. “We are excited to bring our group to Marshalltown and the surrounding communities as part of our 26th annual event.”
This will be a huge economic impact to Marshall County as many of the riders will stay overnight in our hotels and visit our restaurants and businesses.
“We are very excited to be the host community for the WHO Tractor Ride,” said Andrew Potter, Tourism Director with the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Marshalltown area has a strong agricultural heritage and we have welcoming people who will enjoy hosting this wonderful event.”
Stay tuned for more information on the ride including the announcement of the surrounding communities the riders will visit and more. The event is led by WHO Radio and was announced live on 1040 WHO on Friday, February 10.
The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Marshalltown Central Business District are promoting Small Business Saturday to be held November 26, 2022. This national event was created by American Express in 2010, designed to encourage patrons to shop in their local communities to help boost the economy. Studies have shown that for every $100 dollars spent, $68 goes back into the community. Shopping local also creates jobs. The Chamber and Central Business District partnered with American Express as a ‘Neighborhood Champion’ for the Shop Small Campaign. With this campaign both organizations encourage the public to do holiday shopping at Marshall County businesses on Saturday, November 26. Many local retailers and restaurants will offer specials or promotions. Participating businesses in Marshalltown include, BeMobile Verizon, Brit Marie’s Country Boutique, Brown’s Shoe Fit Company, Hellberg’s Jewelers, Oliver Beene Designs, Oliver Beene The Other Side, Pentz Appliance & TV, Smokin G’s BBQ Restaurant & Catering Service, Strand’s Flooring & Paint, T2K Nutrition, Taylor’s Maid-Rite, Tremont Grille, along with My Dinosaur Dreams in State Center. The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Marshalltown Central Business District encourage you to shop sooner and shop local this holiday season!
December might be a time when people start to hunker down indoors for the winter, but we don’t have to. Bears are meant to hibernate, not humans. There is still plenty of fun to be had outdoors in the winter in Marshalltown.
Go for a brisk walk on the Linn Creek Recreational Trail – yes, it is still there in the winter. One of the more beautiful places along the Linn Creek Recreational trail is Judge Park. When a light snow hits the gazebo there, it can really be a special location.
Sledding is a favorite seasonal activity that can bring young and old together- sometimes on the same sled. Two of the more popular spots in Marshalltown are the Iowa Veterans Home (east side of the campus) and the hill at St. Henry’ Church. Please sled safely!
The trails at Grimes Farm can also be refreshing in the winter. Things just look a little more serene and calm with a light coat of snow on them. Be on the lookout for snowshoeing opportunities offered by the Marshall County Conservation Board.
So, bundle up, head outside and make your own footprints in the snow. You’ll have so much fun you will wonder what took you so long to enjoy this season.
The fall-time favorite event, Harvest Market, returns to the Marshalltown 13th Street District! Mark your calendars for this family friendly event, on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 5:00pm to 9:15pm. The Harvest Market will have over 30 vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, and artisan fares. A “kids’ corner” featuring a STEM learning activity will be available for kids as well as several kid favorite vendors, including face-painting and cotton candy. Enjoy food trucks from across central Iowa as well as beer and wine tents while taking in market vendors and entertainment throughout the evening. Live music will be performed on two stages at the event—an acoustic stage featuring the likes of Brian Herrin, Bon Jecci, Buz Owen, and The Basement Band. Headlining the event on the West End Park pavilion stage, The Pork Tornadoes. Often referred to as Iowa’s most popular party band, The Pork Tornadoes, play pop/rock hits from the 1980s-today, and specializing in girl pop songs. No schtick, no gimmick, just party. Their debut EP peaked on the Apple iTunes Pop charts at #20 and was streamed over half a million times in 2020. They recently achieved viral success with the 5th-most viewed cover of ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ on YouTube and an impromptu performance of ‘In The Air Tonight’ with a drum line that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. With over 14 million views on YouTube/Facebook and more than 90,000 social media fans worldwide, you won’t want to miss this show. This event is brought to you by our Diamond Sponsors: Emerson and Novaspect; Silver Sponsors: Lennox, First Rate Real Estate, and Marshalltown Company; along with Bronze Sponsor: State Farm Insurance-Phyllis Mazour. In addition to support from the Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce, organizational partner. In 2021, the Harvest Market attracted an estimated over 2000 residents from across central Iowa and has continued to grow throughout the 6-year history of the event with residents clamoring for more events like this. Look for more information about this event check out our Facebook event page .
What do you call a community that is stronger together, looks out for each other, celebrates diversity and lets the arts flourish? This is Marshalltown, Iowa.
Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Hall presents the 2022 Community Impact Award to UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown, represented by Pam Delagardelle and Jenni Friedly.
Recognition at 124th Annual Banquet held Wednesday
UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown was awarded the 2022 Community Impact Award at the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce 124th Annual Banquet on June 22, 2022 at the Midnight Ballroom. The award recognizes the impact UnityPoint Health has had following uncertainty in healthcare in Marshalltown several years ago, to maneuvering through a pandemic, then transitioning to a brand new facility this past year. “To see the incredible investment they continue to make and have made in our community is absolutely outstanding,” said Chamber President and CEO John Hall. Keynote speaker at the annual banquet was Jason Duff, founder and CEO of Small Nation. Duff met with community leaders that day and toured our downtown to help imagine what the future holds for Marshalltown. Duff was part of a downtown transformation in Bellefontaine, Ohio, which faced similar challenges to Marshalltown. He said Marshalltown is on a great path and has momentum and he sensed the pride of the town from its people.
Summer is here and if you’re looking for something to do in Marshalltown here is a quick list of ways to enjoy the season.
Take a day on the Linn Creek Recreational Trail
You can’t beat some time on the trail, head through the wooded area by Grimes Farm, meander through town, hear the rolling creek water underneath the train bridge by Lennox or ride by the Iowa River at Riverview Park.
Take in live music at Grimes Farm amphitheater
The Live and Local monthly concert series is back starting June 23. It’s a perfect setting for live music and they plan on shows monthly through October.
Fair time
The Central Iowa Fair is a must-visit for my family every summer. Take a tour of the livestock areas, check out the live music, games, food and more. There’s even a mud volleyball tournament if that’s your thing. There’s always something to do for everyone. This year’s fair is July 13-16.
Take up tennis or pickleball
The Marshalltown Court Complex is more than a year old and it’s a popular place for tennis with plenty of room for all with the 12 tennis courts. If tennis is too fast for you, take up pickleball, a favorite of all ages. The three new pickleball courts there are a blast.
Don’t miss downtown
Stroll along Main Street, enjoy the Gallery Garden mixed in with downtown shopping and food.
Hiking at Grimes Farm
My family likes to take a hike to the observation tower at Grimes Farm and have a picnic at the top of the tower. There are also other trails along Linn Creek to enjoy nature at its best.
Try out your golf game
Oftentimes when I do community tours for people thinking of moving to Marshalltown they are amazed that we have three nice golf courses right in town here. So dust off the clubs and try your hand at the American Legion, Elmwood Country Club or Wandering Creek courses in town.
Explore the vast Riverview Park
Many people don’t realize the sheer size of Riverview Park until they get out there. And there’s plenty of things to do at the north side park. You can walk, ride bikes, fish, take in the dog park, play tennis, basketball or disc golf. Or take your camper or tent for your own little staycation along the Iowa River.
13th Street revival
Take in the Marshalltown Municipal Band at West End Park and stroll through the shops.
Aquatic Center
The perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. Take your sunglasses and sunscreen and make a day of it.
The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new name and logo for the area’s Leadership course group. Continuing on the 30-year history of the Iowa Valley Leadership program, the new effort will now be known as Leadership Marshalltown.
Leadership Marshalltown and its new logo are designed to be an all-encompassing name for the program which looks to add more leadership qualities to the program, while also continuing the community aspect of it as participants learn all about the great things throughout the community. With the new name, the Leadership Marshalltown course will combine learning how to be a better leader within your organization as well as a better leader within the community.
“Being a former participant of the class in its earlier form, I knew of all the good the course brings to the community. I wanted to continue that aspect and let future participants see some of the different and unique businesses and places that Marshalltown has to offer.” shared Kyle Hall, Workforce Development Coordinator with The Chamber. “I also wanted to add a true leadership curriculum to enhance the program while letting the employers who send participants to know they are getting better and more educated employees as well.”
“Keeping the framework and general traditions of the former Iowa Valley Leadership was an integral part of the redesign Kyle proposed and I think he has a great plan in place,” said Chamber President and CEO John Hall. “Leadership Marshalltown is poised to be a premier leadership group and will only continue to showcase all the great things that are happening in Marshalltown and the surrounding communities.”
The Leadership Marshalltown course will be limited to 25 area individuals. The course is open to businesses sponsoring an employee or anyone living or working in the Marshall County area. Individuals selected after the application process will participate in a 9-month course from September to May each year, with meeting an average of once per month. Those interested can check out the Chamber’s website for more information or reach out to Kyle Hall via email at khall@marshalltown.org.
For more information and the application materials visit
As someone who is in charge of helping promote local events in Marshalltown, the momentum we have here lately is encouraging.
That momentum is evident as our Community Calendar continues to populate with an array of events, from live music, to festivals and community events.
There’s also been growth in our sports tournaments in Marshalltown and our central location in Iowa helps us attract athletes from all corners of the state. So you can expect to see competitors from across the state in tennis, disc golf, youth track, adult softball and more in town this summer. Many of these tournaments are hosted by local volunteers who give of their time to host events that happen to provide a big boost to Marshalltown’s economy.
Visitors to these tournaments help support our town’s amenities – those same amenities which are enjoyed by our residents year-round.
The 13th Street District announced recently its Harvest Market headlining act will be the fun-loving, party band The Pork Tornadoes on September 9. This band has a huge following and brings its “A” game to every show.
There’s also quite a bit of buzz around the lineup for the Live and Local concert series this year at the Grimes Farm Amphitheater. All of these events are in addition to the yearly staples in town such as the Central Iowa Fair, Fourth of July, Oktemberfest, Holiday Stroll and more.
There’s some great post-pandemic momentum for meetings, tournaments, music and more. It’s going to be an exciting year in Marshalltown.
