ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Bold cyclists from all over are invited to check out the rugged trails at Cone Park. (Photo: Sioux City Parks and Recreation.)

Brake it 'til you make it in Sioux City

The Cone Mountain Bike Park has officially been open for a year, offering trails for bikers all summer long. The park contains about 10.5 miles of soft-surface trails, a pump track and progressive jump lines. Thrill-seeking bikers are welcome from far and wide to enjoy the trails filled with hills, hairpin turns and ramps.

“How does something like this come together in a town like Sioux City, Iowa?” Richard Drew, a professional mountain bike rider and founder of the Ride Series MTB Skills Clinic, said in a video statement. “You've got to have the right people, you’ve got to have the right ideas and you’ve got to have a crew that can put it all together.”

Cone Park found that crew. No matter what ability level, there’s something for everyone — from tot tracks, to beginner trails, all the way up to expert jump lines and technical trails. Bring the kids and get them outside and active. Visitors can rent bikes or bring their own.

The lodge has lockers, free Wi-Fi, free parking, food, drinks and more. So grab some lunch, ice cream and a drink to refuel before hitting the trails again.

The mountain bike park is part of a massive project to develop the Siouxland Regional Trail System. In 2022, a $7 million Destination Iowa grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority shifted the project into high gear. Over the next few years, the project will connect more than 100 miles of recreational trails. The multiphase plan includes:

The Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge, which will connect Sioux City to Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.
The Loess Hills Scenic Trail, from Sioux City to Sergeant Bluff.
The PlyWood Trail, which will cut through Plymouth and Woodbury counties to link Sioux City, Hinton, Merrill and Le Mars. (For motivation, remember: Le Mars is the Ice Cream Capital of the World.)

Sioux City Parks and Recreation Manager Angel Wallace hopes the new developments will draw more visitors from out of town, turning Sioux City into a mountain-biking hot spot like northwest Arkansas.

"We're building it up so it becomes a real destination," she told ia magazine last summer, before she'd mustered the courage to try the mountain bike course herself. "I told one of my co-workers we should go after hours, incognito. We'll get all the protective gear — and a mattress."

“Harmony in Light” is one of the newest sculptures in Mason City, created by HYBYCOZO Studios.

Sculpted for a stroll in Mason City

Next time you take a walk along the river in downtown Mason City, you can enjoy a new exhibit of outdoor sculptures. The River City Sculptures on Parade is a nearly 2-mile self-guided walking tour that starts in downtown and loops through the cultural crescent. The trail features sculptures by artists from all over the country.

The tour includes permanent and rotating sculptures that are displayed all over town, and the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite by Sept. 30. The sculpture with the most votes receives the “People’s Choice Award,” and is purchased by the City of Mason City to become a permanent part of the collection.

Art in the Park overlooks the blue waters of West Lake Okoboji. (Photo: Vacation Okoboji)

Art in the park on Lake Okoboji

The Pearson Lakes Art Center’s annual Art in the Park is Aug. 2. Visit Arnolds Park Preservation Plaza from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to check out handcrafted work by more than 50 artists from the Midwest and beyond. Artists will sell sculpture, pottery, glass, paintings, photos and more, and there will be hands-on art activities for the kids. While you’re there, take a lap through the galleries inside.

Traditional dances with celebrated head dancers are performed each of the four days of the celebratory weekend. (Photo: Meskwaki Media)

Celebrate the Meskwaki way of life near Tama

The Meskwaki people invite you to the Meskwaki Annual Powwow Aug. 7-10 near Tama. The traditional celebration is held on the only Indian settlement in Iowa and showcases traditional dancing and singing from the Meskwaki people.

Each day of the powwow holds something new. Thursday is Children's Day, highlighting the youth head dancers, with games and events held for children during the afternoon. On Friday, celebrations honor the elders, featuring senior head dancers during grand entries. Veterans are honored on Saturday with veteran head dancers. And Sunday's day of special events starts with a 5K run/walk.

The J40 Farm Crawl offers treats, crafts, wagon rides and more for the whole family. (Photo: Travel Iowa)

Follow a farm crawl in and around Keosauqua

Wander from farm to farm in Van Buren County on Aug. 9 during the J40 Farm Crawl. It’s a day filled with food, farm tours, wagon rides, wine tasting, glass blowing, homemade ice cream and more all along Route J40 through Keosauqua, Cantril, Milton and Lebanon.

Poke around more than half a dozen participating shops and farms along the crawl. Bloom and Bark Farm will offer samples and sales of soaps, honey and artisanal bread, as well as glassblowing demonstrations and chicken feeding. Crane Winery offers old-fashioned fruit wines that are sweet and simple. Start planning your route with the online brochure.