Kick off your Fourth of July celebrations at the Annual Ice Cream Social presented by the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center. This family-friendly event will be held on Sunday, June 28th from 1 to 5 p.m. As always, there will be plenty of ice cream, desserts, children's activities, and live entertainment.
Families are encouraged to join the Family Bike Ride organized by the Melon City Bike Club and Harper's Cycling & Fitness. The group will depart from Discovery Park at 1 p.m. and will have the option of a short 3-mile round-trip ride or a longer 10-mile ride. Both rides will stop at the Art Center, and participants will receive a coupon for a free ice cream.
This year's entertainment begins with the family group "Tammy and the Fyffe's" at 1 p.m.; Chad Elliot of Wilderman's Treetop Tales will take the stage at 2 p.m.; and Muscatine favorite, "The Creepin' Charlies," will perform at 3:00 p.m.
Come inside and see the Art Center's new exhibitions: "Older than the State of Iowa: the 175th Anniversary of the Muscatine Journal" in the Musser Museum Gallery and "Pedal Power: Bicycles from the Collection of Charlie Harper" in the Stanley Gallery. The Muscatine Journal exhibition includes an interesting chronology with Orion Clemens purchasing an interest in the Journal in 1853 and the first issue of the "Daily Journal" in 1855. Highlights of the exhibit include two murals created for the Journal by Alva Runyon, displays of cameras, darkroom equipment, press tools and type, details on Editor John Mahin and the bombing of his home, and "Special Editions." The "Pedal Power" exhibition highlights Charlie Harper's collection to document the changing technology and design of American bicycles. It features 26 bicycles dating from 1886 to 1979 including 'highwheelers' dating to the late 1880s. The exhibition also includes a loan of an award-winning, custom-made bicycle from the Legacies for Iowa: A University of Iowa Museum of Art Collections Sharing Project, Supported by the Matthew Bucksbaum Family.
Activities for children include kids' games sponsored by Central State Bank, crafts in the studio, bike decorating, and demonstrations by Charlie and his grandsons on the 'highwheeler' bicycles. Freddie the Fire Truck will also put in an appearance thanks to the City of Muscatine Fire Department.
Admission to the Ice Cream Social and related events is free. All proceeds from sales of ice cream, desserts, and beverages go to the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center. Each year, the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center contribute financially toward the educational programs offered at the Art Center, provide scholarships for students to attend Art Center studio classes, and pay for busing for area schools to visit the Art Center.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.
MUSCATINE ART CENTER
1314 Mulberry Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa 52761
563.263.8282
