MidCoast Fine Arts' Riverssance Festival of Fine Art is celebrating its 27^th year as the premier fine arts festival of the Quad Cities, showcasing over 100 of the top artists from throughout North America.  Riverssance is located on a scenic hill overlooking the Mississippi River in the historic Village of East Davenport.  Riverssance will feature a free children's art tent, wine tasting, gourmet food and live regional music  booked by the River Music Experience.  MidCoast Fine Arts serves area artists and the Quad Cities community throughout the year with a myriad of exhibition opportunities designed to help arts promote and sell their work without commission.  Artists helping artists is what the organization is all about.

The recipients of the Harley Award given in recognition of an individual(s) or organization that has demonstrated a lasting commitment to the promotion and the advancement of the visual arts and artists in the Quad Cities area are sisters Megan and Kristin Quinn.  Both are outstanding, accomplished artists and each represents the bi-state region. Megan is a professor in the Department of Art and Art History at Augustana College in Rock Island, Il.  Kristin is a professor and Art Department Chair at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.  Both artists contribute greatly to the community, to their respective states and respective academic institutions.  They are a vital part of both  the Iowa & Illinois art communities.

The featured design for the Festival, by artist Naidine D'Angelo, is a dragonfly drawn from the concept of its insides being driven by bolts, screws, piping and steam.  The design will be the basis for this year's promotional artwork and t-shirts. The artist resides in the Quad Cities and is a vital part of the art community.  Her creativity with this drawing and concept opens the doors to both the arts, science and mathematics.  The connection between math and art is a connection that increases educational learning for both children and adults.  Naidine's work of the dragonfly as a scientific, mechanical and artistic expression completes this mental circuit.

Families are invited to Brucemore for an afternoon of autumn-themed activities, crafts, and snacks to celebrate the season during Fall Family Day on Sunday, October 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Highlights include :

·         Exploring the estate's historic 26 acres during a nature scavenger hunt offered at 1:15 and 2:15 p.m.

·         Creating a scarecrow to be included in Brucemore's Scarecrow Invasion. One scarecrow armature per family, straw-filling, and basic supplies to put the scarecrow together will be included with the Fall Family Day registration fee; participants should bring clothing or thematic elements to decorate their unique scarecrow.

Admission is $10 per child and $7 per child of a Brucemore member. One free adult admission is included with each child; additional adults are $5 each. This event is intended for children 6 -10 years old. Space is limited, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org to purchase tickets. Children should dress appropriately for outdoor activities. Family programming at Brucemore is sponsored by US Bank.

Scarecrows made during Fall Family Day will be included in Brucemore's Scarecrow Invasion?a display of scarecrows made by individuals, classes, businesses, organizations, and families on Brucemore's lawn from October  14 through October 28. Registration for the Fall Family Day is not required for participation in the Scarecrow Invasion. More information can be found at www.brucemore.org.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Thursday Night Lineup Offers Nooks and Crannies Tour

Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all-access pass to the Brucemore mansion during the Nooks and Crannies Tour on September 11 at 5:30 p.m. Marvel at the Skinner player pipe organ room, discover the architectural oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work. The tour is not recommended for children under ten or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Nooks and Crannies Tour is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or other upcoming tours, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Join a national park ranger for an evening family campfire program at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site on Saturday, September 6. The program is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. The ranger will lead family activities and tell ghost stories around the fire.

The campfire program takes place on the village green at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Main Street in historic downtown West Branch.  Visitors and their families are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and toasting sticks, marshmallows, and ingredients for s`mores.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS