The Pott Co Pulse
| September 4, 2026 | Pottawattamie County, Iowa |
Happy Labor Day weekend, Pott Co! Three days off, and the county is making them count. The headline: Hoo Doo Days turns 80 in Neola this weekend, a festival that started in 1946 to welcome home our WWII soldiers and has grown into one of the best small-town celebrations in Iowa. Saturday brings the BBQ competition, Sunday the 5K and talent show, and Monday one of the biggest small-town parades around. Add a pancake feed in the park, monarch tagging at Hitchcock, and live music at the orchard all weekend, and your calendar is full.
One warning: it is going to be HOT. Highs in the mid to upper 90s all three days with plenty of sun. Water, shade, sunscreen. Repeat.
Here is what is worth your long weekend.
The Weekend Guide
Hoo Doo Days (Day 1 of 3): Neola, all weekend through Monday. The 80th annual celebration kicks off today with the BBQ competition and runs through Labor Day with a "Back To Our Roots" theme. Carnival food, vendors, and small-town Iowa at its absolute best. If you only make one thing this weekend, make it this. View the Details →
Botna Bend Pancake Feed: Botna Bend Park from 8 to 11 AM. Park rangers flipping pancakes in one of the prettiest parks in the county. Come hungry, leave happy. View the Details →
Monarch Tagging: Hitchcock Nature Center, sessions at 9 AM and 11 AM. The monarchs are migrating and you can help track them. Catch, tag, release, and learn why these little travelers matter. Great one for the kids. View the Details →
Live Music with Hannah & Steve Thomas: Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard from 11 AM to 1 PM. Local duo, orchard views, and the kitchen and bar open. A solid way to ease into your Saturday. View the Details →
Pressure Canning Meat: Iowa Western Student Center from 12 to 3 PM. Learn to safely pressure can meat at home in this hands-on class. Fill your pantry before winter and never look at grocery store prices the same way again. View the Details →
Live Music with Sam Hayes: Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard from 2 to 5 PM. A career musician bringing the afternoon soundtrack to the orchard. Grab a glass and settle in. View the Details →
Saturday Craft: Creative Canvas Bag: Council Bluffs Public Library from 2 to 3:30 PM. Free afternoon craft. Decorate your own canvas bag and skip the plastic. View the Details →
Encore Legends: Whiskey Roadhouse (2701 23rd Ave) at 9 PM. Live music, no cover. Cap your Saturday night right. View the Details →
Photo: Hoo Doo Days 2026, Neola
Hoo Doo Hustle 5K and Kid 1-Mile: Hall Sports Complex, Neola at 8 AM. Earn your BBQ early. Run the 5K or bring the kids for the 1-mile, all part of the Hoo Doo Days weekend. Start at 8 before the heat kicks in. View the Details →
Hoo Doo Days Talent Show: Neola Area Community Center from 12 to 2 PM. Local talent takes the stage, and small-town talent shows never disappoint. Come cheer on your neighbors. View the Details →
The Bash Is Back: The Dock Bar & Grill from 4 PM to midnight. A full night of live music with Anxiety at 5, M-80 at 6:30, and more through the night. Doors at 4. View the Details →
Photo: Hoo Doo Hustle 5K, Neola
Hoo Doo Days Parade and Final Day: Neola. The grand finale. Monday brings one of the biggest small-town parades you will find anywhere, then the festival wraps up its 80th year. Lawn chairs, candy bags for the kids, the whole deal. This is what Labor Day in Iowa is supposed to look like. View the Details →
Live Music with Michael Rye: Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard from 1 to 4 PM. Guitarist and singer-songwriter closing out the long weekend at the orchard. One last slow afternoon before Tuesday shows up. View the Details →
Photo: Hoo Doo Days parade, Neola
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Around the County
- Hoo Doo Days Turns 80: Neola's signature festival hits a milestone this weekend with a "Back To Our Roots" theme. The event was originally created in 1946 to welcome home soldiers returning from World War II, and it has blossomed into a three-day celebration that draws hundreds from across the region. Read More →
- A WWII Hero Finally Comes Home: Sgt. Robert C. "Bobby" Pierce of Council Bluffs survived the 65-mile Bataan Death March but died in a Philippine POW camp in 1942. After 84 years, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified his remains, and he will be laid to rest Tuesday, September 8 at Omaha National Cemetery. The public is invited to attend and honor him. Fitting, on the same weekend Hoo Doo Days celebrates its own WWII homecoming roots. Read More →
- 375 Miles for Veterans: An Atlantic native is walking the entire width of Iowa, 375 miles, to raise awareness and support for veterans. He is on the road right now. If you see him out there, give him a wave. Read More →
- Friday Night Lights, Week 2: High school football is back in full swing tonight across the county. AL, Lewis Central, and TJ all hit the gridiron. Check your school's schedule, grab a seat in the bleachers, and bring water. It will feel like July out there.
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That is all for this week! If you found this helpful, please forward it to a neighbor.
Stay local,
The Pott Co Pulse