SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good afternoon, Bluffs Country. I'm Peggy Sweet and this is Belonging in the Bluffs, brought to you by the Iowa West Foundation. I'm joined in studio once again with my good friend Lindsay. She's the director of marketing and PR over at the Chamber. Welcome, Lindsay. Hello. Happy spring. Yes, it's here. Yes. Finally. May 1st. I don't know. What was that about with all the frost and stuff? Either. It's been, yeah, it's been a struggle. I mean, yeah. But but here we are, and it is celebrate CB week. It is. And there's so much happening.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Yeah, we kicked the week off with the mayor's proclamation on Monday. So declaring this week celebrate CB Week. Uh-huh. Um, and our theme, uh, CB on track, which is going to be really cool to see how that translates into the parade and trees. Um, and of course, we had Clean Sweep on Tuesday. So the town is looking great. The city is looking great. Huge success. Oh, for sure. I mean, the amount of volunteers that come out and, you know, clean up the streets, uh, and then we weigh the total amount of trash, which is always a fun stat to see. So that'll be posted um once we get everything weighed.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

But yeah, I'm excited to see that.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

It's a lot. And then, you know, there's always some random items that are found. So we'll see what's recorded then. How many tires, uh-huh, um, bumpers. We've got bumpers collected. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:30

So all kinds of good things. All kinds of good things. Okay. But coming up tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Oh, this is the big this is where you know that it is spring and that the smells, yes, the flavors, the sights, the sounds, uh farmers market counts of love starting on Thursday, May 7th.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Yeah, I can't believe it's here already.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Oh my gosh. You know, it's we start planning pretty much the day after the last one. Yes. And every year we come up with ideas and we gather ideas from um our vendors and from community partners, and we try to implement them as much as we can. And this year, I it really there's just a lot better that's going into this year that I think our market goers are going to really enjoy.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

It's a fun time. It starts at 4 30, right? 4 30, yeah. Runs till 7 30. Correct. Yeah. And and what I love is as the season progresses, the colors change because of the flowers that come, the produce that comes, the different vendors that come with different goods, all the things. There's always honey. Oh my god, snacks, all the things. So many good things. It's a great way to uh pick up fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers for your table. For sure.

SPEAKER_01 2:54

Support local at the farmers market every Thursday, 4:30 to 7.30, right there on First Avenue in Bayless Park. And it's, I mean, it's such a beautiful park. It is. The city, you gotta give them props. Parks and Rec have um put some time into that park.

SPEAKER_00 3:11

It's looking gorgeous. And there's always kids' games and lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy. So that runs through September. September. Okay, runs through September. But you want to hit the first one for sure, especially in May. It is just where things get going and it's a comfortable temperature and all the things. And so that starts this week during celebrate C V Week, and then then what?

SPEAKER_01 3:35

Well, and then actually, if we want to backtrack a little bit, and if you're trying to decide what to have for lunch on Thursday, we have the egg cookout. Oh, right. Now, typically that has been on a Friday, but we did change it to a Thursday because it was competing with another really great event here in town. So we wanted to make sure that people could enjoy all the things. So that egg cookout will be on Thursday. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Sorry about that. I got so excited about the farmer's market, and I am used to it being on Fridays. So note the egg cookout is Thursday. Yeah, and that is in Bayless Park. From what time? So that is from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Oh, great. Always great food there. Okay, so and then after the egg hookout is the farmers market, and then we're gonna really gear up for Saturday. Lots happening on Saturday. All right, Lindsay, we're just getting started, but we've got to take a quick break. So don't go anywhere, everyone, because when we come back, we're diving into a pack Saturday lineup for CB Days. More with Lindsay coming up right here on Belonging in the Bluffs, brought to you by the Iowa West Foundation. Welcome back to Belonging in the Bluffs on Bluffs Country 1065, brought to you by the Iowa West Foundation. We're visiting with Lindsay, Director of Marketing and PR for the Chamber, talking all about CB week and railroad days. Lindsay, before the break, we were just about to get into Saturday's lineup, which is stacked with events. So let's just jump in and break it all down.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

We're gonna start the day in Bayless Park with the Pancake Man at 8 a.m. Yum. Yum. Love the pancake pancakes. Talk about smells. I know. Oh my gosh. That's that is one of those things, like you know, it when a pancake's being cooked, right? Right, you do. Like it is such a distinct scent. And uh the park air will be filled with the sense of the smell of pancakes and sausages, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Maple syrup. And it's really affordable. It's only five dollars for adults. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult, and you'll have uh beverages there to purchase as well.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Yeah, we'll have a coffee truck there. So if anyone wants a little coffee with their pancakes, uh they can purchase or bring your own, you know. Sure. Um, but we we'll have bottled water, but yeah, any other beverages.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Okay, and then the parade.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

You've got a lot of entries for the parade.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

We do. We have over 90 entries for the parade. Um, we've lots of schools involved this year. We've got animals, we've got dancers and cheerleaders and bands, and it's kicking off at 10 30. And typically the parade's about an hour long. It might be a little longer this year, but you know, the parade route is posted on our website if you're not familiar with it. But um, basically, if you're on Pearl or Main Street, you're gonna see the parade. Yeah. Our announcers, which are pretty awesome. Yeah, I gotta say.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Aww. Peggy, who are our announcers for the parade? Well, let's see. It's going to be myself and Chuck Denver. So I'm pretty excited. This is my third year getting to do it. You're yeah, you're a pro.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

I mean, you're obviously a pro, but you're as far as all Reach C B goes, I mean, you're a veteran.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

I know I love this parade. And all of the entries and the smiles, and all the families and the kids, and the even the people participating are just so excited, you know? It's just a great way to kick off spring. Right.

SPEAKER_01 7:01

And you're gonna be set up in front of City Hall. So if you wanna, you know, people wanna walk by and say hi. Yeah, please do. Yeah. That's a great shaded area there. It's a nice area. It it really it really is. And um, you know, it's showcasing our historic downtown, which is always nice. Take a walk and take a look, and there's there's a lot of things happening down there.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

There is, because after the parade, I know that's when railroad easy for me to say railroad days start. Yes. Right?

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Right there at noon. We're gonna like to flip a switch. Yeah. Let's go from um celebrate CB to railroad days. And you know, typically after the parade, we've had um activities in the park. We are shifting that to uh happen during the pancake man. Okay, so that that transition into railroad days can be a little cleaner. And basically at noon, the trolleys will start making their rounds at all the stops for railroad days. There's till six o'clock.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

So it's a whole day. It is. Well, Lindsay, there's gonna be a lot happening, and it doesn't happen with just two or three people, it happens with a whole bunch of people, and you've got some incredible sponsors this year.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

We do. Um, we want to thank our incredible sponsors, as you said, um, and community partners. Centrist Federal Credit Union is our presenting sponsor for Celebrate CB. Thank you so much for not only being a sponsor, but they actually help in the planning process. So it's really cool to have um them on a c on the committee as well. As far as our Pancake Man sponsor, Cobalt Credit Union, has stepped into that role, and that makes it possible for us to be able to provide a really nice affordable breakfast for families um before the parade. And in order for us to bring all those great activities to the park, we have a great sponsor in All Care Health Center. And our sound sponsor for the parade, which is you know you benefit from because you do such a great job announcing all the entries. And our sound sponsor, Viridian Credit Union, makes it possible for those who are sitting um actually uh either side of City Hall or in Bayless Park to be able to hear your beautiful voice.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

And before and after, they do play some music. They do so to get you in the mood, yeah. They do.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

And actually, you know what? One thing I didn't mention, we have a chalk artist that's gonna be doing some chalk art cool there um in front of City Hall as well. So you'll be able to um listen to the music that's playing and watch the artist live.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

That'll be really cool. Yeah. Oh, I'm excited about that. Yeah. Okay. Just another little thing. That's not little, that's huge. This is just a huge week and weekend for us here in Council Bluffs. Started it on Monday. Don't forget, uh, so this would be tomorrow, the egg cookout, and also the first farmer's market. And then Saturday is the Pancake Man and the Parade and the Kid activities, as well as the chalk artist, and then we're going right into railroad days. For sure. All the rest of the day. It's gonna be great. I know. I'm so grateful. Well, and railroad days is Sunday too. Don't you? Oh, that's right. Yeah. Starting at noon. That's the whole week. Monday through Sunday. Yeah. And you can also go to councilbluffsioa.com to find out all the other things that are happening here in Council Bluffs at the chamber when we're not celebrating TB. Right. Which we try to celebrate CB all the time, but there are lots of other things. Coffee and contacts, there are um chamber mixers, all the things. And you can always be a guest.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

Check it all out. Just say you know me.

SPEAKER_01 10:38

And then wink. And then you win. There's a secret handshake, but you don't learn that until your second time.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

Okay. All right. Good enough, Lindsay. That's why I love having you here. You're always full of all kinds of great secrets that I didn't even know. I think we covered it all this time. I think so too. Yeah. And then I'll see you next month and you can tell me more secrets. Okay. Yeah? I love it. All right. Yeah. But I'll see you actually uh Thursday at the farmers market and all the things. If you if you we're gonna go down the rabbit hole again. Thanks for stopping by. We'll just end it like that.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

You're very welcome.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

This has been Belonging in the Bluffs, brought to you by the Iowa West Foundation.