MUSCATINE, Iowa — Nostalgic rides on the Mississippi River and a new creative activity will kick off this year’s PatriArt Week, scheduled for June 27-July 4 in Muscatine.

PatriART, now in its third year, is a week-long series of community events celebrating arts and entertainment and culminating with Fourth of July  fireworks on the riverfront.

The week begins and ends with daily cruises on Tom and Ann Meeker’s  Pearl Button paddle wheel boat, which can be boarded on the riverfront near Pearl City Station.

Saturday will mark the debut of a community-wide art project in the Environmental Learning Center parking lot at 3300 Cedar St. 

Mary Alice Sessler, who is co-leading the project with Duffy DeFrance, said there is no admission for this event. People of all ages can make chalk drawings of animals inside the large outline of an open book. The outline will be drawn on the parking lot and the asphalt canvas may be as large as 50 feet by 50 feet, said DeFrance. “The parking lot is our limit,” she said.

DeFrance said the Muscatine Arts Council will provide chalk for the project.

Betty Collins, children’s librarian for the Musser Public Library, said the  activity, which is part of the library’s summer reading program, is titled Chalk it up to a Good Book. Make Your Mark. It is being planned in 

conjunction with the Muscatine County Conservation Board and is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and Central State Bank, said Collins. 

Chalk it up to a Good Book overlaps with the annual Revelry by the River Band Fest from 5:30  p.m.-1 a.m. at the Missipi Brewing Company, 107 Iowa Ave.

Area bands Crazy Delicious and Lynn Allen will perform, with a portion of the admission price going to the Muscatine Cultural Alliance.

On Sunday, June 28, Muscatine cyclists can take a ride for redemption.

Bikers who show up at Discovery Park by 1 p.m.  will receive a coupon that can be redeemed for free ice cream at the annual Muscatine Art Center’s Ice Cream Social, which will be held at the Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Ave.

All they have to do is ride to the Social as part of the Melon City Bike Club’s family bike ride.

Barb Christensen, executive director of the Muscatine Art Center, said the ride will usher in an afternoon of events that begins at 1 p.m. and features a series of live entertainers, children’s activities and pie and ice cream sales.

Proceeds from the event fund Art Center activities throughout the year.

Performances by area vocalists and musicians are scheduled throughout the week, beginning with the Elk’s Chanters Monday at Weed Park. David Mehaffey, a vocalist and mandolin player, will perform at Pearl Plaza on Tuesday. The Low Brass Quartet of the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra will be on the Riverfront in the Pearl City Station  Wednesday evening, followed by the Muscatine Civic Chorale.

Thursday night, the Muscatine History and Industry Center will be the site of a fun evening of crafts, games and trolley rides for children, during the Night at the Museum family event.

The Pearl City Players will present skits from Monty Python Friday at the Rendezvous, during a special dinner performance and again at a brunch the morning of July 4.

The traditional Fourth of July parade begins marching through Muscatine at 5 p.m.

Later that evening, fireworks will be preceded by a performance by the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra.

Schedule

Ongoing

What: The Pearl Button paddle wheel boat Mississippi River cruises

When: Saturday, June 27-Saturday July 4, 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Sponsored in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and organized by the Muscatine Cultural Alliance.

Tickets: Adults, $5; seniors and children $3. Can be purchased at the Button Factory, 215 W. Mississippi Drive, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., or by calling 264-8590 and ordering with a credit card.

Saturday

What: Chalk it Up to a Good Book, make your mark

When: 4-7 p.m.

Where: Discovery Park parking lot, 3300 Cedar St

Admission: None

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What: Revelry by the River

When: 5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Where: Missipi Brewing Co., 107 Iowa Ave.

Admission: $6.

Sunday

What: PatriART Family Bike Ride sponsored by the Melon City Bike Club

When: 1 p.m. sharp

Where: Begin at Discovery Center Park, 3300 Cedar St. and end at the Muscatine Art Center Ice Cream Social,  1314 Mulberry Ave.  Participants receive a coupon for free ice cream at the social.

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What: Muscatine Art Center’s annual Ice Cream Social

When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday,  June 28

Where: Muscatine Art Center

Admission: Free

Features: Ice cream, pie and beverages for sale, miniature horse cart rides, moon jump and children’s games, and the opening of three new art exhibits at the Art Center.

Entertainment: 1:30 p.m., Muscatine Civic Choral; 2:15 p.m. Wesley Winds;

3 p.m., Liberian Community Choir; 3:30 p.m., Pearl City Players present excerpts from “Monty Python by the Rockets’ Red Glare”; 4 p.m., 3 Guys with Soule.

Monday

What: Elks Chanters

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Weed Park band stand

Admission: Free

Tuesday

What: Musician David Mehaffey,

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Pearl Plaza Patio, pending location

Admission: None

Wednesday

What: Low Brass Quartet and the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Pearl City Station, riverfront.

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What: Muscatine Civic Chorale

When: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Pearl City Station, riverfront.

Admission: Free

Thursday

What: Night at the Museum. A family event featuring crafts, games and trolley rides

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Muscatine History and Industry Center, 117 W. Second St.

Admission: $5 per child, no charge for adults.

Friday

What: The Pearl City Players present scenes from “Monty Python by the Rockets’ Red Glare”

When: 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Where: The Rendezvous, 3127 Lucas St.

Admission: $21 for dinner and show and $15 for dessert and show. Reservations are required, call 263-2271.

Saturday

What: Pearl City Players present “Monty Python By the Rockets’ Red Glare” brunch and show.

When: 10 a.m.

Where: The Rendezvous

Admission: $20. Reservations are required.

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What: The July 4th parade

When: 5 p.m.

Where:  Starts at intersection of Iowa Avenue and Sixth Street. Staging for the parade begins at 3 p.m.

Admission: Free

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What: A performance by the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra followed by fireworks at dusk.

When: Beginning at 8 p.m.

Where: Pearl City Station

Admission: Free