Rose Festival...

Rose Festival is held annually the third weekend in June.

Please Join Us as State Center Celebrates the

50th Annual Rose Festival - "50 Years of Roses"

June 19-22, 2008

2007 Rose Queen Celeste Reker, Runner-Up Jordan Nolta and Little Miss Rose Bud Raelene Vannatta welcome you to the 2008 Rose Festival.

Parade Participants: download the Entry Form here as a PDF.

State Center was officially and formally dedicated as The Rose Capital of Iowa on Saturday, June 27, 1959 at 2pm in the State Center Rose Garden. The first parade was celebrated in 1958.

The idea of a town in Iowa being known as the Rose Capitol of Iowa originated with Mrs. w. A. Norcross of Cedar Falls, IA a former president of the Iowa Rose Society. Mrs. Norcross visited State Center, among several other towns and after considerable investigation and thought brought the matter before the Iowa Rose Society asking that State Center be designated the Rose Capital because it was in the heart of Iowa, it was located on Highway 30, the town was small enough to be literally covered with roses and a new park which had not yet been landscaped was ideal for a formal rose garden.

Even though State Center today may not be "covered with roses" it still makes a big hoopla about the flower. The rose garden board has given away hundreds of roses to residents to promote private planting throughout town. To celebrate its status as Rose Capital, the town holds a Rose Festival the third weekend in June.

State Center is conveniently located between Marshalltown & Ames on US Hwy 30. Click here for a map.

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2008 Schedule of Activities (download the brochure as a PDF)
For more information, please call 641-483-2249. This is a festival you don't want to miss!

Jason Brown Concert

Sunday, June 22nd, 7 pm

West Marshall High School

Bring chairs and blankets to sit on.
Concessions available. No coolers allowed on grounds.
Wrist bands will be given at gate.

Thursday	June 19th
7:00 pm	Rose Queen Pageant & Talent Show at High School
8:30 pm	Queen Reception at Remarkable Rose-open to the public
8:30-10:30 pm	Carnival Rides
Friday	June 20th
5:00-8:00 pm	Farmer's Market
5:00-?	Smith Carnival Rides
6:00-9:00 pm	Iowa Wine Tasting
6:00-9:00 pm	Pie & Ice Cream - WM Scholarship by Schoolhouse
6:30 pm	Kiddie Parade-Register NE corner of library
7:00 pm	Rose Queen Coronation & Little Miss Rose Bud at Rose Garden
7:00-9:00 pm	Chili Cook Off with judging by the public
7:00-9:00 pm	The band "Legacy" will perform near BBQ area
9:00-11:00pm	Teen Dance - HS Street Dance
Saturday	June 21st
6:00-7:15 am	Run/Walk - Register at High School
9:00 am	KIX101.1 Live Broadcast
9:00 am-?	Smith Carnival Rides
9:00 am-4:00 pm	Iowa Wine Tasting near BBQ area
9:00 am-5:00 pm	Flea Market & Craft Show by Middle School
10:00 am	Grand Parade
10:00 am	WM Baseball Tournament
10:00-11:00 am	Pork Burgers at Fire Station
11:00 am	Pie & Ice Cream at Fire Station
11:00 am-2:00 pm	Free Entertainment on Main Street by Fire Station
11:00 am-3:00 pm	Little Hobo Railroad - Library Grounds
12:00-3:00 pm	DJ entertainment at BBQ area
12:00-3:00pm	BBQ Judging Competition - free samples available. Don't miss the big prizes this year!
1:00-3:00 pm	Reception for past and present Queens at Middle School
1:00-5:00 pm	Model Airplane Show
2:00 pm	Pedal Tractor Pull
3:00 pm	Lip Sync at Rose Garden
4:00 pm	WM Softball Tournament
5:00-9:00 pm	Marshall County Pork Producers at Steak Center
7:00 pm-?	Bill Riley Talent Contest - WM High School Auditorium
8:00-Midnight	DJ & Street Dance at Road Hog
Sunday	June 22nd
9:00 am	Community Church Service at Rose Garden
11:30 am	Waterball Registration by Fire Station
11:30 am	Lunch at Fire Station by Fire Lites
Noon	Waterball Fights
5:00 pm	Route 66 will perform prior to the Jason Brown concert (see below)
7:00 pm	Jason Brown Concert at High School football field Bring chairs and blankets to sit on. Concessions available. No coolers allowed on grounds. Wrist bands will be given at gate.
Dusk	Fireworks Display

Available All Weekend:
Great Food!!! Lunch Stands
SC Firement & EMS - Fire Station
Food Court
Steak Center
Bailey's Pizza

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Thanks to Everyone for making the 2007 - 49th Annual Rose Festival: A Rosy Future Lies Ahead, a Huge Success! A specail thanks to the following individuals and businesses who donated $100 or more for the 2007 Festival.

American Family Ins. - Joan Postel	Brian's Collision Clinic	Campbell Oil Co.
Casey's General Store	Central State Bank	Central Veterinary Services
Cissy's II	City of State Center	Coldwell Banker - Tami Kerwood
Craig Haesemeyer	Earl Goecke	Eckhardt Enterprises
Garry's Barbershop	James & Susan Jorgenson	Jansen-Pfantz Insurance
KFJB-KXIA 101.1	L & L Appraisal	Mid Iowa Enterprise
Mid State Milling	Mitchell Family Funeral Home	Partner Communications Cooperative
Remarkable Rose	Spread All Mgf. Co.	State Center Lions
State Center Locker	Steak Center

Current Rose Festival Board Members:

Rose Queen Contest Rene' Chaplin	Fund Raising Lisa Hemesath & Sherri Schipper	Grand Rose Parade Mike Fisher mfisher@po-1.w-marshall.k12.ia.usd
Barbecue Contest Justin Edler Contact Justin at: edler@dybb.com or 641-485-0269 for more information	Bike Ride John Tolson	Food Vendors Jeff Merrill
Entertainment Debbie Eckhardt	Wine Tasting Cathy Noble	Run/Walk Angie Chesler & Ken Winkler
Flea Market Mike Riemenschneider	Carnival Joan Postel	Fireworks