Jackson Goltz of Ossian helps prepare for RAGBRAI, which will be rolling through town Friday morning. A full slate of fun and activities are planned for the big day, including food, music, and games. (submitted photo)

RAGBRAI is here!

RAGBRAI is nearly here! The annual bike ride across the state of Iowa has officially begun and will be passing through Ossian Friday morning.

There will be no shortage of activities throughout the community, as food, music, and games will entertain the over 10,000 visitors on wheels.

Food

There will be endless food opportunities spread out throughout Main Street in Ossian, highlighted by a group of nine not-for-profit groups from the area coming together under a single food tent.

CFSR, Ossian Boy Scouts, Ossian DeSales Childcare Center, Ossian Crown Club, DeSales Church, DeSales School, Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian Senior Hospice, and Stavanger Lutheran Church will all be working together to provide tasty foods. Among the featured foods will be homemade ham balls, maid rites, brats, apples, chips, bars, cookies, Scratch cupcakes, homemade pies, and Moo Mobile shakes.

The South Winneshiek Trap Team will also be serving soft serve ice cream.

Other food vendors along Main Street will include Smoothie Revolution 2.0, American Concessions, Carbo Hut, Garden of Eden, Get Toasted, and The Hole Shebang.

Beverages and food will also be available at Bambinos, Shooters, and the Wild Woods Event Center, as well as the traditional beverage garden at Carey’s Park.

Music

The newly completed Ossian Educational and Performance Pavilion will be one of four stages featuring music throughout the community.

On Stage One, the Ossian Educational and Performance Pavilion, Michelle Lynn will be featured from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by Yukon Cornelius and the Mussels of Love (Mike Klimesh Band0 from 10 a.m. to noon.

At noon, Mike McAbee will perform until approximately 2 p.m.

On Stage Two, which will be located at the corner of Lydia Street and Becker Avenue, Tom and Betsy Kirby will take the stage from 9 to 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, Travis Colevurg will be on stage, followed by Joe Helgerson from noon to 2 p.m.

Stage Three will be located on the Luana Savings Bank parking lot, and will feature Bo Timmerman from 10 a.m. to noon.

Stage Four will be located at Wild Woods Event Center and will feature the music of Tim Bohnenkamp from 10 a.m. to noon and Travis Colevurg from noon to 2 p.m.

Games

Among the fun games and activities planned are a human foosball game, “Games on the Green,” and a water slosh pool.

The human foosball game will take place on North Lydia Street in front of Bambinos. 

Ossian Senior Hospice will sponsor “Games on the Green,” which will include golf, bag games, yard Yahtzee, and the hi-striker game.

The water slosh pool will be set up along Mary Street and will provide riders with a dip in Ossian’s new mini pool.

Medical Aid

Winneshiek Medical Clinic in Ossian will be open throughout the day for first-aid concerns.

Detour

A detour, approved by the Iowa DOT, will be in place Friday. Entering Ossian from the west on Highway 52, all vehicles will turn north onto 155^th Street and continue east onto Middle Ossian Road, which turns into Broadway Street. The detour continues along Broadway Street in Ossian, before going south on West Street to Mechanic Street.

The route will continue east on Mechanic Street, until in intersects with Boody Street, where it ends with a right turn back to Highway 52.

Bicycle riders and vehicles will join back together on the road at the intercestion, as RAGBRAI participants continue toward Castalia.

Street Closures

Several local cross streets will be closed during Ossian’s RAGBRAI celebration, including West, Lydia, Mary, and Boody Streets.

More Information

Check out the 2017 Ossian RAGBRAI Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ossianragbrai for all the latest announcements and information in regard to vendors, entertainments, games, and other general information.