Celebrating the railroad history of Boone, Iowa since 1976
If you’re interested in getting involved, becoming a sponsor, gathering event details, or media inquiries, please contact the Boone County Chamber at info@boonecountychamber.com.
Pufferbilly Days is led by a Steering Committee of volunteer community members who work year-round to plan elements of the festival. If you are interested in learning how to join the Steering Committee, contact events@boonecountychamber.com.
5:30 PM: Opening Ceremonies & Friday Night Block Party
Featuring: Becca the Balloon Lady, Community Dedication Award & Pufferbilly Maybee Memorial Award
6 PM – 8 PM: Karaoke
6:30 PM: Live Bingo (Sponsored by Boone Bank & Trust)
8 PM: LIVE MUSIC: Orphan Annie & The Hot Mess (Sponsored by City of Boone)
Additional Attractions:
Classic Car Show (Sponsored by Moffit’s Ford)
Photography Contest (Sponsored by Redekers)
Beer Garden (Sponsored by Miller Industries)
Food Court (Sponsored by Walmart)
Craft & Vendors Fair (Sponsored by Great Pathfinder Wind)
Full Carnival (Sponsored by City of Boone)
Merch & Memorabilia Shop (Sponsored by Bombgaars)
7:30 AM: 5k/10k at 6th & Story (Sponsored by Live Hydration)
9:30 AM: Annual Pufferbilly Parade (Sponsored by Union Pacific)
11 AM: Bags Tournament (Sponsored by Members 1st Credit Union)
11 AM – 5 PM: Teen Hotspot @ 711 Story Street (Sponsored by Boone Community Theater)
1 PM: Spike-Driving Contest @ 10th & Story (Sponsored by Pritchard Brothers)
1 PM – 5 PM: Motorcycle Show (Sponsored by Condon’s and Zylstra Harley-Davidson)
2 PM: Spelling Bee @ 711 Story Street (Sponsored by Boone DKG & Boone Rotary)
2 PM: 3×3 Soccer Tournament (Sponsored by Boone Soccer Club)
3 PM: Mullet & Mustache Contest
3:30 PM: Live Bingo (Sponsored by Boone Bank & Trust)
SPONSORED BY: Boone County Hospital, Landus, Mid Iowa Anesthesia, Fareway.
8:30 AM: Free Breakfast @ Boone High School (Sponsored by Fortress Construction) Community Worship Service to follow.
9 AM: 3×3 Basketball Tournament @ Boone High School (Sponsored by Boone Vision)
Held by the Boone Arts Advisory Board
1 PM: Tennis Tournament @ McHose Park Tennis Courts (Sponsored by Peoples Bank)
2 PM: Pet Show @ McHose Park (Sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus)
Lace up those sneakers and meet at the Boone High School Gym for a fun basketball competition!
Competition begins Sunday, September 22nd at 9am.
We will be having a bracket style tournament Saturday afternoon starting at 2pm at the Boone Middle School soccer fields. Championship games may be played Sunday afternoon (time dependent). Games will be played 3v3 with a minimum of 2 games guaranteed for each team. Games will have 20 minute halves. Championship games for 1st-4th place will have prizes awarded. Registration is available for anyone 8U and up.
In keeping with this year’s theme “Rock the Rails” please come up with a rock themed name for your team. Your team will also need matching shirts/outfits for play. Each team can have a maximum of 6 players. Registration is $150 per team.
Individual “free agent” registration is also available. It is $35 per person. You will be placed on a team with others in your age group.
Supported by Boone Soccer Club!
All entries are subject to the approval of the parade committee with support from the Pufferbilly Days
Steering Committee. Decisions are final.
Floats – Judging scores will be decided by combining the scores from three areas:
Creative use of theme – crowd appeal, use of new and innovative ideas
Construction – quality of workmanship, use of materials
Details – animation, overall creativity, amount of work involved
Marching Units – These entries are open to any unit marching on foot and can be something any creative
group can form. The parade must be kept moving to not create large gaps along the route, so a routine that
keeps the group moving is necessary.
Politicians – All political entries should reach out to the Parade Chair, Janet Schultz for further instruction.
Please call 515-230-0977 or expect a phone call upon receipt of your application.
RESTRICTIONS
For safety purposes, nothing is to be thrown from moving vehicles. Walkers are permitted to hand out candy or novelty giveaways. Do NOT hand out brochures, coupons, or other paper items, as they are often left behind as litter. Groups whose handouts are found as litter after the parade will be banned from future parade participation.
The parade will be limited to 100 entries.
Entrants with animal units are expected to clean up after their animals in the parade lineup area and throughout the parade route. Please bring your own pooper-scooper!
*Company vehicles are allowed in the parade if they are pulling a float or are decorated with emphasis on the parade theme.
PARADE LINEUP INSTRUCTIONS
In mid-August, all approved entries will receive detailed instructions for the parade lineup, including the number
in the parade and what time to line up based on their assigned number.
Thank you to Union Pacific for sponsoring!
More info and a sign up form to come!
REGISTRATION CLOSED
For years, Art in the Park has served the whole family with Handcrafted Art Fair
Come, eat and vote!
More details to come! Thanks to our sponsor Members 1st Community Credit Union!
The place to meet up!
Open Friday after 5pm and Saturday after 12N.
Beer tickets can be purchased at ticket booth, must be 21+
Friday, September 20, 2024: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 21, 2024: 3:30p-5p
VETERAN’S PARK ON 9th and STORY
Thank you to Boone Bank & Trust for sponsoring!
Thank you to the City of Boone for sponsoring!
Hosted by the Tall Corn Car Club, we look forward to seeing Story Street filled with classic cars to kick off our festival weekend. There is no fee to enter the show.
Friday, September 20th from 5pm-9pm.
Thanks to Moffitts in Boone for sponsoring this event!
Come together for a community – wide worship service along with breakfast!
Everyone welcome and encouraged to attend- (plus it’s all FREE!)
Join us in supporting local makers, creators, and artisans downtown during Pufferbilly Days on Friday and Saturday!
* $100.00 PER DAY fee for commercial MLM vendors
Do you have what it takes to be a Pufferbilly Food Vendor? Pull up our Food Vendor Application form to find out more.
Primary Location: There will be a downtown food court centrally located in the festival’s activities
and entertainment area on Friday and Saturday, September 20-21, 2024. There will be a limit of 6
downtown food vendors. Fairgrounds Location: We will allow one or two food vendors to set up at
the Boone County Fairgrounds, which is the location of the Train Collectors Swap Meet and Mud
Volleyball Tournament. This location setup will be on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22,
2024. There will be a limit of 2 Fairgrounds food vendors.
VENDOR REQUIREMENTS
• Contribute a diverse and interesting food/drink/dessert menu to the festival.
• Set pricing in competitive range with other vendors.
• Supply your proposed menu with your application. o Only approved menu items may be served
at the festival.
o Vendors are prohibited from selling beer, wine, brats, or hot dogs.
• City of Boone Mobile Food Vendor Permit on file in the current calendar year.
• Provide a current Sales Tax Permit Number on the application as well as proof of insurance.
• Be aware of Iowa State Regulations governing off-premise sales.
• Maintain a clean space during and following the festival. Any trash or grease buckets left behind
will result in loss of future vendor opportunities. It is the vendor’s responsibility to provide a clean
working environment.
• Your state mobile license and a copy of your driver’s license. Please have this turned in to the chamber office by 9/1/24
if not turned in you WILL forfeit your spot with NO refund.
Please obtain a city mobile food permit (There is a $20 fee) at:
https://ia.accessgov.com/boone/Forms/Page/boone/peddler-permit/1
You will need: a criminal background check, (There is a $15 fee)
https://stateofiowa.seamlessdocs.com/f/DPS_DCI_Criminal_History_Billing_and_Request_Form
Grease may NOT be dumped in the street or storm sewers.
APPLICATION REVIEW The preferred deadline for all food vendors is June 1, 2024. A completed
application includes the first page of this document, a copy of the menu with pricing, proof of
insurance, and vendor fee. All vendor applications will be reviewed by the Food Court Committee
with support from the Steering Committee. Decisions are final. If a vendor application is not
accepted for any reason before the festival date, payment will be refunded in full.
VENDOR SETUP DETAILS
All approved vendors will be notified and will receive detailed instructions for setup,
including the specific dates and times when the festival electrician will be available to assist with setup.
Questions? Email events@boonecountychamber.com
Join us Friday, September 20th, out on the green space for a family-friendly party!
Don’t miss out on Orphan Annie & The Hot Mess!
Downtown
2024 Collectors tees, hats, buttons, stickers, and koozies will be available
at the downtown Merch & Memorabilia booth during the festival.
Kick off The 2024 Pufferbilly Days Festival with Mud Volleyball at the Boone County Fairgrounds! Please note- the Mud Volleyball Tourney will be Sunday, September 15th at 10am!
MUD VOLLEYBALL SIGN UP IS LIVE!
To secure your spot, both REGISTRATION and TEAM FEES must be processed.
REGISTER YOUR TEAM HERE: https://forms.gle/kXeC2ZinftmqrbKd8
PAY TEAM FEES HERE: https://www.chamberdata.net/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=iaboon…
Thank you again to Elite Construction and Elite Outdoor Solutions for sponsoring the 2024 Mud Volleyball Tourney!
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Kick off the 47th Pufferbilly Days Festival
Bring your dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, groundhogs, bearded dragons and any other pet out for the annual Puffer Pet show!
Sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus.
Calling all photographers! This is your chance to showcase those beautiful pictures you have taken!
This contest will run from Friday, September 20th – Sunday, September 22nd.
The following retailers will be hosting the contest:
Paradox
Boone Movie Theater
Houndstooth Haberdashery
Ema’s Elegance
Infamous Tattoo
Melissa Bell Photography
Join us Saturday at 8th & Story– live music, quirky contests, entertainment, kids fun and more – all free! Starts right after the parade- and lasts until the Main Stage music begins. Schedule to come!
Presenting:
Mid-Iowa Anesthesia & Pain Services
Feeling strong? On Saturday, September 21st, you will have the opportunity to prove that to the community! Spike driving presents a unique challenge that represents Boone’s rich history with railways. To participate, gear up for some heavy lifting and see how fast you can hammer a railway spike into the train tracks. Don’t be deceived – this is harder than it looks!
Stay tuned for more information to come!
Thanks to Pritchard Brothers Plumbing & Heating
September 21st & 22nd from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Boone County Fairgrounds Commercial Exhibits Building / 1601 Industrial Park Road, Boone, Iowa 50036
Admission – $5 (12 & Under Free with Paid Adult) / Free Parking
Questions? Contact Janet Schultz by phone at (515) 230-0977 or email at mzengr2020@msn.com.
VENDOR INFORMATION
You are invited to be a part of the annual Pufferbilly Days Train Show and Swap Meet!
TABLE REGISTRATION – $20 PER TABLE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (9 AM – 3 PM)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9 AM – 3 PM)
There are no refunds after your application has been selected for participation in the event. Register early – spaces are limited, and tables will go fast!
We look forward to hosting you at the event!
© Copyright Boone County Chamber of Commerce 2023. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Web Design and Development by Saltech Systems
We are grateful to all our members who allow our small team the support and grace to do Pufferbilly Days every year! … See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Volunteering to help with the Pufferbilly Photo Contest was so much fun! I believe this is the 4th year I helped out! Thanks to Christopher Bennett who organizes everything, to those who volunteer to be judges, those who keep records of the photos, awards, and paperwork and enter everything in the computer, and then builds and set up the displays twice. This year's volunteers were Christopher Bennett, Angie Dewaard, Melissa Bell, Nathaniel Brown, Teresa Kahler, Monica Jennings, and myself. 📷
Excellent job to everyone for all the hard work that goes into making Pufferbilly Days happen! It was a fun weekend to be back in Boone! Awesome choice for the Pork Tornadoes to headline Saturday! ❤
It was truly one for the record books!!! Way to go and THANK YOU for ALL the hard work!!!
Load More