Back to school family week kicks off Saturday

IOLA – The third annual Iola-Scandinavia Back to School Family Week will bring families together Aug. 22-28 with a week of activities designed to celebrate the start of a new school year.
The festivities kick off on Saturday with a community-wide back to school bash from noon to 4 p.m. at the Iola Historical Society Machine Shed, located at 222 Depot St. The afternoon features a variety of attractions, including a dunk tank, face painting, barrel train rides, yard games, balloon artists, a petting zoo and a hula hoop show. While the entertainment and games are free, attendees can also purchase items from local food trucks, beverage stations and merchants.
Adding to the Saturday lineup, the Back to Class Talent Show will begin at 2 p.m. Open to all ages, the contest will judge solo, group and family acts on creativity, stage presence and courage.
Daily events will continue throughout the week. On Aug. 23, Families can participate in outdoor yoga in Jorgens Park at 880 N. Shore Dr. in Scandinavia starting at 6 p.m.
On Aug. 24, Sliced Pizza, located at 305 N. Main St. in Scandinavia, will host a pizza buffet and game night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., where children age 5 and younger eat free.

A chalk coloring contest celebrating community creativity will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Iola Village Library at 180 S. Main St.
Events will continue Aug. 26 at Shivers Ice Cream, 195 E. State St., which will host “Cones with Cops” from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering children a free small ice cream cone. Attendees can meet local police, firefighters and emergency medical responders, and view emergency vehicles. The event is scheduled alongside the elementary school’s meet-and-greet event.
An outdoor family movie night will take place Aug. 27 at Taylor Field in Olson Park, with a single showing starting at dusk. On Aug. 28 residents are encouraged to support local area businesses and restaurants by enjoying a traditional Friday fish fry.
Two week-long contests are also open to the public. The Community Alphabet Scavenger Hunt challenges families to locate all 26 letters of the alphabet across the Iola-Scandinavia area, with prizes awarded to the first three families who post their completed forms online.
The Back to School Window Decorating Contest invites local businesses to decorate their storefront windows around the theme of “Back to School + Disney Magic.” Displays must be completed by noon on Aug. 22 and remain visible through Aug. 28. The winning business, chosen by community votes, will receive a social media article spotlight and an advertisement in the Waupaca County Post.
More information and updates can be found on the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber Facebook page.