Public invited to Peter Mayer concert, 5K Grotto Gallop and Color Run during Ewalu’s 65th Anniversary celebration
STRAWBERRY POINT — Camp Ewalu welcomes the public to an outdoor Peter Mayer concert and two running events as part of the ministry’s 65th anniversary weekend, August 28 and 29, at the camp’s main site, three miles west of Strawberry Point.
Peter Mayer, a Minnesota folk-style singer-songwriter with a nationwide following, will perform in an outdoor concert beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, August 28, at the camp’s main site. With 11 albums to his credit over a 30-year career, Mayer writes songs about interconnectedness and the human journey. 2MIT Burgers food truck from Elkader will be at the venue beginning at 5 p.m. serving dinner. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camp chair or blanket for the concert, plus cash for the food truck. There are no tickets for the concert, but a free-will offering will be accepted.
Two running events on Saturday morning, August 29, are also open to the public. The Grotto Gallop Trail 5K will start at 9 a.m. at the camp’s Family Campground, with same-day registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. This year’s course follows the brand-new “Ewa-Loop trail”– a 2.5-mile single-track trail through some of the best of the forest that Camp Ewalu has to offer. The course is primarily dirt single-track with a short section of wider prairie trail to make the course 5K. Registration cost for the 5K race is $25, with pre-registration available at https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/StrawberryPoint/GrottoGallop.
Following the Grotto Gallop, a free Kids Color Run will take place at 10 a.m. at the same starting location at Ewalu’s Family Campground, with several color stations on a ¼-mile course through Ewalu’s Pioneer Village. Kids can go around the loop as many times as they wish. Free white t-shirts will be provided to those to pre-register for the Color Run at https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/StrawberryPoint/GrottoGallop. Camp staff will be on hand to direct participants to the starting location.
The events are part of a celebration weekend marking the camping ministry’s 65th anniversary. At 1 p.m. Saturday, August 29, the newly renovated Cedar Lodge will be dedicated with a Celebration Worship and Dedication service, which the public is welcome to attend at Cedar Lodge. The camp has raised over $3 million to renovate the lodge, which was built in the early 1960s, and to expand and modernize the commercial kitchen. With an enlarged dining area and new entryway addition with handicapped-accessible restrooms, Cedar Lodge is now available to host retreats and events of any size, including wedding receptions of up to 250 guests. Details for renting the renewed facility can be found at www.Ewalu.org/Cedar-Lodge or by calling the camp office at 563-933-4700.
Details and a complete schedule for the 65th Anniversary Weekend can be found at www.Ewalu.org/65th-anniversary.
