Savory Food, Country Sounds, Cool Vehicles Highlight Truckers Jamboree
The savory scents of pork chops comingled with the sweet smells of kettle corn as country music lilted on a summer breeze and children bopped between gleaming trucks and tractors tremendous times their size on a fun Thursday opening day of the Walcott Truckers Jamboree.
The 37th annual event runs through Saturday at the I-80 Truck Stop in Walcott. Admission and parking are free. Shuttles will be provided from the parking area to the event grounds.
And on opening day, a shuttle wasn’t a bad idea, as cars were lined up down the street and off the highway to get into the packed parking lot and the festive festival. Folks came from several states away and from right here in the Quads to enjoy the amenities and have a good time.
“We love it, we come here all the time, we’ve been coming since 1976,” said Blondie Blackbourn of Fennimore, Wisconsin.
“It’s always fun, we always enjoy it,” added Rocky Blackbourn.
“This is the first time we’ve ever been here, but we’re really excited about it,” said Amy Conklin of Corunna, Michigan, who was there with her husband, Clay, and kids, Collin, 5, and Kyleigh, 8. “It looks really neat!”
“We always love it, we come for the pork chop sandwiches, to look at the trucks to listen to the music, it’s always a good time in the summer,” said Jennifer Gilbert of Davenport, who arrived with her daughter, Tabitha, 7, and her son, Trevor, 8.
This year’s jamboree will feature nearly 150 exhibits; a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display; Iowa pork chop cookout; Trucker Olympics; carnival games; several free concerts: Dani Lynn Howe Band and Clare Dunn on July 14th courtesy of CAT Scale and North of 40 and Sammy Kershaw on July 15 presented by Mobil Delvac. Trucking’s Highway Angel Spokesperson Lindsay Lawler will perform on Saturday afternoon, July 16. There will be fireworks displays on Thursday and Friday night and loads of fun for the whole family! Friday afternoon attendees can enjoy a piece of cake at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in celebration of the 1916 Mack AC truck’s 100th birthday with Ruth Fruehauf, granddaughter of trailer founder August Fruehauf, will be on hand for a book signing.
For the full schedule of events, check out https://iowa80truckstop.com/trucker-jamboree/schedule-of-events/
