Triangle Park in McGregor is awash in fall color during the annual Leaf Arts and Craft Festival. Live music wafts over the crowd. Folks indulge in local, squeaky cheese curds, hot brats with healthy mounds of pungent sauerkraut and kettle corn crisped with sugar. All of the art at this festival is handmade by the artists themselves which means you can actually talk with the creator and feel good about buying a unique gift.
What makes this event extra special is its timing. Held specifically because October 10th is pegged by Iowa DNR as the best leaf color, this festival is a beautiful mosaic of autumn colors and local crafts. This festival is also at an epicenter of regional activity. Nearby communities embrace this weekend as a chance to be outside and enjoy the area's many attributes. Folks are out and about, road side stands are selling everything from pumpkins to quilts, nearby Marquette hosts its annual Flea Market and locals open their garage doors for small eclectic sales. Shop McGregor's diverse downtown, breathe in the fresh air rolling off the mighty Mississippi and explore the nuances that make this small, Iowa town and its neighbors are some of the loveliest.