contributed graphic Rhodes Pride Days will run July 25-27 with the theme “There’s No Place Like Rhodes,” and feature food, games, kids’ activities, parade, a cookie competition, and more.

RHODES — They say there’s no place like home, and this week “There’s No Place Like Rhodes” when the small town comes together to celebrate during Rhodes Pride Days, which will run July 25-27.

For the third year, the Rhodes Engagement Committee will put this event on, led by Committee President Madelyn Pitzen.

“We had had the pride days when I was a kid, but the group kind of fell apart,” she said. “But we’ve got a lot of young community members now and a lot of young families moving to Rhodes. Of course there are older people that have lived here forever, but can’t organize community events anymore.”

The group asked themselves this question: Why can’t we offer something in Rhodes?

“Since we got it started up again, we’ve done the Fall Festival (held this year on October 25), trivia nights, a soup and chili cook off,” she added.

She said despite Rhodes’ small size, it seems everyone has either been there or knows someone from there.

“We kind of have a town saying that: all the roads lead to Rhodes in Marshall County. We’ve got so many roads coming in our tiny town that anywhere you go, you might end up in Rhodes,” she said. “So many of us were born here, might have left, but we all end up back. There’s just no place like it.”

Friday

Bags tournament at The Rhodes Bar will start at 6 p.m. with registration at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., there will be the decoration of the bikes (parade floats) at United Methodist Church with the kiddie parade starting at 7:30 p.m.

“The parade will go from the church down to Main Street. We have all the maps posted, and then as soon as the kiddie parade kind of gets up to the Memorial Park on Main Street, we’ll do the Little Miss and Little Mister Rhodes crowning, tentatively at 7:45.”

The title is open to youth pre-K through third grade, and there are no requirements to enter. Winners’ names are drawn.

At dusk, enjoy Movie in The Park with the animated version of “The Wizard of Oz” followed by the classic 1939 version, at the Memorial Shelter Park. Those under age 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

After the movies end, Teen Dance with America’s Music To Go will get going in the park, and run until midnight. That Juan Taco Truck will be on Main Street from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday

Pitchfork Breakfast Catering and Starry Grove Coffee service will be located on Main Street from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Check-in for the 5K will be at 7 a.m. at Heart of Iowa Trailhead Park, with the race starting 30 minutes later.

At 9 a.m., The Rhodes Bar will be the spot of a Bloody Mary Bar. Also at 7 a.m. the Market in the Park will open for set-up, available for the public to shop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’re just hoping for a wide variety. So far, we have no duplicate vendors,” Pitzen said. “We welcome everybody and hopefully they get a good amount of support.”

Sign up to be a vendor by Thursday, July 24. The cost is $15 for a 10 foot by 10 foot spot in the outdoor market.

The parade entries will line up at 9:15 a.m. in HOI Trailhead Park with it starting at 10 a.m. on Main Street. This year’s Grand Marshals are Sherri Shuey and Bob Duff. There is no fee to sign up.

New for 2025 is a cookie competition.

“Our food competitions have done really well,” Pitzen said.

Each participant needs to submit three-dozen cookies, and you can have three entries, max. Drop off the goodies at the Gathering Place/old fire station from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday or noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. All ages can participate. There is no cost to enter. To judge the contest, there is a $5 fee. Judging will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memorial Shelter Park.

Hoy Bridge Rides will take place at the HOI Trailhead Park at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Please arrive 10 minutes early.

“It will be a tractor-drawn wagon ride down the HOI trail down to our Hoy Bridge and back,” she noted.

The car show is set for Main Street starting at 11 a.m. She added that registration follows the parade and all car show participants are welcome to also be in the parade.

“We always enjoy having the cars parade through then park,” Pitzen said.

Food vendors will include Smokin Hog Pit-Stop BBQ and Clare’s Tenderloins.

The Kids’ Fun Zone will span 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include inflatables, petting zoo and more, in Rhodes Ball Park.

“It’s free and the only thing that will have a cost is the dunk tank,” she said.

At 2 p.m., the water ball fights with the Rhodes Fire Department will happen on East Cherry Lane.

New this year is the Farmer Relay at 3 p.m. at HOI Trailhead Park, and is a “farmer-themed obstacle course.”

From 8:30 p.m. to midnight there will be a bar street dance with Exit 185 on Main Street in front of The Rhodes Bar.

Sunday

Sunday kicks off with Church in the Park at 10 a.m. at Memorial Shelter Park, followed by a community potluck at 11:30 a.m.

The kickball tournament will start at 2 p.m. (sign up at 1:30 p.m.), at the Rhodes Ball Park.

A horse trail ride in HOI Trailhead Park concludes the festivities at 5 p.m.

For questions, contact Pitzen at rhodesengagement@gmail.com.