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Fun for the kids — and the adults, too

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette

Panorama Days featured a Kid Zone on Saturday with unlimited access to inflatables, jousting arena, a mechanical bull, face painting and caricature drawings. Several food vendors also lined First Street while live music was offered on the town square. 

Photos by Shane Goodman:

 

Photos by Roger Dorr:

Take your dog to the Guthrie Center Aquatic Center 

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center Aquatic Center hours have changed for this week. The pool will be open 12:30-3:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. daily.

Also, the pool’s last day of the season will be Friday, Aug. 14. Again this year, dogs will be welcomed in the pool, along with their humans, on the final evening of the season from 6-9 p.m.

 

 

Ski show moves to Sunday

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette

The Lake Panorama Ski Show was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but high winds made performing too dangerous. The show moved to Sunday, when blue skies and calmer water finally gave those talented skiers the stage they deserved. It was warm along the south shore, but longtime spectators know sunshine is simply part of the ticket price. Photos courtesy of the Lake Panorama Ski Team. 

Photos by Lindsey Hjortsvang

Fishing derby has record participation

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

A popular event at Panorama Days is the kids’ fishing derby. Many fish of all sizes were caught and released, along with at least one turtle. The annual event saw a record-setting 136 kids participate this year. A perfect morning yielded many fish and even more smiles. Award winners included:

Biggest Fish by Age Group

  • Ages 3-5: Baker Croghan – 13.5-inch Catfish
  • Ages 6-8: Gwen Downing – 17-inch Catfish
  • Ages 9-11: Brecken Strehle – 18-inch Catfish
  • Ages 12-13: Raelyn Knudsen – 15.25-inch Catfish

Smallest Fish by Age Group

  • Ages 3-5: Tryce Bendickson – 2.5-inch Green Sunfish
  • Ages 6-8: Cameron Day – 2.5-inch Green Sunfish
  • Ages 9-11: Adam Weisz – 1.375-inch Green Sunfish
  • Ages 12-13: Caleb Pelzer – 1.75-inch Green Sunfish

Overall Big Fish Winners

  • Brecken Strehle – 18-inch Catfish
  • Gwen Downing – 17-inch Catfish
  • Jesse Sandberg – 16-inch Catfish
Photos by Rich Wicks:

The shore at the marina was lined with young fishers.

Adam Perry releases a turtle that was accidentally caught.

Reed and Adam Perry enjoy father-son time at the derby.

Allison Stanley helps Brynley Birch show her catch.

Photos by Roger Dorr:

Roaring engines and gleaming chrome 

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette

The Panorama Days classic car show was held Saturday on Main Street immediately after the parade and until 4 p.m. Roger Dorr coordinated the show, which had a record number of cars on display, lining several blocks of Main Street. Dorr said he personally reached out to car clubs and convinced many owners to make the trip. He said a little sunshine and the lack of rain helped, too. 

Photos by Shane Goodman:

This says it all.

Tom and Ellen Campbell and their 1941 Desoto

1980 Chevy C-3 Corvette

Shady Stoy and his 1976 Chevy Corvette Stingray

1956 Chevy Bel Air

1956 Chevrolet 210 Townsman 4-door station wagon

Classic cars filled Main Street during the 2026 Panorama Days car show.

A record number of classic cars were on display Saturday.

1969 Chevy Camaro SS

Photos by Roger Dorr:

Bill Riley Talent Show held Friday evening of Panorama Days 

By Luann Waldo | Special to the Times Vedette

Main Street Dance Studio hosted the Bill Riley Talent Show on Friday evening of Panorama Days with a full slate of performers vying for the honor of advancing to the Iowa State Fair in a few days. The competition was stiff with many talented individuals performing from all over the state.

Bill Riley Jr, who hosts the event at the State Fair, was in attendance and commented on how well the young women and men performed. He urged everyone who was not selected to advance to try again, as they were all “winners” in his eyes and deserve the opportunity to compete at the next level.

Taking top honors in the sprout division were, from the left: Faith Scott, 10 years of age, of Johnston with a piano solo, third place; Brielle Coil, 11, of Stuart with a lyrical dance, second place; and Zara Fortney, 7, of Des Moines with a vocal solo, first place, along with Riley.

The senior division winners were, from the left: Mariann Rose Scott, 13, of Des Moines with a violin solo, third place; Nella Rivas, 16, of Panora, lyrical dance, second place; Camden Lewis, 18, of Des Moines, first place with a classical flute solo and Riley.

Fortney and Lewis will perform at the Iowa State Fair.

Judges of the event were Emily Clouser, Riley Ferris and Andrew King, who indicated it was a very difficult decision in selecting the winners.