The water ski show will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
By Rich Wicks and Susan Thompson | Panora Times, July 2025
This year’s theme for Panorama Days is “Navigating our past, sailing into our future.” After more than 50 years, Panorama Days has developed a rich history and become a premier event in the area. The event is now held on the first full weekend (Friday through Sunday) in August, which, this year, is Aug. 1-3.
Naturally, the celebration has evolved over the decades. The first event was originally scheduled to be held on Aug. 2, 1969, but was postponed until June 1970. That initial celebration included a breakfast, a parade, water fights between the Panora and Guthrie Center Fire Departments, a watermelon feed, Little League baseball and a teen dance.
A double-dose of Panorama Days happened in 1970 with another event held Sept. 12. That event included a skydiving demonstration, a greased pig contest, pony rides, and bingo. Since then, Panorama Days has been celebrated every year except 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Panora Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Erica Matthies provided details on this year’s schedule. Most of the weekend’s events will happen at or near Panora’s main square. One of the highlights is the downtown parade with many of the floats designed to match the year’s theme.
THE PARADE AN OTHER TRADITIONAL EVENTS
Registration for the annual Panorama Days parade will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Panorama Elementary School, with the parade beginning at 10 a.m.
“The parade is Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Registration for the parade will be at the elementary school at 9 a.m.,” Matthies said. “One new thing this year is we are doing some payouts for the float winners. Be on the lookout for more information, but each division will have a payout. We’re envisioning a lot of boat-type floats, probably.”
Matthies highlighted some of the many other parts of the Panorama Days weekend.
“A lot of the traditional events will be included again this year. Chalk the Block will be Friday at 4 p.m. for kids of all ages, and the kids’ cake walk will be Friday at 7 p.m.,” Matthies said. “At 7 p.m. on Friday, Twin Vines Winery is having Wine and Yoga, so before you come to the street dance, you can go there and get all ‘zenned-up.’ Main Street Dance Studio will be performing, and the Bill Riley Talent Show will follow that. We are having live music on Friday from 6-8 p.m., so when people are uptown, there will be live music played by Kile Jackson. Then the main act will be Oreo Meatwagon, and they start at 8:30 p.m. Around 8:15 p.m., we’ll have our Little Miss and Little Mister announcement, and we’re actually having our Homecoming King and Queen on hand to crown the Little Miss and Little Mister.”
Last year’s Panora Garden Club parade float was filled with flowers.
On Friday, Aug. 1, 2-4 p.m., a cribbage tournament will be held at the Panora Community Center. There is a $5 entry fee, and $100 in prize money to be won.
A NEW SOUND SYSTEM
Matthies explained that one major upgrade is the city’s new sound system, which will be used throughout Panorama Days.
“Also, on Friday evening around 8:15 p.m., we’ll do a little speaker recognition project to recognize those who have been a large part of the fundraising effort for the new speaker system, which will be up and running for Panorama Days.”
MORE SATURDAY ACTIVITIES
Chalk the Block is an artistic outlet for kids of all ages.
“On Saturday, we, of course, have the bass fishing tournament, pancake breakfast, and the 5K run/walk. Online registration for the 5K is appreciated, or you can register in person that morning, 7-7:45 a.m., with the run starting at 8 a.m.,” Matthies said. “At 11-ish, immediately following the parade, we’ll have the Citizen of the Year announcement and parade winners’ announcement. Parade winners will need to be present to get their prizes.”
At noon on Saturday, a bags tournament will be held on Main Street. The tournament will have an 80% payout.
Saturday offerings continue throughout the afternoon and evening.
“We have our family fun zone again, and we are adding live music on Saturday as well. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. is Dale Menning and the Stardusters,” Matthies said. “The classic car show is 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Another new feature is the bags tournament, with 90% of the fees paid out to the top three teams. Bags will begin at noon, with two-person teams. If all 32 team spots are filled, the winning team will get around $500, maybe even a little more than that. We’re having live music with Four Shades of Grey from 1:30-3:30 p.m.”
WATER SKI SHOW
Acrobatic ski formations are a crowd-pleaser.
One of the longtime highlights of Panorama Days has been the water skiing show. The Lake Panorama Ski Team has been a part of Panorama Days for more than 40 years. This year’s show will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 with parking and viewing on Lake Panorama’s south shore.
The theme for the 2025 show is “Making Waves Since 1985.” The history of water skiing, which began in 1922 in Lake City, Minnesota, will be showcased with costumes, music and onshore skits that allow the water to calm down between acts.
Prior to the show, members of the ski team will be in the Panorama Days parade towing the Ski Team boat with kids “skiing” behind the boat and adults throwing candy.
The ski team has 42 members this year with 32 of those skiing. Others help with ropes, boat driving, music, photography and general organization.
This year’s car show will be 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.
There are 12 kids skiing this year, ranging in age from 5 to 16. Of the 20 adult skiers, the youngest is 18 years old, and the oldest is in his 70s.
For many, ski team is a family activity. The Reese and Lefkow families both have three generations involved.
The Reese family includes Grandpa Mark, his son Eric, daughter Sara Mills, and Sara’s kids, Tate, Reese and Chloe. The Lefkow family includes Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Liz, daughter Laura Eslinger, and Laura’s daughters, Evelyn and Ella.
New members of all ages are welcome to join the ski team. The only requirement is membership in the Lake Panorama Association.
Ski team practice starts at the end of May. Practices are held each Thursday night, weather permitting, from 6-8:30 p.m. In June, team members spend most practices trying different things. As the kids get older and bigger, they try different acts each year.
In July, the team firms up the act. Practices are held both Tuesday and Thursday the last two weeks of July. Practices the last week of July are dress rehearsals with the skits and music.
Register online in advance or in person for the 5K run on Saturday morning from 7 to 7:45 a.m. The run will begin at 8 a.m.
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This year’s ski show is expected to last about an hour and a half. Again this year, there will be canopies and free water on the south shore to help with the heat. Viewers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
Buoys will be placed in the water to mark off the show area. Boats can anchor behind the buoys and tie up with friends to watch the show.
The show will include Matt Lukacs and his barefoot skiing, the “Willie” hitchhiker act with father and son duos Larry and Clint Isom and Eric and Leyton Temple, a 10-girl line, three-high pyramids, doubles acts where girls ride on guys’ shoulders, saucers with stools, kneeboarding and more.
Because of the ski team’s nonprofit status, donations are tax deductible. Donations help cover fuel, team insurance, equipment and equipment maintenance, costumes and props.
A QR code printed on ski team posters and pamphlets will be available at the show and other locations to allow electronic donations. Donations also can be made by check, payable to Lake Panorama Ski Team, and mailed to P.O. Box 384, Panora, Iowa, 50216.
CHICKEN DROP RETURNS
The chicken drop returns this year to Panorama Days. Participants can purchase a square for $10.
“A returning event from many years ago is the chicken drop. In cleaning out our storage unit, we found we have a large board with 100 squares on it. People can pay $10 for a square,” Matthies said. “Then a chicken will be brought in and fed and then it goes into the enclosure, and then you wait for the chicken to poop, and wherever it drops, if it’s on your square, you could win $500, if all of the squares have been sold.”
SUNDAY’S EVENTS
On Sunday morning, the kid’s fishing derby is happening at the Panorama Marina. Then there is free live entertainment with a praise band and food trucks at Boulder Beach, beginning at 11 a.m.,” Matthies said. “The Panorama Alumni golf tournament is that afternoon at the Panorama West golf course.”
The fishing tournament is a popular event.
“The bass fishing tournament is done by Fin and Feather. Some businesses and individuals come together to sponsor the car show. Bingo is sponsored by Guthrie County State Bank. The junior class does one of the breakfasts. Cruise the Loop is sponsored by Panora Auto Parts. WFPF (Women For Panora’s Future) does the Cake Walk,” Matthies said. “We’re also still looking for sponsors. It is definitely a group effort.”
Individuals or organizations interested in learning more about sponsoring an event are encouraged to contact the Panora Chamber of Commerce.
Matthies shared information for visitors from out of town.
“There’s designated handicapped parking spots near the Community Center,” Matthies said. “One of the other things to keep in mind, for anyone coming to the Community Center for the pancake breakfast, just be mindful that the 5K will be going on at the same time, so cars might need to go on the south side of Main Street and wrap around up past City Hall to get to the Community Center. The 5K route is kind of on the north side of town.”
This year’s entertainment will be Dale Menning and the Stardusters on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Four Shades of Grey from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“Thursday night (July 31), Twin Vines Winery is doing something to kick off the weekend. Josh Sinclair will be playing live music 6-9 p.m., and they’re having Rockets Raccoon Valley Catering,” Matthies said.
More details on Panorama Days will be posted as the event approaches, on the Panora Chamber of Commerce website (panorachamber.org) and Facebook page. Matthies noted that there are also links to registration forms for the parade, 5K and bags tournament.
Matthies thanked all who help make Panorama Days a success and encourages everyone to participate.
“A lot of people help, and it’s worth it. It makes for a fun and busy weekend,” she said.