RAGBRAI LII July 19 - 26, 2025

RAGBRAI XLI Pass-through Town Spotlight: Dallas Center (Tuesday)

  • 8 July, 2013
  • Jared

025aFrom “Tri-cycles to Tractors, that’s how we Roll” in Dallas Center!

Your ride through Dallas Center will take you down beautiful tree lined streets, city parks, our small town main street,  city hall,  the library and schools.    Relax in Mound Park.    Stop by the vendor booths and sample the wares.   Relax in the beverage garden hosted by the Longest Yard.     Take a dunk  in our local pool.   Wave to the senior citizens of Spurgeon Manor as you head south out of town.

Color Wars

Dallas Center will be hosting “Color Wars” for the RAGBRAI festival.       Gather your friends and enemies, and just  let loose.    Beware – we might just send a few of our own soldiers into the war.    Volunteers will be available to snap your photo with your team.     The bright color powder is custom manufactured in the United States and made from food grade quality cornstarch.    Made popular by the color race events,  it is non-toxic, 100% safe, and biodegradable.     Worried about getting too much color?    Pre-order your painter overalls and we will have it there for you on the day of the ride.   Colors begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Color War Zone.   Battles will begin approximately every 30 minutes.  THIS WILL BE A LIMITED CAPACITY EVENT.   They anticipate selling out of color supplies,  so reserve your materials early from the Store

Cow Pie Bingo

Yes.  Real cows standing on a bingo card.   Cow Pie Bingo is a tradition started during our annual Fall Festival.    You need to see it to believe it!    Here’s how it works:   Purchase a number on the mat (each number is only sold once).   When the mat is sold out,  our prize-winning cow will select one number in a very special manner.  You do not need to be present to win!  Just for fun, we might throw in a round with a chicken or two!

Swimming

Concerned about finishing the ride with color?    The Dallas Center Pool will be open (with shower stations) during RAGBRAI, allowing you to clean up and cool down before you continue your ride.   The cost is only $3 per person.     It’s just a quick walk down the bike trail from the Color War Zone.

Music in the Park 

Take a few moments to rest  while listening to the live music of Jon Aanestad, and other local artist.   Live music  will be performed in the Gazebo located at Mound Park.      This is a beautiful park with large shade trees, and plenty of room to kick back and relax.   In the park you will also find the Farmers Market.   Look for homemade baked goods and sandwiches.      A short walk from the park there are plenty of vendors waiting to serve you. This is an excellent location for families with kids to meet up.    In addition to the playground equipment, the Dallas Center Library will have inflatables for the kids.

The Longest Yard Sports Bar and Wrestling  

There will be an outside beer garden right in the middle of the party zone.   The Longest Yard will be hosting  wrestling.     The party starts at 7:00am  and lasts until 3:00pm.

Rubber Ducky Draw 

Play the rubber ducky draw game of chance.    Buy a duck.   Place it the pond.    Approximately once per hour, a duck will be drawn from the pond.     The winner gets a cash prize ($100).       You don’t need to be present to win.      All proceeds go to the “Friends of DC Pool” fund.     This is also the location where you can purchase a pool pass for the day.     Find this stop right at the corner of Walnut and 13th,  in the heart of the party.

Food Vendors 

There will be plenty of choices for food and beverages.    Get ready to try them all!

More …

Dallas Center is a Meeting Town.   You will find the University of Iowa Mobile Emergency Treatment Center,  RAGBRAI Information and Merchandise  Booth,  and  Google Free WiFi while you are here.   Bike Shops  will be here, include Rasmussen Bike Shop,  Connecticut Yankee Pedaller,  and Bikes to You.

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