100 years of Caterpillar’s legacy will be on display in Elkader
By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns | Times-Register
The Century of Caterpillar event will celebrate 100 years of the company’s history in earthmoving on Sept. 12 through 14 in Elkader. The weekend will bring Caterpillar enthusiasts from across the world to Iowa and be an opportunity for visitors and locals alike to attend exclusive workshops, shop vendor booths, view live demonstrations and witness restoration reveals. The event will also include kids activities, food trucks, live music and fireworks.
The celebration will kick off each day at 8 a.m., with the majority of exhibits and activities wrapping up at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday or 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Friday night, the activities will continue with a premier release of “10 Seconds to a Dark Tunnel,” a film about the outcome of a tragic distracted driving accident. It will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Earthmoving Legacy Center.
Saturday night, the Opera House Players will present the production of Century of CAT, which will pay homage to the civil contracting world of Earthmoving with a few cubic yards of humor. The play will start at 8 p.m. and be open to the public.
Molly Shannon, a proud Iowa native and recently retired Division I rower, is also a musician whose country voice and set list packed with crowd favorites across genres. She will provide entertainment open to the public on Saturday from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule will conclude with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Sunday morning sees the return of the Ovarian Cancer Run/Walk. This off-road race will not only be a fun experience for participants, but also raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Education Program in Iowa. The run was conceived by owner Linda Moyna, who has successfully battled ovarian cancer and is an advocate for supporting the cause.
The run will start at the Earthmoving Legacy Center and take participants through trails on dirt, wood chips and gravel. It will not be overly changeling, just a unique, fun route. The cost to participate is $25 if you pre-register. Participants will receive a T-shirt. More information and a sign up form is available at the event’s website.
The Elkader Fire Department will hold a pancake breakfast Sunday from 7 to 11 a.m. at their department in the industrial park.
Throughout the event, there will be demonstrations of antique equipment, with machines ranging from 1925 to 2025. Prototype, military and rare restored pieces will be unique to this show. Two newly restored pieces will be unveiled at the event.
CAT Talks, presentations by leading experts in the field, are scheduled. Tours of the Mobile Track Solutions factory will be given.
Kids activities throughout the weekend include bounce houses, sandboxes, bowling, a pedal tractor pull and more.
The Clayton County Sheriff’s Department will be on site providing a fun, interactive experience with their K9 unit. They will also help provide security and direction for the event.
Throughout the duration of the event, bus transportation will be provided to and from the event’s different locations, including the Earthmoving Legacy Center, industrial park and Elkader’s downtown. Event organizers hope this makes exploring all the event has to offer easier and encourages guests to visit the downtown businesses.
Admission to the portions of the event not open to the public costs $10 to $25, depending on how many days you attend. Kids 10 and under are free. More information about the event can be found at thecenturyofcaterpillar.com or at the Earthmoving Legacy Center’s Facebook page.
