(Panora) The Panora Chamber of Commerce invites residents and visitors to celebrate Panorama Days 2026, Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, at locations throughout Panora and Lake Panorama.
This year’s theme, “A Panoramic View of 175 Years: Celebrating Our Decades of History,” commemorates two significant milestones: Panora’s 175th birthday and America’s 250th birthday. The three-day celebration will honor the community’s history while bringing together families, friends and visitors for a weekend filled with entertainment, live music, activities, food and longtime Panorama Days traditions.
Friday kicks off with the annual Panorama Days Cribbage Tournament, followed by vendors, live music, children’s activities and several new attractions, including miniature golf and spin art, available Friday only. Axe throwing, the GameON DSM Mobile Gaming Trailer and live chainsaw carving demonstrations by Carve-R-Way will be offered Friday and Saturday. The Family Fun Zone will also be open both days. Little Miss & Little Mister Panorama Days, as well as Citizen of the Year 2026 will both be announced Friday evening, just after the Main Street Dance Studio and Bill Riley Talent Show performances. Friday evening also includes Cruise the Loop, Chalk the Block and a Kid’s Cake Walk. The Guthrie County Conservation Board will be offering hay-rack rides from the festival area to the Guthrie County Historical Village to tour the 1851 Log Cabin home, serving Root Beer floats. This log cabin was the first homestead in Panora, and originally sat on the same lot where the Chainsaw Carver will be located. Friday evening will culminate with the free Panorama Days Street Dance featuring the Tank Anthony Band from 8 to 11 p.m. on Main Street. Tank Anthony is a Texas-born, Iowa-raised entertainer, who has recently returned from recording in Nashville, and who has performed with many famous acts, such as Kameron Marlowe and Diamond Rio. You won’t want to miss his energy, music and light show! Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and BYOB (no glass), or to purchase beverages from local Main Street establishments, or the Lucky Wife Wine Slushie vendor.
Saturday begins with the bass fishing tournament, pancake breakfast and Panorama Days 5K Run/Walk, followed by the Panorama Days Parade at 10 a.m. Registration for the parade begins at 9 a.m. Central Iowa personality Jackie Schmillen will kick off the parade by singing our National Anthem. Following the parade, families can enjoy the free Kid Zone, featuring inflatables and a jousting arena, mechanical bull, face painting and caricature drawings, along with the expanded Family Fun Zone offering even more games and activities. Saturday also includes a classic car show, bags tournament, bingo, live music, a ski show, a golf cart parade, and the first day of the new two-day Panorama Days Pickleball Tournament, which organizers hope will become an annual tradition. Saturday evening wraps up with local favorite Jake Kemble and KICK performing at Louie’s at the Lake from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The “Chicken Drop” was so popular in years past, organizers brought it back three times for this year’s celebration – once on Friday evening (9 p.m.) and twice on Saturday (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Squares may be purchased in person at Panora Fiber (114 E. Main Street, Panora) Friday July 24th through Thursday July 30th, or at the information booth Friday & Saturday during the festival. Proceeds help fund scholarships to Panorama High School graduation seniors.
The celebration continues Sunday with a community breakfast, Kids Fishing Derby, the concluding rounds of the pickleball tournament and the Praise Band and free-will donation lunch benefiting Tori’s Angels from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Boulder Beach. To wrap up the festival, the Annual Panorama Alumni Golf Tournament will be held at the Par 3 Golf course at Lake Panorama Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (12:30 p.m. registration). This tournament is open to the public and you do not need to be an alumni to participate.
Visitors can also enjoy Panora and Lake Panorama’s many local restaurants, shops and attractions throughout the weekend, along with six food trucks and vendors serving festival guests.
“Panorama Days is an opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Panora and Lake Panorama special—our history, our businesses, our volunteers and the people who call this community home. This milestone year gives us even more reason to come together, welcome visitors and celebrate both where we have been and where we are going.” – Erica Matthies, Panora Chamber Coordinator.
Panorama Days is funded entirely through donations and fundraising efforts and costs more than $30,000 to produce each year. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and volunteers, most events, activities and entertainment remain free for families to enjoy. The Panorama Days Committee extends its sincere appreciation to everyone whose time, financial support and contributions make this community celebration possible.
An online store-front will be announced soon, where residents and visitors can order apparel that boasts Panora’s new town motto: “Come for the View. Stay for the People.”
A complete schedule, event locations, sponsors, registration information and updates are available at PanoraChamber.com/PanoramaDays and on the Panora Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
