Heritage Days began in 1975 as a way to bring life back to the tiny community of Osborne, Iowa. Tucked in among the rolling wooded hills between Elkader and Strawberry Point, the once thriving town has lost most of its inhabitants to other areas since its heyday in the 1930’s. Heritage Days was planned to take visitors back in time to this community, and all other Iowa towns of the pioneer era, through living history demonstrations, contests and other activities.
From its modest beginnings, with only a handful of demonstrations, Heritage Days has grown to become one of Northeast Iowa’s most popular fall festivals. Held on the second weekend of October each year, Heritage Days usually falls during the peak of the fall leaf season. Thousands of visitors to the area stop at Osborne to take a brief journey back in time.
