The Steamboat Rock Cemetery Theater was added to the town’s celebration events in July 1998. The idea for the candlelight walk among individuals from our past came about when two SR citizens attended a state Community Betterment meeting. After hearing about the cemetery tour done by the town of Bonapart, the two presented the idea to the Steamboat Rock Pride and Betterment Committee, which endorsed it.
The assistance of several other Steamboat Rock citizens was sought out to help with researching and coordinating the event. Additional support and helpful tips were also received from Marshalltown’s coordinator. The tour included 11 people that were impersonated by actors from around Hardin County, in some cases they were descendants or relatives of those portrayed.
The staging of the cemetery on the night of the performances included 200 luminaries that light the path of the attendees that lead to each performance. Attendees were asked not to take pictures or video and also to keep with the somber setting, to not applaud the actors.
The first cemetery theater performances were sold out shows. Because of the popularity of the tours, a Steamboat Rock Cemetery Theater Committee was created and the tours have continued every other year because of the amount of research and work the production is. Each year at least one Rainsbarger story is told to pay tribute to the town’s famous citizens. Rainsbarger Daze is usually celebrated over Labor Day weekend each year with performances on Thursday and Friday.
The assistance of several other Steamboat Rock citizens was sought out to help with researching and coordinating the event. Additional support and helpful tips were also received from Marshalltown’s coordinator. The tour included 11 people that were impersonated by actors from around Hardin County, in some cases they were descendants or relatives of those portrayed.
The staging of the cemetery on the night of the performances included 200 luminaries that light the path of the attendees that lead to each performance. Attendees were asked not to take pictures or video and also to keep with the somber setting, to not applaud the actors.
The first cemetery theater performances were sold out shows. Because of the popularity of the tours, a Steamboat Rock Cemetery Theater Committee was created and the tours have continued every other year because of the amount of research and work the production is. Each year at least one Rainsbarger story is told to pay tribute to the town’s famous citizens. Rainsbarger Daze is usually celebrated over Labor Day weekend each year with performances on Thursday and Friday.
