COVID-19 forced the Kalona Historical Society to cancel all fundraising events in 2020, costing the organization, which operates the Kalona Historical Village and Museum, about $50,000.

Board President Lori Mostek says a Paycheck Protection Program loan and a COVID relief grant of almost $9,000 from the Iowa Arts and Cultural Recovery Program helped keep the society afloat by covering the museum’s payroll. Mostek says the society board of directors is looking forward to having at least three of their fundraisers return in 2021, “We’re planning on the Easter egg hunt. We’re organizing it a little differently this year where each age group would come separately at a different time instead of all the children being there at one time. We’re also looking to do a drive-by soup supper here in March and then we are planning on doing the fall festival the last full weekend of September. That is our 50th year this year.”

Mostek says they’ll also receive about $15,000 in Washington County Riverboat Foundation funds from the City of Kalona to help cover advertising costs. She says the museum is open to the public with winter hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Masks are required.