28 • The Source 2024

March 2 uFamily Fest 2024 , 10 a . m . to 4 p . m ., Bridge View Center Family Fest is a free event created by Bridge View Center to give back to the Ottumwa community ; showcase and highlight STEM initiatives and activities and other educational and health / wellness components ; and allow our children to also have a little bit of fun and be entertained . The day will be filled with inflatables and activities in the Fun Zone and Safety Zone ; stage entertainment ; educational presentations by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources ; and exhibitors showcasing regional businesses , nonprofits , service organizations and other vendors .

March 8 uLean In — Women in Leadership Conference , 8 a . m ., Bridge View Center . The second annual event , put on by Greater Ottumwa Partners In Progress , is a conference primarily for women , and using their empowerment in leadership positions to pass down to future generations

. The conference intentionally falls on International Women ’ s Day , and this year ’ s keynote speakers are Michelle Perdue and Christina Moffatt .

March 22 uDiversity Conference , 8:45 a . m ., Indian Hills Community College The 19th annual Diversity Conference will feature keynote speakers Erica Carter and Ken Nwadike Jr . and the purpose of the conference is to celebrate , advocate and educate about the world ’ s wide range of cultures , ethnicities , values and beliefs . It ’ s a platform to recognize and honor what makes each individual unique .

uHairball , 7:30 p . m ., Bridge View Center A band puts on a concert — Hairball puts on an event . Hairball is a rock ‘ n ’ roll experience you won ' t soon forget . Vocalists Joe Dandy , Kris Vox and Dave Moody lead the band through a 2- hour , mind-blowing and dropdead accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world . Van Halen , KISS , Motley Crue ,

Queen , Journey and Aerosmith are but a few of the acts fans will see brought to life .

March 30 uGene Van Wyk 5k , 9 a . m ., Pella Christian High School The annual Gene Van Wyk 5k / Memorial Run is in its 17th year . Gene was a guidance counselor and coach at Pella Christian High School who started the weight lifting and soccer programs at the school . He died of stomach cancer in 1998 . The annual event honors Gene and his lasting impact on Pella Christian Schools . To register and for more information , visit genevanwyk . com .

uBeatles : Yesterday and Today , 7 p . m ., Pella Opera House This band , anchored by brothers Billy , Matthew and Ryan McGuigan , perform as themselves and leave the song choices completely in the hands of the audience . This is done through request cards that audience members fill out prior to the show . On the cards , audience members only need to fill out three things : their name , their favorite

Beatles song and the reason why they chose that song . The cards are collected minutes before the show , and a set list is created based upon the songs chosen by that particular audience . As an added treat , the reasons that the audience members chose those songs make up the narrative of the evening .

April 2 uThe Pa ’ akai We Bring , 7 p . m ., George Daily Auditorium , Oskaloosa This original production introduces audiences to the Native Hawaiian relationship to pa ‘ akai ( salt ). Traditionally , pa ‘ akai is food , medicine , a sacrament and a treasured gift . The play follows multiple generations of salt farmers on Kaua ’ i , mixing ancient stories , hula , live music , original songs , and plenty of audience participation into a tasty potluck of performance , joyously served up with aloha .

April 6 uDivas Who Dish , 6 p . m ., Bridge View Center This Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra event features “ divas ” who will