Coralville FRY Fest Schedule and Events Map

Organizers of Coralville's new FryFest are even more excited than usual for it to be FRYday.

Despite worries that the event would be disrupted by a visit from , organizers say they expect all events held Friday at Coralville's Iowa River Landing to go on wiithout a hitch.

"We've worked all year to prepare for this and we have a lot of excited people anxiously awaiting FRYday!" said Laurie Haman, vice president of the Iowa City/Coralville Visitors Convention Bureau in an e-mail to Patch. "Coralville and FRY fest will not be impacted by street closing or parking issues due to the visit of the POTUS.  There will be plenty of parking in the Iowa River Landing area this year."

Notable guests this year include Hawkeye greats such as Larry Station and Chuck Long, Frank Fritz from American Pickers, and music performances by Lee Brice and Sara Evans.

You can find more about the event at its website. Or read on below.

2012 Schedule of Events and Description

FRYday, September 7, 2012

Started in 2009 and named after Coach Hayden Fry,  FRY fest has become a staple for any Hawkeye fan before the first home UI football game.  This year FRY fest is celebrating the anniversary of the renewal of the IA & ISU football Rivalry.  FRY fest will welcome back former Hawkeye and Cyclone players to celebrate this big intra-state rivalry and share with fans the inside stories on what it takes to prepare for this game and whatever else they have to share during the panel discussion held in the Hawkeye Tradeshow within the Coralville Marriott.  All activities take place in the Iowa River Landing in Coralville. 

9:00am – 2:00pm FRY fest Blood Drive, by the UI DeGowin Blood Center. “I Bleed Black & Gold” T-shirts for all successful donors!

9:00am – 3:00pm 
FRY fest Car Show

10:00am – 8:00pm
 FRY fest World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow

10:00am – 11:30pm 
Autograph session for Frank Fritz from The HISTORY Channel’s American Pickers

10:00am – 1:00pm
 Hawkeye Collector’s Showcase (closes at 1:00pm and reopens at 4:00pm

11:00am – 7:00pm
 Tailgate Row
This year’s food vendors includes Americana Concessions

• Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon
• CinnaMini
• Pretzelmaker
• Linn Street Café
• Chili’s

11:30am – 12:30pm Presentation by Frank Fritz from American Pickers inside the Hawkeye Collector’s Showcase

12:00pm – 1:30pm
 Autograph Session with former Hawkeyes John Harty, Rob Houghtlin, and Matt Hughes, and former Cyclones Thomas Buck and John Quinn


2:00pm – 3:00pm Inside Stories of the Iowa vs. Iowa State Rivalry Panel Discussion on the Tigerhawk Stage with former Hawkeyes John Harty, Rob
Houghtlin, Matt Hughes, Rob Thein, Derek Pagel, Warren
Holloway, Mike Humpal, Larry Station, and Andy Brodell, and
former Cyclones Thomas Buck, John Quinn, Bret Meyer, and Bret
Culbertson. The panel discussion will be facilitated by former Iowa
Sports Information Director Phil Haddy

3:00pm – 4:30pm
 Autograph Session with former Hawkeyes Rob Thein, Derek
Pagel, Warren Holloway, Mike Humpal, and Andy Brodell, and
former Cyclones, Bret Meyer, and Bret Culbertson

4:00pm – 6:00pm 
UI Women’s Gymnastics Demonstrations inside the tradeshow

4:00pm – 7:00pm
 Hawkeye Collector’s Showcase

4:00pm – 8:00pm 
FRY fest Small FRY Zone, located at Diamond Dreams

5:00pm 
Beverage garden and concert grounds opens

5:00pm The Last Ride on the Pep Rally stage (not ticketed)

6:00pm 
FRY fest Pep Rally,
Pep Rally Highlights:

• Hayden Fry
• Iowa Spirit Squad
• Herky
• Hawkeye Marching Band
• Iowa Men’s Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery
• UI Army ROTC game ball run (over 100 participants)
• Former players and coaches

7:00pm
 FRY fest Concert – Lee Brice
8:30pm 
FRY fest Concert- Sara Evans