Tower by the Hour fundraiser this Friday

This Friday, the Tower by the Hour fundraiser returns—and yes, once again, I’ll be hoisted into the Santa Fe Depot tower by the Fort Madison Fire Department. At 8 a.m. sharp, they’ll strap me in and lift me up. I don’t get down until 3 p.m. or until you all help us beat last year’s $7,000 total. Think of it less as a fundraiser and more as “bail money” to get me safely back on the ground in time to kick off Friday night’s River & Rail festivities.
Your donations will directly support the new Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund, launching in 2026. The goal is simple: keep our cultural traditions alive, encourage new festivals, and make sure the events we all love have the staying power to last for years. In other words, your dollars turn into food vendors, live music, and the kind of memories worth bragging about.
Tourism doesn’t just run on dollars—it runs on people. Volunteers keep events humming, and we always need more hands. Our next chance is the IL/IN Bass Federation Fishing Tournament October 11–12. Think of it as a free riverfront sunrise show—with coffee! We need help with 5 a.m. launches, afternoon weigh-ins, and plenty of fish stories.
Donate online at www.visitfortmadison.com/towerbythehour, mail to 804 10th Street, or better yet—stop by Friday to say hi and drop a donation in the bucket I’ll be lowering down!