| Date | Event |
| 5/1/2026 | Friday, May 1, 2 pm. The Museum of Danish America (2212 Washington Street, Elk Horn) is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for their Thomas Dambo Troll. Please join us as we celebrate and welcome this new addition to the Museum, Elk Horn, and Shelby County. more info... |
| 5/1/2026 | Friday, May 1, 6 pm. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Bring as many house plants and veggie starts as you'd like! Bar & kitchen open at 5pm. more info... |
| 5/1/2026 | Friday, May 1, 4 - 7 pm. HyVee, 2003 Chatburn Avenue, Harlan. Hot Dog Meal: Hot Dog, Chips, and Drink for $1. They will a bounce house and slide from Stars & Bars Entertainment. more info... |
| 5/1/2026 -5/3/2026 | Join Harlan Community Theatre for our production of "Steel Magnolias", a heart-touching show about the ups and downs of life. Follow Shelby, M'Lynn, Truvy, Annelle, Clairee, and Ouiser as they show us seasons of sacrifice, love, and laughter. Show dates are May 1, 2, and 3. For more information, visit the Harlan Community Theatre on FaceBook or Instagram. more info... |
| 5/2/2026 | Saturday, May 2, 10 am. Shelby County Golf Course, 1243 F32, Harlan, IA. Cost is $140 per team, includes two pick-a-putts. Call or stop by the club house. 712-627-4224. more info... |
| 5/2/2026 | Join us for game night, 6 - 9 pm at the Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn, on the 1st Saturday of each month. Bring your favorite game and a snack to share. Or enjoy one of the games the library has to offer. more info... |
| 5/3/2026 | Sunday, May 3. Shelby County Fair Grounds, 314 4th Street, Harlan. Registration: 3:30 pm; Run: 4 pm; Walk: 4:05 pm. more info... |
| 5/4/2026 | Monday, May 4, 3:30 - 5 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. Showing: Star Wars - A New Hope (May the 4th Be With You). more info... |
| 5/6/2026 | Wednesday, May 6, 1:30 pm. New business in Portsmouth, Wings & Wishes, 210 Main Street, is hosting a ribbon cutting. Make sure to join us so we can welcome Sarah Reinig, the owner to everyone in Shelby County more info... |
| 5/6/2026 | Please Join Us for a special meet & greet in honor of our new Executive Director, Paul Plumb. As we look toward a bright future for Shelby County, we invite you to enjoy an evening of networking and conversation. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Paul personally, share your ideas, and welcome him into our professional family. The reception will be held at on Wednesday, May 6, 4:30 – 6 pm at the Harlan Golf & Country Club, 2503 12th Street, Harlan. more info... |
| 5/7/2026 | This event will be held on Thursday, May 7, 6 - 7:30 pm at Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Join ISU Penny Brown Huber for a workshop in Cottage law. Cost is $10 per participant. Pre-registeration is required. Email dlascot@iastate.edu or call 712-755-3104 to register. more info... |
| 5/7/2026 | Thursday, May 7, 6 - 7:30 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. Learn to Mend! Save Money & Find Community. Don't know how to sew or even thread a needle? Join us! Experienced Mender? Join us! more info... |
| 5/8/2026 | Friday, May 8, 5 - 7:30 pm. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Shop from local farmers. Bar & Kitchen open at 5pm. more info... |
| 5/9/2026 | Teen Hangouts are held on the second Saturday January through May, 6 - 8 pm at the Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn. Teen Hangouts will involve food, fun, and games. Please plan to join us. more info... |
| 5/10/2026 | Sunday, May 10, starting at 8 am. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Reservations are required. more info... |
| 5/12/2026 | SPARK! Museum of Danish America, 2212 Washington Street, Elk Horn. Cultural Programming for Lifelong Learning. Programs will run from 10 - 11:30 am. more info... |
| 5/12/2026 | Tuesday, May 12, 11:30 - 5:30 pm. Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 1104 Morningview Drive, Harlan. To schedule your appointment, please contact Sue at 712-579-8012. more info... |
| 5/12/2026 | Tuesday, May 12, 12 - 1 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. more info... |
| 5/13/2026 | Wednesday, May 13, 5 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. more info... |
| 5/13/2026 | This is a Elk Horn Public Library event that is held on the second Wednesday of each month, 9 - 11 am. Kimballton Town Hall, 207 N. Main Street, Kimballton. Join local residents for Kaffee (coffee) and crafts. more info... |
| 5/14/2026 | Myrtue Mental Health is excited to host our 3rd annual Mental Health Action Walk for our community! Our theme this year is Connection Heals. We will gather at Pioneer Park near the new Grandma B's Dream Playground in Harlan on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 5 to 6:30 PM. Our goal is to build connections, celebrate mental health heroes, and act to support mental health! more info... |
| 5/15/2026 | Join us at the Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn, the last Friday of each month for a movie + book discussion. Movies are at 12:30 with book discussion following at 2 pm. more info... |
| 5/15/2026 | Friday, May 15, 6 pm. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Create a summer door hanger with Denise. Class includes all materials. Tickets available here. more info... |
| 5/16/2026 | Saturday, May 16. Harlan Golf & Country Club, 2503 12th Street, Harlan. Noon shotgun start, 4 person best ball, $100/team. Sign up in the clubhouse by Wednesday, May 13. (712) 755-5951 more info... |
| 5/16/2026 | Stop by the Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn, every 3rd Saturday, 2 - 4 pm, for a quiet afternoon of reading alongside fellow booklovers. more info... |
| 5/18/2026 | Join the Friends of the Library (Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn) on the 3rd Monday of each month for a meal at 5 pm followed by a speaker at 6pm. more info... |
| 5/18/2026 | Monday, May 18, 4:30 pm until product runs out. Veteran's Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview Drive, Harlan. Each car will only get 1 set of food items. Sponsored by the Harlan Lions Club. more info... |
| 5/19/2026 | Tuesday, May 19, 11:30 - 5 pm. Elk Horn Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 4313 Main Street, Elk Horn. Please contact Cindy Fredericksen at 712-249-4582 to schedule an appointment. more info... |
| 5/20/2026 | Wednesday, May 20, 6 - 10 am. Hy-Vee, 2003 Chatburn Avenue, Harlan. Enjoy a free breakfast and coffee aw we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. Plus enjoy free coffee every Wednesday in May. more info... |
| 5/20/2026 | Wednesday, May 20, 10 - 12 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. Showing: Oklahoma. Classic Movie Morning with coffee, popcorn, and donuts! Bring a friend! more info... |
| 5/21/2026 | Thursday, May 21, 6 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. more info... |
| 5/21/2026 | Roar into Harlan Car & Bike Night, the third Thursday, May through August - May 21, June 18, July 16, & August 20, 6 - 9 pm on the Historic Downtown Square in Harlan. more info... |
| 5/22/2026 | Friday, May 22, 5 pm. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Kid Vendors - email milkandhoneyiowa@gmail.com for an application more info... |
| 5/27/2026 | Wednesday, May 27, 7 pm. Harlan Community Library, 718 Court Street, Harlan. more info... |
| 5/27/2026 | Enjoy Coffee & Craft time, 9 - 11 am at the Elk Horn Public Library, 2027 Washington Street, Elk Horn, the last Wednesday of each month. more info... |
| 5/27/2026 | Wednesday, May 27, 9 - 10:30 am. Petersen Family Wellness Center, 1213 Chatburn Avenue, Harlan. Hosted by Myrtue Medical Center & Petersen Family Wellness Center. From expert advice to exciting prizes, we’ve gathered everything you need under one roof. more info... |
| 5/29/2026 | Friday, May 29, 7 pm. Milk & Honey, 919 7th Street, Harlan. Bar & kitchen open at 5 pm. RAGBRAI Fundraiser and Trivia. Dessert Silent Auction. Free Snack Bar. Teams of 2 - 4 people. Sign up required, $20 per team. more info... |
| 5/29/2026 | Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Event! Join the Lied Irwin Public Library, 509 Ann Street, Irwin, on Friday, May 29 at 6:30 pm for a hands-on program featuring a butter sculpitng experience with the famous artist who is known for her butter cow sculptures at the Iowa State Fair. Space is limite. Registration is required, call (712) 782-3335. All ages are welcome. Young children need adult supervision. more info... |
| 5/30/2026 | Saturday, May 30, 8 - 11 am. Gear up for Shelby's City-Wide Garage Sale! Register your home for only $3.00 at City Hall by Friday, May 22nd. more info... |
| 5/30/2026 | Community Connection and Giving Back Event. Saturday, May 30, 11 - 2 pm. Hansen House Senior Living, 703 Dye Street, Harlan. Making Memories Across Generations. Hansen House is hosting a community connection and give back event for all ages to be able to enjoy. more info... |
| 5/31/2026 | Sunday, May 31, 2 pm. Lied Irwin Public Library, 509 Ann Street, Irwin. Bring a plant, take a plant. Swap your indoor and outdoor plants sor something new. Featuring a presentation from Loess Hills Lavender Farm. more info... |
Events available for Registration... "? Fore! Get Ready to Swing! Sponsorships are now open for the 2026 Shelby County Chamber Annual Golf Outing." 6/12/2026 register for this event... ? Fore! The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Annual Golf Outing is Back! 6/12/2026 register for this event... |
Events in the month of May 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||