Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Here's a list of events in Ames

Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune
·6 min read

As Ames gears up for the holiday season, many arts organizations are offering a look at their talents this weekend.

Several free and low cost events are happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

We put together a list of some highlights:

TUBACHRISTMAS

The 12th TUBACHRISTMAS in Ames will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Stephens Auditorium. The event is free and family-friendly. If you play the tuba, euphonium, baritone or sousaphone and would like to participate in the band, show up Saturday with your instrument to register, rehearse and play. There is a fee to be in the band. Details are available at amestubachristmas.com.

More:Tuba players needed for Dec. 3 Ames Christmas concert

Ames High School Madrigal Dinners

Ames High School’s 34th annual Madrigal Dinner will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Northminster Presbyterian Church. Vocalists perform a variety of challenging a capella music, which ranges from madrigal tunes to 20th century songs. Seating opens at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 each and must be purchased in advance. At press time, tickets are still available for Thursday and Saturday. To purchase tickets, contact choir director Joe Strong at joe.strong@ames.k12.ia.us. Include your preferred night, the number of tickets and your meal choices. Pork, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

More:Ames High Madrigal to perform 34th year in December, tickets on sale now

Arkansauce at Alluvial

Arkansauce, a rising bluegrass jam band, will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Alluvial Brewing Co., 3715 W. 190th St. The four-piece string band from northwest Arkansas is “bending the rules and blurring the lines between bluegrass, newgrass, folk, americana, with notes of country, blues, and funk,” according to the band’s website. One of the band members is originally from Des Moines. Tickets are $12 and are available at Eventbrite.com.

Good Company

Local choral organization Good Company will perform its fall concert, “Yuletide Carols,” at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Ames. Under the direction of Steven Hoifeldt, the concert will feature Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” which will be accompanied by harpist Kristin Maahs. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be reserved through the group’s website, GoodCompanySings.com. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15.

Holiday Home Tour

Altrusa International of Ames is holding its annual Altrusa Holiday Home tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The tour is a fundraiser organized by community homeowners and sponsors to benefit the Center for Creative Justice, Friendship Ark, Northwood Preschool Center and YSS. Tickets are $20 and are available at participating homes as well as at West Alpha Copies and Everts Home, Flowers and Gifts or from Altrusa Club members. Check the Altrusa website, www.ames-altrusa.org, for more information and a map of the tour.

More:Vintage and handmade: Beautiful Land plans two holiday markets in December

Good Company director, Steven Hoifeldt, conducts Good Company and Ames Choral Society members in preparation for their upcoming concert.
Good Company director, Steven Hoifeldt, conducts Good Company and Ames Choral Society members in preparation for their upcoming concert.

Yuletide at the Farm House Museum

The 160-year-old Farm House Museum on Iowa State’s campus is holding its Yuletide 2022: Merry & Bright exhibition. Visitors can stop in between noon and 4 p.m. on weekdays between now and Dec. 16 to experience a Victorian Yuletide. On Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the museum is holding Yuletide Evening, part of Iowa State’s WinterFest celebration. On Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Santa will make an appearance at the Farm House, 601 Farm House Lane. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $8.

The RG Holiday Express train chugs past models of local and Iowa State architecture at Reiman Gardens during a past holiday season. File photo by Ronna Faaborg
The RG Holiday Express train chugs past models of local and Iowa State architecture at Reiman Gardens during a past holiday season. File photo by Ronna Faaborg

RG Holiday Express

The RG Holiday Express, a custom-built garden-scale train, has returned to the Reiman Gardens through Jan. 7. The little train winds through a natural scene complete with small-scale iconic Ames landmarks, which are built using natural materials. Viewing the RG Holiday Express is included with the regular price of admission, which is free for members and ISU students.

Winter Wonderscape at Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens will host Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show on weekends in December. The show will be displayed Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The light installation will be shown throughout Reiman’s 17 acres of outdoor gardens. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at reimangardens.com.

Campanile Tours

Free tours of the Campanile on Iowa State’s campus will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. The tours are part of ISU’s WinterFest and will include history about the iconic Iowa State landmark.

Ames History Museum

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, the Ames History Museum will be a part of the Snow Magic Kickoff in downtown Ames. The museum will offer take-home holiday kids’ activities and will offer a 10% discount in the museum shop.

Ames Children's Choirs

Ames Children’s Choirs will have its Winter Concert at 5 p.m. Sunday at Green Hills Retirement Community, 2205 Green Hills Drive. Tickets are available at Reiman Music and at the door. Tickets are $10 per person or $30 for a group of immediate family members.

ISU Music Department

The Iowa State University Music Department is performing its Holiday Festival of Music at 3 p.m. Sunday at Stephens Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, ISU students and kids 18 and under. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and at the door.

Arkansauce will perform at Alluvial Brewing Company at 7 p.m. Friday.
Arkansauce will perform at Alluvial Brewing Company at 7 p.m. Friday.

More:A list of holiday events for shopping, eating and celebrating in Boone, Story counties

Maintenance Shop concerts

The M-Shop in the ISU Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, is featuring two concerts this weekend. Alt-rock band The Envy Corps plays at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25 ($20 with ISU student ID) in advance at the box office or online at Midwestix.com. Blues icon John Primer performs at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $14 ($10 with ISU student ID). Tickets at the door for both shows increase $2 the day of the show.

Central Iowa Symphony

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Central Iowa Symphony presents the program “In Other Voices,” featuring Amy Christensen on English horn and Andrew Bishop on trumpet. The concert will be held at Ames City Auditorium, 520 Sixth St. Tickets are $20 for adults and admission is free for students and children. Tickets are available at the door and in advance at cisymphony.org.

Creative Artists' Studios of Ames

Creative Artists’ Studio of Ames, 130 S. Sheldon Ave., Suite 107, will host its annual holiday open house on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free and artwork will be available for purchase.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. You can reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames has many music and art events this weekend. We have details.