Music, markets and mansions: Fun things to do in the Ames area this weekend

Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune
·5 min read
Customers visit with a vendor during the Beautiful Land Pop-up Market in May. The next market will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the downtown Fareway parking lot.
Customers visit with a vendor during the Beautiful Land Pop-up Market in May. The next market will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the downtown Fareway parking lot.

Organizations in the greater Ames area are geared up for a fun-filled weekend.

There's live music on a mansion lawn in Nevada and at parks and wineries throughout Ames and the neighboring communities.

Story City has two full days of all things Scandinavian.

The downtown farmers' market is Saturday, where superheroes will be on hand.

Local brewery, Alluvial, is hosting a comedy show Saturday.

A pop-up market featuring vintage and hand-made vendors, food trucks, activities and live music will be at the Fareway parking lot on Sunday.

Scandinavian Days are Friday and Saturday

Story City kicks off the community-celebration season with its annual Scandinavian Days festivities.

With Norwegian delicacies, food trucks and small-town Iowa meals like loose meat sandwiches and pulled pork, varying cuisine options will be available.

A kids’ parade will be held at 6 p.m. Friday and a full parade will start at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Fireworks can be seen at 10 p.m. Friday and are best viewed from the North Park area.

The North Park area will feature several activities from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, including inflatables, a dunk tank, face painting, balloon creations and the ISU Insect Zoo.

Neil Hewitt will play live music from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in the South Park beer garden while Tank Anthony will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Saturday's downtown farmers’ market will be a heroic event

The Ames Main Street Farmers Market is in its 13th season, bringing people together to enjoy the bounty of locally grown produce, premium beef, fresh baked goods and hand-crafted items.

Torrey Hodges, Nicolette Hodges, 7, and Dee Sims enjoy food during the opening day of the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market on May 17.
Torrey Hodges, Nicolette Hodges, 7, and Dee Sims enjoy food during the opening day of the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market on May 17.

The market runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the 300 and 400 blocks of Main Street.

Justice Corps of Iowa Heroes will be onsite from 9 a.m. to noon. The Boone Fiddler will perform live music from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Pro Tips from market organizers:

  • Bring cash and bring your own bags.

  • Bring the kids. There are always kids’ activities.

Nevada's Music at the Mansion begins 2nd year

Music at the Mansion returns Saturday to Briggs Terrace at Evergreen Lane in Nevada for its second year.

The Nevada Community Historical Society is presenting the event, which is located at 1204 H Ave.

From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 3, visitors are invited to enjoy an evening of live entertainment. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets.

Ryne Doughty will perform from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels take the stage from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Food and snacks will be offered by the Story County Cattlemen, Sweet & Savory Food Truck, Chocolaterie Stam, Kona Ice, DonuFt NV and The Cellar Winery.

Several vendors will also be set up, including Creative Craft Inspirations, Gypsy Alley, Husband’s Nightmare Wife’s Dream, Kim’s Krafts and Peverill Apiary.

Bike and Brew Comedy Tour

Alluvial Brewing Company in Ames hosts the Iowa Bike and Brew Comedy Tour at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The comedy act is a statewide tour of Iowa’s finest stand-up comics performing at various craft breweries, taprooms and trailside bars.

Saturday's comics include Ames’ Max Power as a headliner in addition to Winslow Dumaine, Sharon Stewart, Mel Mackey, Damon Tucker and Dan Umthun.

The event is free to attend. Alluvial is located at 3715 W. 190th St in north Ames.

Corn Crib stage is the spot for musicians during outdoor music events at Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards in Ames, Iowa.
Corn Crib stage is the spot for musicians during outdoor music events at Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards in Ames, Iowa.

More: Live music and good vibes: Don't miss these free and low-cost outdoor concerts this summer

Beautiful Land Market pops up downtown Sunday

The popular handmade and vintage market, Beautiful Land, pops up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the downtown Ames Fareway parking lot.

It will feature more than 45 vendors — a curated selection of local and regional handmade artisans, designers, vintage collectors and repurposers.

A trio of mobile boutiques will also be on hand.

“We have B.E. Good and Iowa Rustic Iron — both women-owned — and also a local shop, Alma Vintage (on Lincoln Way) will be selling and bringing their VW van — also woman-owned,” Jody Bergan Bennett, co-director of Beautiful Land, told the Ames Tribune.

Local musician Fred Love will perform from noon to 2 p.m., sponsored by Studio 7 Salon & Spa.

June's nonprofit is Story County Blast Back to School. Visitors can stop by their booth for information on how to get free school supplies, how to donate supplies to help fill backpacks, and volunteer opportunities to help stuff backpacks. The organization is partnering with Fareway to provide lemonade and water for a free-will donation.

Sunday's food trucks will include El Paletero, which serves Mexican ice cream bars called “paletas,” Hungry Boys Taqueria, and Sweet & Savory.

Renee Klaus Realtor is sponsoring a rock painting booth for kids and adults.

One hundred free market totes, each with a copy of The Iowan magazine, will be distributed to the first 100 shoppers, sponsored by Wilson Toyota and The Iowan.

Music, music and more music!

Several free and low-cost outdoor concerts will be held throughout the weekend at local parks and wineries.

Ames Jaycees host “Ames on the Half Shell” at Bandshell Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Stranger Than Fiction performs on the Half Shell. Admission is $5 cash; food and beverages are available for purchase.

The Cellar Winery offers free live music Friday and Sunday. The winery is located at 2183 320th St., Madrid. Charlson/Mastrofski Duo performs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and The Sons of Gladys Kravitz take the stage from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards hosts live music at its Corn Crib stage from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Located north of Ames at 3801 W. 190th St., a $5 admission includes a free glass of sangria. Brick-oven pizzas, charcuterie boards and a wide range of beverages are available. Vinyl Vagabonds will perform live music.

Roosevelt Summer Sunday’s kicks off its 20th season Sunday 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Park, located at the corner of Ninth Street and Roosevelt Street. Iowa blues legends Joe and Vicki Price are the performers. The park is located at the corner of Ninth Street and Roosevelt Street. The Annex, 130 S. Sheldon, is the rain location in case of inclement weather.

Ronna Faaborg covers business, education and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vintage market, outdoor music, Scandi Days highlight weekend plans