Celebrate the Fourth of July in Ames ISU Summer Activities Kid`s

Convention & Visitors Bureau
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Ames
Main Street Cultural District
The Main Street Cultural District will host their annual Independence Day celebration on Monday, July 4th in downtown
Ames. The day will include a pancake breakfast, Bill Riley Talent Search, parade and festival with food and activities.
There will be fun for the whole family. See the schedule below for more details.
8:30-10:30 a.m. City Council’s Pancake Breakfast
City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.
9:00 a.m.
Bill Riley Talent Search
Main St. and Burnett Ave.
9:00-3:00 p.m.FestivalDowntown Ames
11:00 a.m.ParadeDowntown Ames
DuskFireworksAmes
Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens will celebrate Independence Day on Monday, July 4th. The Gardens
will be open from 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the evening’s fireworks. Shoppers will
also enjoy sales and treats in the gift shop in honor of the stores 3rd anniversary. The
day will conclude with the Ames’ Jaycees fireworks display.
Left Bank Studio
The Left Bank Studio will celebrate the 4th of July all weekend long with make-and-take projects, art sales, lunch and dinner events. The studio will also be selling food and drinks.
ISU Summer Activities
Even though it’s summer, there is still plenty to do at ISU! Take an art class, tour a museum,
participate in an activity or just take a walk around campus. Check the links below before
more ideas.
Photo by Bob Kelly
ISU Workspace - Classes include photography, jewelry making, sculpting, painting and dancing!
Reiman Gardens - Behind-the-Scenes tours, Food in the Garden classes and Lunchtime lectures.
University Museums - Lunchtime art walks, garden walks, lectures and tours.
Kid’s Activities
Summer is a lot of fun for kids in Ames! Enjoy story time at Reiman Gardens or the Ames Public Library, take a food class at
Wheatsfield Cooperative, or enjoy activities with Story County Conservation, the Octagon Center for the Arts and
Ames Historical Society. On Fridays, the library will show movies and provide free popcorn. On Saturdays, join them for
“Other World” story times and “Around the World” events.
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sounds of Summer Concert Series
The Sounds of Summer concert series is underway. Throughout the month of July, head to downtown Ames
for live music, family fun, food and activities.
AM in the Plaza
AM in the Plaza provides free entertainment and an educational event. A new artist will perform on the last Saturday of each
month (through September) from 9-11 a.m. in Toms Evans Plaza on Main Street. This month’s featured artist is Bob Welch, who
will perform his “Songs of the Civil War.” During his performance, he will present a program of music, history and storytelling.
Ames Municipal Band
Ames Municipal Band concerts are free performances by the Ames Municipal
Band starting at 8 p.m. on Thursdays (through July 28) at Bandshell Park. Be
sure to bring a blanket or lawn-chair to sit on.
The following performers will play at 7 p.m., prior to the Municipal Band
Performance:
July 7
Ballard Community Band
July 14
“Jive For Five” Brass Quintet
July 21
Oompahmeisters German Band
July 28
Central Iowa Brass Quintet
Ames on the Half Shell
Ames on the Half Shell is an outdoor concert series at 5 p.m. on Fridays (through July 22) at Bandshell Park in Ames. Alcohol will
be available for purchase, along with water and soda. Those under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Admission
is $3. Sponsored by the Ames Jaycees.
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
Vivace
Saucy Jack
Mr. Baber’s Neighbors
Bonne Finken (with Vinyl as the opening act)
Bookends at the Bandshell
Bookends at the Bandshell are live music performances at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays
(through July 29) at Bandshell Park. There will also be a performance at 6 p.m. on
Sunday, July 31.
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
July 31
Tune in to Main Street
The Kaiser Trio
Jen McClung
Dixie Slicks
Blue Moon Players
Poison Control Center
The Sofa Kings
Tune in to Main Street is a free, family event at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays (through July 28) in Tom Evans Plaza. The event features
food, music and kid’s activities. Most of the downtown shops are also open until 8 p.m.
July 7
July 14
July 21
July 28
Blue Moon Players
Brewer Project
Flying Pig, Fiddle and Banjo
Keith McCaulley & Friends
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Iowa Games
July 8-10, July 16-17 and July 23-24
The Iowa Games are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this summer. Thousands of amateur athletes will showcase their
talents in more than 50 sporting events. Join us as a participant, volunteer or spectator in one of the many events from
the Opening Ceremonies to the final sporting competition. For details about the 25th annual Iowa Games or information
on a particular sporting event, visit www.iowagames.org.
Friday, July 15
Torch Run
5 p.m.
Downtown Ames and through ISU Campus
Finals Fest 5-7 p.m.
Iowa State Center, (Parking Lot B6)
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A cookout with a free-will donation to benefit the Iowa Food Bank Association
Shawn Johnson, Olympic gold medalist will sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m.
The Chicago Boys Acrobatic team will perform from 6:15-6:35 p.m.
There will also be inflatable games for children
Opening Ceremonies 7:45-9 p.m.
Jack Trice Stadium
• Opening Ceremonies will include the Parade of Athletes, awards presentation,
and the singing of the National Anthem
• Olympic gold medalist, Shawn Johnson will be the guest speaker
• A mascot race, skydivers and the Chicago Boys Acrobatic Team will provide
entertainment
• The ceremony will conclude with a fireworks display
Iowa Shrine Bowl
July 23
This year will be the 39th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl Game, an all-star football game between selected pre-college football
athletes. To date, the Iowa Shrine Bowl has raised more than $2,000,000 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Come
see the best football players in Iowa compete. For more information, visit www.iowashrinebowl.org.
Shrine Bowl Parade
9:30 a.m.
Downtown Ames
First 100 kids will receive a program for autographs with the football
players during an autograph session at Tom Evans Plaza.
Shrine Bowl Game
7 p.m.
Jack Trice Stadium
• Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 per person at the gate
• Gates open at 5 p.m.
Photo by Cambridge House Photography
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Featured July Events
July 2
July 4
July 8
July 8-10
July 9
July 9
July 10
July 23
July 28-30
July 29-30
July 29-31
“Warming up with Watercolors” Art Show
5! on the 4th! Race
Midsummer Wine Fest
Iowa Masters Golf Tournament
Midnight Madness Run
3rd Annual Charity Fishing Derby
Garden Art Fair
Shrine Bowl Parade and
Shrine Bowl Game
Summer Sidewalk Sales
Kids Co’Motion Dance
Summer Plant Sale
10 a.m.
8 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
All Day
7 p.m.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
9 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
7 p.m.
All Day
7:30 p.m.
12-6 p.m. (Fri)
9 a.m. (Sat/Sun)
Reiman Gardens
Ada Hayden Park
Reiman Gardens
Veenker Golf Course
Ames City Hall
Behind West Towne Pub
Reiman Gardens
Downtown Ames
Jack Trice Stadium
Main Street Cultural District
Ames City Hall
Iowa Arboretum
Photo by Cambridge House Photography
Ongoing Events
Monday Madness Bowling 6 p.m.
Mondays
Perfect Games
Two Fer Bowling6 p.m. Tuesdays
Perfect Games
Patio Party7 p.m.
Wednesdays
West Towne Pub
Quick Bites Demonstrations
6 p.m.
Thursdays
Cook’s Emporium
Patio Party7 p.m.
Thursdays
Perfect Games
Lunch Grill Outs
11 a.m.FridaysHy-Vee Drugstore
ISU Ballroom Dance Socials 7:30 p.m.
Fridays
ISU Memorial Union
Ames Main Street Farmer’s Market
8 a.m. Saturdays
Main Street Cultural District
Family Day (1/2 price arcade games
3 p.m.
Sundays
Perfect Games
and free shoe rental)
Check out visitames.com for fun all summer long. Or
use it on the go with our new mobile-friendly site.
Find us at
www.facebook.com/visitames