Downtown Community Calendar
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- 12025 Small Business Weekend
Visit Downtown Ames and Campustown to support your local small businesses throughout Small Business Weekend. Share joy, shop small, and shop all season long at your local small businesses! Looking for gift ideas during Small Business Weekend? Make sure to check out the 2025 Downtown Ames Holiday Gift Guide by clicking , …1st Saturday FREE Write Together10:00 am – 12:00 pmJoin us at Fifth Street Writers on the 1st Saturday of each month from 10 AM to Noon. Together we’ll write in community on our writing projects. What’s an Open Write? Bring your laptop or whatever you write with to work on your creative writing projects—novels, memoirs, poems, project outlines, your to-do list for the , … - 2
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- 42025 Snow Magic Kick-Off5:00 pm – 8:00 pmDowntown Ames is always festive during the holidays! Join us for a night of fun holiday themed activities that are great for the whole family. Snow Magic Kick-Off Activities Snow Magic Kick-Off Ceremony Join us in Tom Evans Plaza at 6:00 PM as we launch the Snow Magic season in Downtown Ames! Enjoy a special pr , …Cookie Plate with Sift N Sprinkle at The Recipe5:00 pm – 7:00 pm12/04/25: Holiday Cookie Plates with Sift N Sprinkle Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | $22 – $38 – Tickets to be purchased ahead of time at TheRecipeAmes.com Class Type: Build-A-Platter! Join us for a sweet evening where you’ll build your own cookie plater, from a collection of ho , …
- 5Sip & Stitch Meetup4:00 pm – 6:00 pmNeed a relaxing night of stitching fun? Bring your favorite beverage and join us for a night of fun and needlework. , …Bookseller Picks7:00 pm – 9:00 pmJoin us for our holiday Bookseller Picks event on Friday, December 5 from 7 – 9 PM! Our booksellers will be presenting you with the best of the best in hopes of helping you find gifts for all the people on your list; we will have picture books, middle grade books, mystery, romance, non-fiction, literary fiction, , …
- 6Troop 140’s 56th Annual Pancake Day7:00 am – 1:00 pmFlip Out for Pancake Day! Scout Troop 140 is hosting its 56th Annual Pancake Day Fundraiser! Come enjoy a hearty breakfast of delicious, fluffy pancakes and locally made sausage. Your support helps send our Scouts to camp and purchase essential equipment. Bring your appetite and support a great cause! We are building c , …2025 Small Business Saturday RedoVisit Downtown Ames and Campustown to support your local small businesses as we redo Small Business Saturday! Enjoy free parking in Downtown and Campustown on Saturday!! Businesses with any remaining Small Business Weekend bags filled with coupons from participating businesses will be handed out with a purchase on Sat , …Fifth Street Writers | 1st Saturday Write Together9:30 am – 12:00 pmJoin us at Fifth Street Writers on the 1st Saturday of each month from 10 AM to Noon. Together we’ll write in community on our writing projects. What’s a Write Together? Bring your laptop or whatever you write with to work on your creative writing projects—novels, memoirs, poems, project outlines, your to-do listR , …Nutcracker Ballet + STEM10:00 amCome explore how ballet and STEM connect! Families are invited to the Library for a sneak peak of The Nutcracker Ballet, coming to Stephens Auditorium December 13 and 14. Then explore STEM concepts with a Nutcracker-themed design challenge. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for free tickets to the Nutcracker per , …A Taste of Tarot2:00 pm – 3:30 pmAre you fascinated by Tarot but not sure where to start? Join Dr. Susan Harper for A Taste of Tarot! This workshop will take you through the basics of Tarot, including a brief history, the building blocks of a Tarot deck, and the difference between Tarot and Oracle decks. You’ll also learn some spreads and techni , …
- 7Sound Bath Meditation Experience4:30 pm – 5:30 pmJoin us for an immersive evening of relaxation, reflection, and renewal. Led by Amy, a Certified Therapeutic Sound Bath Facilitator and passionate advocate for holistic wellness, this experience invites you to reconnect with your inner calm through the transformative power of sound. Amy has been guiding sound bath expe , …Dog-Eared Presents Chris Williams6:00 pm – 8:00 pmCalling all Cyclones! Dog-Eared is stoked to be presenting Chris Williams, author of Fanatics: Stories from 20 Years Inside Iowa State and of the beloved sports blog Cyclone Fanatic. Join us on Sunday, December 7th at 6 PM to hear Chris in conversation with John Walters, the Voice of the Iowa State Cyclones, and pick u , …
- 8Rainbow Stitch & Bitch6:30 pm – 7:30 pmAmes Pride and Prairie Rose Needleworks are partnering for a special craft meetup for LGBTQIA+ crafters! Bring your craft project and join the fun! , …
- 9Second Chances: The Art of Repurposed Cards5:30 pm – 7:00 pmJoin Ames artist Lisa Kuehl for a fun evening of trying your hand at greeting card repurposing! Give those cute cards you receive a second life by easily turning them into a brand new card to share. There is no fee for this class and all supplies and tools will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring in several , …
- 10Dog-Eared Presents A Very Special Hayseed Christmas7:00 pm – 9:00 pmCome on in and cozy up as Dog-Eared hosts a round-table discussion of the Ames-published holiday short story collection A Very Special Hayseed Christmas. In conversation will be four of the book’s contributors–Jenny Fee, Marc Dickinson, Melinda Wichmann, and Dog-Eared’s own Roxy Strike! Join us on Wednesday, December 1 , …
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- 12Sip & Stitch Meetup4:00 pm – 6:00 pmNeed a relaxing night of stitching fun? Bring your favorite beverage and join us for a night of fun and needlework. , …Madrigal Sip & Shop at Dog-Eared Books5:00 pm – 7:00 pmJoin us for a festive night of song and shopping with the singers from Ames High’s Madrigal Dinner! On Friday, December 12 from 5 PM – 7 PM, Ames High Madrigal singers will carol in-store. Customers can enjoy a 15% discount store-wide, and we will have warm apple cider and mulled wine available for sale. , …
- 13Ames Main Street Holiday Farmers’ Market9:00 am – 2:00 pmMark your calendars for December 13 for a festive shopping experience with Ames Main Street’s Holiday Farmers’ Market! Discover unique gifts, festive decor, farm-fresh meats, treats, and so much more — all handcrafted or homegrown by local artisans and producers. Bring holiday cheer to your home and shop local this se , …B Fused Permanent Jewelry Holiday Pop up11:00 am – 2:00 pm✨ Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 13th from 11am – 2pm for B Fused Permanent Jewelry will be onsite at Nook & Nest at The Shops at Clark & Main as a pop up to provide some Sparkle for you this holiday! Grab your friends and enjoy custom fit jewelry! , …Saturday Stitchers1:00 pm – 3:00 pmCelebrate the weekend with a special weekend stitching group. Show off finished projects, find great new patterns, and maybe even get a stitch or two on your current WIP at this fun monthly event. , …
- 14Custom Embroidery Ornament Workshop3:30 pm – 5:30 pmCreate a one-of-a-kind gift for a loved one or a beautiful keepsake for your Christmas tree—no experience needed! In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn basic stitches and embroidery tips & tricks while stitching your own hand-embroidered 3″ ornament (that can also double as home decor in the off-se , …
- 15French Macarons – Holiday with Sift N Sprinkle at The Recipe6:00 pm – 8:00 pmThe Recipe Ames 12/15/25: French Macarons – Holiday with Sift N Sprinkle Monday, December 15, 2025 | 6:00 PM | $65 – Tickets can be purchased at TheRecipeAmes.com Watch as expert Alisa of Sift N’ Sprinkle demonstrates the delicate art of crafting French macarons, focusing on festive holiday flavors an , …
- 16Jane Austen Book Bedazzling8:00 am – 5:00 pmJoin us to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday on Tuesday, December 16 from 5 PM – 7 PM at The Dot Cafe in Ames! (127 Dotson Drive) Bring (or buy) your favorite Jane Austen novel (preferably hardcover, though paperback works!) to bedazzle with your friends while you enjoy a beverage. This is a ticketed event: ticke , …
- 17Bored? Games!6:30 pm – 8:30 pmWill you punch your Ticket to Ride or will your Splendor attract noble patrons? Join us for adult game night every month to find out! Tabletop games will be available to play, or bring a favorite to share. All gaming experience levels are welcome. Snacks will be provided. Everyone 18 or older is welcome. Supported by t , …View from the Margins Book Group7:00 pm – 8:00 pmCheck out this book group for fresh insights and lively discussion about topics relating to society, identity, and culture. Book selections include fiction and non-fiction from a wide variety of perspectives and marginalized identities. This month we are reading Fire Exit, by Morgan Talty. This event is hybrid. To join , …
- 18WassailFest in Downtown Ames – Free event5:00 pm – 7:00 pmJoin us for WassailFest in Downtown Ames on December 18th from 5–7 PM! Participating downtown businesses will be open late, each serving up their own spin on the perfect cup of Wassail—aka a delightfully cozy hot apple cider. Sip, stroll, and celebrate the season as you visit participating locations. ✔️ Visit a , …Solstice Studio Night5:30 pm – 8:00 pmJoin us for a cozy winter solstice makers night, a welcoming craft event to celebrate the season together. Create handmade treasures inspired by the magic of winter solstice. This is a great opportunity to slow down, and stay present in the midst of a busy season as you make, chat, and connect in a relaxed community se , …Board Game Night6:00 pm – 9:00 pmMorning Bell will be open late, offering our coffee menu plus a special cocktail and mocktail with board games available to play , …
- 19Sip & Stitch Meetup4:00 pm – 6:00 pmNeed a relaxing night of stitching fun? Bring your favorite beverage and join us for a night of fun and needlework. , …
- 20Holly Jolly Holidays with Howie and Jenn2:00 pm – 4:00 pmHowie and Jenn will present an evening of traditional and modern holiday favorites at this special holiday concert! Whether you are full of Christmas spirit or a total Grinch, this event has a little something for everyone! Tickets for this event will be $10 and can be purchased in advance or at the door on show days. , …
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- 234th Tuesday Free Open Write3:30 pm – 5:00 pmJoin Ana McCracken for our Open Write Tuesday on Zoom or in person at Fifth Street Writers. WHAT’S AN OPEN WRITE? We join together, share what we’re working on, and write for ~90 minutes. At the end, we share our successes, and sign off. Easy peasy. Email Ana, ana@ameswriterscollective.org to register for the event. , …
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