Planning your weekend calendar? From massive pumpkin express trains to vibrant food truck showdowns and glowing jack-o’-lantern festivals, the Greater Ames area knows how to celebrate.
One of the best ways to engage with your local community is to attend seasonal events, as they tend to draw folks of all ages. In doing so, you’ll get to know your neighbors and local businesses and organizations, all while having fun.
If you are looking to map out your seasonal calendar, the Greater Ames area offers a packed schedule of traditions that bring the region to life. Here are 11 annual events in Ames, Iowa and the surrounding municipalities that you need to check out every single year.
Early Spring and Summer Festival
1. 515 Day
A great way to celebrate all things Ames, 515 Day is a nod to the local area code – 515 – and the date – May 15. With plenty of family fun events, a food truck showdown, live music and a beer garden, 515 Day is a fun tradition for Ames residents.
“It’s an excuse for people in the 515 to celebrate,” says Andy Moore, director of marketing and communications for Discover Ames.
2. Pizza Pie Looza
Score Park in Nevada, Iowa, is the stage for Pizza Pie Looza, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary. The two-day event, held every spring, features a variety of local and national musical acts, food vendors, children’s activities, and a 5K run and walk.
3. Scandinavian Days
Tap into your inner Scandinavian with the delightful Story City tradition. Delicious Scandinavian food, lively music, craft vendors, family games and a not-to-be-missed parade are all a part of this annual tradition.Whether you’re a lifelong local or visiting Story City for the first time, Scandinavian Days is an early summer celebration of the charming community’s roots and bright future.
4. Slater 4th of July Celebration
Slater is a great representation of small-town America, and its Independence Day celebration is everything you’d hope to see and experience. Of course, there’s the parade in the morning, which is open to walkers, bikers and even wagons, plus live music and park events. An evening fireworks display rounds out the day.
Autumn Traditions and Spooky Season Highlights
5. Octagon Art Festival
This incredibly popular festival along Main Street in Ames showcases a wide variety of visual and performing arts for all ages. Held on the fourth Sunday in September, the outdoor market fills the downtown district with juried art booths, live acoustic performances and plenty of local food trucks.
6. The Pumpkin Express
All aboard! The Pumpkin Express transforms the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad into a fall favorite geared toward families. This fun excursion, which runs on select weekends in October, crosses the Bass Point Creek High Bridge and Des Moines River Bridge. A short, scenic trip, this experience provides views of the gorgeous fall foliage and includes a visit to a pumpkin patch.
7. Spirits in the Gardens
Celebrate spooky season in style at Reiman Gardens in Ames, where thousands of carved jack-o’-lanterns light pathways and form creative displays. The scale of this event is massive, and it takes a lot of hard work to create the magic…