- Your Ames Voice
- Posts
- Ames, Set, Go!
Ames, Set, Go!
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Everybody, cut footloose!
This week, downtown Ames welcomes the return of the annual Art Walk event. It will bring together more than 50 local artists of all sorts dotting the downtown vicinity.
Also this week, Ames celebrates Juneteenth, go walk Bessey Hall, take to the sky at a fly-in, films honor Pride, Reiman hosts a rose show, and there’s food and fun at Summer Daze.
Anthony Capps, Editor
[email protected]
 | Have an Ames event to share?Email the event information (what, where, when, summary, cost) to [email protected]. Including a link — even a Facebook event — and/or related photos we could use are a big plus. Deadline: 3 p.m. Friday is the cutoff to submit for the following Tuesday’s Ames, Set, Go! |
Event Spotlight
 Art Walk (Photo: Downtown Ames) | ArtArt Walk5 p.m. Thursday | Downtown AmesThe annual Art Walk showcases downtown businesses and community artists. Discover the artwork of dozens of artists including painters, jewelry makers, photographers, woodworkers, potters, sculptors, musicians and more. (Free) |
The Ames Voice thanks its advertisers. | Become one
 |  |
Calendar of Events
Ongoing
🎭 Footloose
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday | Ames Community Theater
Based on the 1984 movie, big-city teen Ren McCormack finds himself out of place in a rural town where rock music and dancing is banned. He is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school but wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the preacher’s daughter. This musical, which closes ACTORS’ 70th season, is already sold out across each weekend, but you can join a wait list in case tickets ($25) become available.
Tuesday, June 9
🎥 Echoes of Resilience: LGBTQ+ Experiences in the U.S.
6 p.m. | Ames Public Library
Celebrate the resilience of LGBTQ+ Americans with a film and discussion series putting interpersonal, intergenerational and LGBTQ+ experiences in historical context. First in the month-long series: Stonewall Uprising. (Free)
Wednesday, June 10
🎥 Summer Movie Clubhouse for Kids: Sonic the Hedgehog
10 a.m. | Movies 12
Taking refuge on Earth, when Sonic uses his incredible speed and accidentally knocks out the power in part of the United States, he catches the attention of Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and must stop him from using his unique power for world domination. ($2)
🎨 Art Walk: Bessey Hall
3:10 p.m. | Bessey Hall
Marvel at a four-story art installation composed of over 20,000 individual segments! Everyone is invited to join University Museums to explore the science, stories and inspiration behind the public art in Bessey Hall, a 1967 bioscience building housing the Ada Hayden Herbarium. (Free)
🎥 The Birdcage 30th Anniversary
7 p.m. | Movies 12
A gay cabaret owner (Robin Williams) and his drag queen companion (Nathan Lane) agree to put up a false straight front so that their son (Dan Futterman) can introduce them to his fiancée’s (Calista Flockhart) conservative parents (Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest). ($11.50)
Thursday, June 11
☀️ Summer Daze at The Parc
6 p.m. | The Parc, 202 E. Lincoln Way
Cruise over to The Parc for another exciting Summer Daze event. Tell all your truck-lovin’ friends to join us for an evening of great food and unforgettable fun.
Live tunes
🎤 Ames Municipal Band (city council night), 8 p.m. — Bandshell Park (Free)
Friday, June 12
Live tunes
🎤 Ames on the Half Shell: BitterSweet Nation, 5 p.m. — Bandshell Park ($5)
🎤 Roman Heart Band, 7 p.m. — Mucky Duck Pub
🎤 Surf Zombies, 7 p.m. — Alluvial Brewing ($7+)
Ames Voice volunteer Brynn Sweere answers questions at the Voice’s booth during last Saturday’s Main Street Farmers’ Market. The booth provided residents the opportunity to learn more about the Voice. | Photo: Bill Monroe
Saturday, June 13
✈️ Ames Fly-In
7:30 a.m. | Ames Municipal Airport
Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and a drink and see large transportation up close, including fire trucks, tow trucks, ambulances and more — plus live entertainment from Omaha Street Percussion. Also available will be 15-minute airplane rides ($35). Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County and the Ames Police Benefit Association. ($10)
🌽 Main Street Farmers Market
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Main Street
This week’s entertainment includes music from Patricia Holly.
🌹 Iowa Rose Society’s Annual Rose Show
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Reiman Gardens
Enjoy a stroll through Reiman Gardens’ extensive rose collections before viewing the Iowa Rose Society’s annual juried show featuring the best roses in the state. After morning judging, visitors will have the opportunity to see a huge variety of award-winning cut roses differing in form, color and scent. (General admission price / free for Reiman members)
🎉 Juneteenth Celebration
12:30 p.m. | Bandshell Park
Join the City of Ames at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bandshell Park. Enjoy a variety of activities, live entertainment, food vendors and more. (Free)
🧈 Making Butter the Pioneer Way
2 p.m. | Hoggatt School
Experience how to make butter the way it was done in the days of Hoggatt School with a hands-on demonstration. Then see how it tastes! (Free)
Live tunes
🎤 No Time for Fame, 7 p.m. — Alluvial Brewing ($7+)
Sunday, June 14
Live tunes
🎤 Luke Fox, 7 p.m. — Mucky Duck Pub
🎤 Sunday Music at Prairie Moon: Burnin’ Sensations, 3 p.m. — Prairie Moon Winery ($5)
🎤 Roosevelt Summer Sundays: Dickie, 7 p.m. — Roosevelt Park (Free)
On our radar
🎭 June 19-28: Disney’s Newsies Jr., Ames City Auditorium
🎉 July 3: America 250 Big Bash, Downtown Ames
🎶 July 17: Post Malone & Jelly Roll, Jack Trice Stadium
In Case You Missed It
Recent headlines from the Ames Voice