Your Ames Voice

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025

December 24, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Hello and Merry Christmas!

In today’s newsletter, we have a photo gallery from Reiman Gardens’ Winter Wonderscape, which wraps up its fifth year this weekend. This year's light show features giant glowing flowers, a massive disco ball twirling to music and a 20-foot-wide colorful fountain of lights.

We also have coverage from this past weekend’s Cyclone basketball games. The men's team defeated Long Beach State, and the women’s basketball team was victorious against Kansas.

Don’t forget to check out our events calendar for holiday events in the local vicinity!

Thank you for your continued support,


Co-Editors: Anthony Capps & Amber Mohmand
[email protected]

 

 

Top Story

Winder Wonderscape is back for its fifth year, and it’s better than ever. Visitors can explore the garden beneath glowing lights and brightly lit tunnels. | Photo by Amber Mohmand

Photos: Reiman transforms into winter wonderland

by Amber Mohmand | News Editor | Published on Dec. 23, 2025

Throughout the month of December, Reiman Gardens is decked with over 200,000 lights that transform the gardens into a winter wonderland with light tunnels, disco balls, Candy Land, s’mores and more.

It’s the show’s fifth year, and it’s better than ever. Visitors can explore the garden beneath glowing lights and brightly lit tunnels. This year the light show features giant glowing flowers, a massive disco ball twirling to music and a 20-foot-wide colorful fountain of lights.

 

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City of Ames

ISU & Ames

Food at First receives $18K in donations from Penn State fans: ‘We are … sorry for taking Matt Campbell’

by Amber Mohmand | News Editor

When money donations started rolling in Dec. 5, Food at First Director Patty Yoder figured it was an error.

 

More from City of Ames

Sports

Women’s Basketball

No. 10 Iowa State edges Kansas in Big 12 thriller

by Jared Larson | Staff Reporter

Kenzie Hare’s lone basket — a 3-pointer from 24 feet — kept the No. 10 Cyclones’ record unblemished Sunday afternoon.

Men’s Basketball

A walk on the Beach: No. 4 Iowa State cruises past Long Beach State

by Jared Larson | Staff Reporter

From the opening tip, No. 4 Iowa State left little room for suspense.

 

More from Sports

In Other News

Ames Tribune: ISU Research Park has grown under Rick Sanders’ leadership. What’s next?
Ames in Focus (podcast): Inside ASSET with Pa Vang Goldbeck

Events & Activities

 

Ongoing

❄️ Winter Wonderscape
5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday | Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens is decked with over 200,000 lights that transform its gardens into a winter wonderland with light tunnels, disco balls, Candy Land, s’mores and more.
$16 general, $14 members/ISU students, $7 ages 2 to 12, free for under 2.

Saturday, Dec. 27

🎤 No Good Eve
7 p.m. | Alluvial Brewing Company
Come shake off the chaos of the year with No Good Deeds at the annual No Good Eve show at Alluvial — the night five eves before New Year’s when we trade stress for songs, pints and loud collective catharsis.
$5

Monday, Dec. 29

🏀 Men's Basketball: Iowa State vs. Houston Christian
7 p.m. | Hilton Coliseum
The No. 3 Cyclones take on the Houston Christian Huskies. If you can't score tickets, you can catch the game on ESPN+.

Wednesday, Dec. 31

🎉 Noon Year’s Eve Party
11 a.m. | Ames Public Library
Families with kids of all ages are invited to come to a Noon Year's Eve party. Drop in for crafts, a dance party and an all-around great end to 2025. The program ends with a special sparkling juice toast and a countdown to noon.
FREE
 
🎉 The New Years Eve Gala
8 p.m. | Time Out, 120 Kellogg Ave.
For the biggest party of the year, time Time Out is going all out. Bring your friends and don your finest clothes to ring in the new year with karaoke and classic favorite sing-along songs all night and free champagne at midnight.
 
🎉 Daisy's Disco and Divas New Year's Eve Party
9 p.m. | Daisy's Dog House, 1620 S. Kellogg Ave.
Shimmy straight into 2026 with rhinestones poppin’ and wigs hangin’ on for dear, glittery life! Daisy’s Discos and Divas New Year’s Eve Party features drag performances by Vanessa and Ava all night long, as well as a balloon drop, wieners and cocktails, a free champagne toast at midnight and a prize for best disco fit.
$10

Upcoming events on our radar

🎶 Jan. 24: Delirium Musicum, Stephens Auditorium
🎭 Jan. 29-Feb. 8: Making God Laugh, Ames Community Theater
🎭 Feb. 4: Mrs. Doubtfire, Stephens Auditorium