Join University Museums for a virtual program exploring the life of Mary C. Petersen (1936–2024) and her lasting connection to Iowa State’s artistic legacy. Learn how her contributions and generous gift have helped preserve the work of her father, sculptor Christian Petersen, and shaped ongoing efforts to document his impact on campus and beyond.
Downtown Ames is always festive during the holidays! Join us for a night of fun holiday themed activities that are great for the whole family.
Featuring more than 200,000 dazzling lights throughout 17 acres of outdoor gardens, this walk-through light show includes popular favorites, as well as fun new surprises. Experience captivating tunnels that surround you with color, massive laser-lit disco balls, dynamic light strands dancing across a frozen lake, a whimsical re-creation of the game time favorite Candy Land, and so much more. Don’t miss the lights, colors, music and magic of Winter Wonderscape.
Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Chinese. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language.
Bring your pre-walker to the Library for stories, songs, and baby sign language. Join with other caregivers and older siblings for 20 minutes of fun and learning. Feel free to bring a stuffed animal or doll for the older sibling to learn along with you. Babies and caregivers are welcome to stay and play after the event!
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.
A Reiman Gardens holiday tradition is back! Visitors of all ages will be enchanted by the RG Express Train from Sat., Nov. 8, 2025, through Sun., Jan. 18, 2026. This detailed garden scale display was created by Applied Imagination, an internationally recognized company whose train displays merge botanical design and architecture.
Families are invited to enjoy a short storytime and get hands-on with a fun related STEM activity for all ages! Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
The annual holiday art sale at the Memorial Union will be held Tues. Dec. 2 through Fri., Dec. 5 in the MU Art Gallery located on the 1st floor. Hours are Tues., 4 - 7 p.m., Wed., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thurs.,11 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Fri., 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
The Farm House Museum, the oldest building on the campus of Iowa State University, is now decked for the holidays with the opening of its latest exhibition, Yuletide: Glad Tidings. The exhibition will continue through December 18, 2025.