Ames Community Arts Council

Family Storytime - Ames Public Library
2026-01-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-10 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-01-13 10:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Children of all ages and their grown-ups are invited to this storytime to build listening, language, and literacy skills through music, movement, song and action rhymes. Each week will feature a new theme.

The RG Express - Reiman Gardens
2026-01-10 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-11 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-13 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-15 09:00 - 17:00 | Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
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. The RG Express is one of only 18 North American train displays of this magnitude! Walk past, around, and under miniature buildings and bridges built in the likeness of some of Iowa State University’s and Reiman Gardens’ most significant buildings. Don’t miss the magic of the RG Express this holiday season!
Closed November 22, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Open until 8 p.m. on Tues., December 2, 9, and 16 to allow for special nighttime viewing of the RG Express. The lighted buildings and holiday decorations help the season come alive as the trains travel throughout our indoor conservatory.
Due to capacity limits, the RG Express Train Display is not open during the Winter Wonderscape light show. This display is included in the regular price of admission (free for members and Iowa State University students).
The RG Express Train exhibit would not be possible without the support of the Central Iowa Garden Railway Society and Just Add Water.

General admission
$12

seniors, ages 65 and up
$11

youth, ages 2-12
$6

youth, under 2
free

Reiman Gardens members
free

Iowa State University students
free

More information about admission here: https://reimangardens.com/admission-and-hours

Fiber Arts Meetup - Ames Public Library
2026-01-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Crafters of all ages are invited to join fellow fiber arts enthusiasts and work on their projects. Knit, crochet, embroidery, or any other fiber craft is welcome! Rotary Room
Please bring your own materials.

Conversation Circles: Russian - Ames Public Library
2026-01-10 15:00 - 16:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Russian. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language.
To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=[REDACTED]

Conversation Circles: French - Ames Public Library
2026-01-10 16:00 - 17:30 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in French. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language.
To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=[REDACTED]

Trivia and Treats Fundraiser 2026 - Story Theater Company
2026-01-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Oakwood Road Community Center, 2400 Oakwood Rd, Ames, IA, 50014, United States
Join Story Theater Company for an evening of family-friendly fun as you put your trivia skills to the test!
WHO?
You! And your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers…everybody!
WHAT?

Seven rounds of trivia questions on a variety of topics, plus a bonus round.
Mulligans (free-answer passes) for sale.
An opportunity to bid in our treats auction between rounds–no need to bring snacks.
Prizes awarded to winning table.
A chance to have some fun and help raise money for Story Theater Company.

WHEN?
Sat., Jan. 10, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE?
Oakwood Road Community Center: 2400 Oakwood Road in Ames
HOW?

Grab your spot today by registering online: $15 per person or $100 per table of 8.
Register an entire table and get two free mulligans.
Tickets available at the door on the day of the event. For best availability, we encourage you to reserve your spot early.
Mulligans may be purchased online or at the door: $5 each or $20 for 5 mulligans
(Mulligans may be used to get a ‘free pass’ on one answer; one mulligan may be used in each round.)

Questions? Contact education@storytheatercompany.org

Pokémon Club - Ames Public Library
2026-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Calling all school-aged Poké-Kids! Come learn how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game and use a Library-supplied deck to battle other players. You can bring your decks to talk and strategize with other players, but card trading will not be allowed. Don’t want to play? Come to watch others, enjoy Poké-art activities, chat with other kids, and build a supportive community of friends! Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Kids ages 8 and under need to bring a caregiver along to help. Caregivers: not sure what Pokémon is all about? This is a great opportunity to learn along with your kids!
Supported by Ames Public Library Friends Foundation.

Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection
2026-01-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-14 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Christian Peterson Art Museum, 1017 Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Rd, Ames, IA, 50011, United States
University Museums presents “Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection,” an intimate exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum showcasing the innovative technology and conservation science used to preserve Danish-American artist Christian Petersen’s iconic terra cotta sculptures across Iowa State University’s campus.
The exhibition, which opens one week prior to classes beginning for the semester, features materials samples, 3D scanning documentation, and behind-the-scenes insights from the ongoing conservation of the “History of Dairying” fountain—a National Register of Historic Places landmark created in 1934 as one of the nation’s earliest Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) installations.
Democratic Material Meets Iowa Weather
Working within Depression-era constraints, Iowa State College President Raymond M. Hughes directed Petersen to work in terra cotta—”perhaps in tile or pottery”— because ISU’s Ceramic Engineering Department could produce it on campus within the tight PWAP budget and timeline. The material was affordable and expressive—Petersen could create detailed public art for Iowa State’s students at a fraction of the cost of bronze or marble, perfectly aligned with the land-grant mission of serving everyone, not elite institutions. The hand-modeling technique allowed him to capture intricate details in works like the “Fountain of the Four Seasons,” 1941 and “Three Athletes,” 1936.
ISU Innovation in Action
The exhibition highlights the partnership between University Museums and ISU’s Manufacturing & Teaching Labs, where Sawyer Krotz conducted comprehensive 3D scans of the “History of Dairying” fountain to create precise digital models for replication. The same technology was used to replicate the terra cotta for the “Fountain of the Four Seasons,” recently re-dedicated after multi-year conservation. Iowa State’s terra cotta sculptures face challenges from freeze-thaw cycles. The same material that once drained Iowa’s agricultural fields (as drain tiles) graces campus buildings and public spaces, requiring specialized preservation approaches developed through ISU’s materials science and engineering expertise.
“Prior to 3D scanning, successive replications of sculptures would be smaller than their originals due to approximately 5% shrinkage when terra cotta is fired,” said Sydney Marshall, Curator at University Museums. “A direct mold of the original would ultimately produce a smaller result because of that shrinkage. With 3D scanning, we can digitally scale up the models by 5% before creating the molds, ensuring the final fired terra cotta matches Petersen’s original dimensions exactly.”
After 3D scanning, the digital models are scaled up and used to create forms that terra cotta specialists use for traditional slip-casting methods. The active “History of Dairying” conservation project—which includes foundation repairs, mural preservation, and tier replication—is currently underway, with fundraising still in progress to complete this (National Register) landmark preservation effort.
Exhibition Details
“Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection ” offers visitors an insider’s look at how Iowa State preserves and conserves historic objects—from the actual 3D scan data that captured Christian Petersen’s 1934 fountain details to materials samples showing 90 years of Iowa freeze-thaw damage .
This exhibition is curated by University Museums and sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and The John and Nancy Hayes Chair in Mechanical Engineering.
The exhibition opens January 12 and runs through December 18, 2026
Weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christian Petersen Art Museum’s Neva M. Petersen Gallery
Morrill Hall, Ground Floor Hallway
Free admission
Special Event
March 10, 5:30–6:30 PM
Tech Meets Tradition: Preserving Campus Art with Materials Engineering
Christian Petersen Art Museum, 003 Morrill Hall
In conjunction with the exhibition Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection, materials engineer Sawyer Krotz will join curator Sydney Marshall for a dynamic exploration of how technology is shaping the future of the conservation of sculpture. Following a guided tour of the exhibition, watch a live demonstration of object scanning and learn how these tools can support the preservation and restoration of public art. Especially great for anyone interested in materials engineering, museum conservation, or historic preservation—no technical background required.
Free and open to the public.

Toddler Storytime - Ames Public Library
2026-01-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-01-14 10:30 - 11:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Families with toddlers are invited for a storytime filled with music, stories, and fun! Mondays and Wednesdays are the same presentation.

Mary Greeley Medical Center at APL - Ames Public Library
2026-01-12 11:00 - 13:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Staff from Mary Greeley Medical Center will be available in the Library to talk about inpatient and outpatient mental health services in the Ames community.

Mondays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the second floor

Conversation Circles: English - Ames Public Library
2026-01-12 12:30 - 13:30 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Gather for casual conversations in English. The focus of this group is to help English Language Learners gain confidence and fluency in a comfortable and fun setting. Library staff will pair native and non-native speakers and provide themes, questions, and topics for conversation.

Baby Time - Ames Public Library
2026-01-13 13:30 - 14:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
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!

Lego Builders - Ames Public Library
2026-01-13 16:00 - 17:00 | IA
Children in grades 1-5 are invited to get creative and build with lots of LEGO®! We’ll provide the bricks while the kids provide the imagination. All LEGO® will remain at the Library, so bring a camera to capture a photo of your build. Please leave your own LEGO® at home so they don’t get mixed up with the Library’s. Storytime Room.
Supported by the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation.
515 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 239-5646

Mon. – Thurs.: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri. & Sat.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun: 1 – 5 p.m.

Conversation Circles: Spanish - Ames Public Library
2026-01-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Spanish. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. Dale H. Ross Board Room
To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=[REDACTED]

Baby Time - Ames Public Library
2026-01-14 11:00 - 11:30 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
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! Storytime Room

Teen Advisory Group (TAG) - Ames Public Library
2026-01-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Hey 6 – 12th graders, help plan exciting Library events for teens, share what you’re reading, make new friends, and eat some food! To register or find out more, visit https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/get-involved/teen-advisory-group.
Supported by the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation.

Conversation Circles: German - Ames Public Library
2026-01-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in German. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. Dale H. Ross Board Room
To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=[REDACTED]

Family Story Time - Ames Public Library
2026-01-15 10:30 - 11:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
