Holiday Art Sale – CASA (Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames)

Creative Artists' Studios of Ames 130 S. Sheldon Ave.,, Ames, IA, United States

Creative Artists' Studios of Ames (CASA) invites the community to its annual Holiday Art Sale on Sat., Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This one-day event will feature artwork for the holiday season by local artists.

Festive Candy Cottage Workshop – Reiman Gardens

Festive Candy Cottage Workshop – Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA, United States

Get creative with candy as you groove to winter tunes and build your very own festive miniature cottage to display in your home this holiday season. Use graham crackers, icing, and other decorative confections in this hands-on workshop, where our cheerful holiday volunteers will be on hand to help. Also, take a snapshot of your group at our photo op, and enjoy the Gardens and RG Express when you're done!

Free – $12

Festive Candy Cottage Workshop – Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA, United States

Get creative with candy as you groove to winter tunes and build your very own festive miniature cottage to display in your home this holiday season. Use graham crackers, icing, and other decorative confections in this hands-on workshop, where our cheerful holiday volunteers will be on hand to help. Also, take a snapshot of your group at our photo op, and enjoy the Gardens and RG Express when you're done!

Free – $12

The 44th Annual Nutcracker Ballet at Stephens

Stephens Auditorium 1900 Center Dr, Ames, IA, United States

Stephens Auditorium’s Nutcracker Ballet production dates back decades as one of the historic performing arts venue’s proudest and best-known traditions. The production puts area youth and adults on stage alongside world-class performers resulting in a spectacular holiday celebration that features stunning production values.

$25 – $30
Awake! – Ames Chamber Artists

Awake! – Ames Chamber Artists

Collegiate Presbyterian Chuurch 159 Sheldon Ave., Ames, United States

Presented by the Ames Chamber Artists, Awake! is a classical Christmas concert with the beautiful sounds of voices and strings, featuring Bach's Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme and a quod libet mass of a cappella works.

$12 – $20
The RG Express – Reiman Gardens

The RG Express Extended Hours – Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA, 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.

$6 – $12
Winter Wonderscape – Reiman Gardens

Winter Wonderscape – Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA, United States

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. 

Free – $16