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Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

Ames Voice

Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

Events

Sarah Blakely, who owns SeoulDivinity Art was set up in Raygun selling her collection of polymer clay charms, bookmarks, and paintings. 

Attendees strolled downtown Ames this Thursday, June 11th, attending the 32nd annual Art Walk. Roughly 60 artists showcased their work at the event. Now, the art was not confined to one medium; you could find paintings, ceramics, digital art, embroidery, 3D prints, stickers, and much more. Aside from the physical media, musicians and dancers also performed their craft at the event. Gazing at art for long enough struck hunger in some attendees, so lucky for them, they could grab a bite to eat at Super Dog or The Inside Scoop food trucks. The Loft Resale and The Octagon Center for the Arts sponsored the 2026 Art Walk. Downtown businesses are partnered with an artist, or a few, to give them a space to sell their work.

Photos: Artists showcase works, entertain at Art Walk

by Brittany Huston, Staff Reporter
Published June 16, 2026
Roughly 60 artists displayed their work for the community to enjoy during the 32nd annual Art Walk on Thursday. Residents strolled through downtown perusing the variety of art, including paintings, ceramics, digital art, embroidery, 3D prints, stickers and more. Musicians and dancers also performed at the event, and if hunger struck, event-goers could grab a bite to eat at Super Dog or The Inside Scoop food trucks.
The 2025 Juneteenth celebration (Photo: Ames NAACP on Facebook)

Ames NAACP celebrates community, education with Juneteenth

by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter
Published June 11, 2026
The Ames NAACP aims to create a space for citizens to enjoy one another's company as well as remember the meaning of and embrace opportunities to educate themselves on the importance of Juneteenth at its annual celebration this weekend. The event is at Bandshell Park from 12:30 to 5 p.m Saturday. It includes a slam poetry reading, a story walk of influential African American Ames citizens and local vendors.
Ames Community Theater's latest production of Footloose begins a three-weekend sold-out run.

Finding connection and growth in ACTORS

by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter
Published June 10, 2026
Local actors Alyson Perry and Jenna Levendusky find that Ames Community Theater has been a place of comfort and growth for them. They play Ariel Moore and Betty Blast in ACTORS’ musical production of Footloose, which opens tonight and is completely sold out through its closing night on June 28. The ACTORS community could not be more excited for a sold-out show, which closes its current 70th season.
Families stop by the Community Choice Credit booth at Summer Daze at the Parc on May 28. They were looking to participate in the offered color activity. (Photo: Community Choice Credit Union)

Summer Daze grows for 2026

by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter
Published June 10, 2026
Summer Daze at the Parc is back for a new year with food trucks and themed nights. Organized by Community Choice Credit Union, the food truck series located at the Parc, 202 E. Lincoln Way, kicked off on May 28, welcoming back families for food and fun with a “color pop” theme.​
Joel Sartore photographs Johnny, the serval (Leptailurus serval), at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. (Photo: Cole Sartore)

Joel Sartore: Documenting 18,000 species and counting for Photo Ark preservation

by Anthony Capps, Editor
Published March 24, 2026
As a boy, Joel Sartore read about passenger pigeons, a once common North American bird that likely numbered in the billions, and had a difficult time understanding why people allowed the pigeon to be hunted to the point of extinction. More than five decades later, Sartore, a photographer for National Geographic and founder of the Photo Ark, is even farther from any understanding. Satore will speak about his career and the Photo Ark work, which aims to photograph all species living in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Sun Room in the Memorial Union.
Count Me In, a treble-voice a capella ensemble from the Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre performs at the Snow Magic Kick-off ceremony Thursday evening at Tom Evans Plaza on Main Street.

Welcoming the holiday season

by Deni Chamberlin, Staff Reporter
Published December 6, 2025

Count Me In, a treble-voice a capella ensemble from the Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre performs at the Snow Magic Kick-off ceremony Thursday evening at Tom Evans Plaza on Main Street.

Story County Conservation is hosting a snow shoe hike at McFarland Park to celebrate the start of winter and holiday season.

Get in the holiday spirit with markets, celebrations, music and more

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published December 3, 2025
It’s officially the holiday season — the temperature has dropped, there’s snow on the ground and decorations are up. There are markets, celebrations, festive gatherings, holiday music and more in and around Ames that are sure to get you in good spirits ahead of Christmas Day.
Numerous boxes sit full of books on Wednesday as dozens of volunteers begin to unpack them on tables throughout the Farwell T. Brown Auditorium for the Ames Public Library's book sale.

Book sale so everyone can start a library

by Anthony Capps, Editor
Published November 12, 2025
Volunteers unloaded hundreds of boxes with books that span all genres — from science fiction to reference books and gardening to children’s literature on Wednesday. It’s time for the Ames Public Library’s book sale.