Celebrate the arrival of prep week (Dec. 6-10) and the winter holiday season during Iowa State's annual WinterFest Friday afternoon and evening, Dec. 3, at numerous central campus locations. Enjoy hot chocolate and other holiday beverages, hot chili and hot deals at the ISU Book Store and Art Mart. If cool is more your style, there's ISU Creamery ice cream, a 5-kilometer fun run and horse-drawn wagon rides on a central campus loop.
All WinterFest activities are free (unless noted) and open to the public.
President Wendy Wintersteen and first spouse Robert Waggoner have moved their WinterFest open house from the Knoll to the spacious ground floor of Beardshear Hall (4-6 p.m.). Guests can enjoy hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies and ice cream, as well as live music by a student string quartet.
The holiday tree on central campus will light for the first time of the season Friday at dusk. The lineup of Friday's holiday events includes:
- Holiday sale, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., ISU Book Store, Memorial Union
- Poinsettia sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., near bookstore entrance, MU
- Art Mart, noon-8 p.m., Art Gallery, MU ground floor, glass, pottery, prints, jewelry and more by campus organizations and local artists. Art Mart also is open Dec. 2 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Dec. 4 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
- Christmas tree and wreath sale, 3-6 p.m., Reiman Gardens parking lot
- President's open house, 4-6 p.m., ground floor, Beardshear Hall
- Seasonal hot beverage sampling, 4-7 p.m., Market & Cafe, MU
- Holiday craft-making, 4-8 p.m., ugly sweater ornaments, The Workspace, MU
- Face painting, 4-8 p.m., featuring holiday designs, Campanile Room, MU
- Photo booth, 4-9:30 p.m., Campanile Room, MU
- Chair massages, 4-9:30 p.m., Room 3580, MU
- Bowling and billiards, 4-9:30 p.m., CyBowl & Billiards, MU
- Student concert (carillon, vocal and instrumental), 4:30 p.m., accompanies a reading of "The Polar Express," Sukup atrium, Biorenewables Complex
- Open house, 5-8 p.m., Victorian yuletide-themed activities and crafts and holiday treats, Farm House Museum, central campus
- Bingo, 5-9 p.m., Sun Room, MU
- Craft service projects, 5-9 p.m., T-shirt dog toys and fleece blanket-making to benefit local non-profits, Cardinal Room, MU
- 5K Jingle Jog, 5:30 p.m., $15 (includes T-shirt and jingle swag), central campus route, check-in begins at 4 p.m. in the MU main lounge, 15th annual fun run memorializes former First-Year Council member Andy Albright, with proceeds supporting a scholarship in his name, registration
- Chili and corn muffins, 6 p.m. while supplies last, Pine Room, MU
- Cookie decorating and hot chocolate, 6 p.m. while supplies last, Oak Room, MU
- Central campus wagon rides, 6-9:30 p.m., loading at the MU west loop driveway
- Swing dance lessons, 6-9:30 p.m., room 3560, MU
- Movie showing and ugly sweater competition, "Home Alone," 7:30 p.m., Durham Great Hall, MU, bring a blanket for floor seating (limited chair seating will be provided)
WinterFest is hosted by the MU student engagement office in collaboration with Student Union Board, AfterDark, Campus Service Council, First-Year Council, The Workspace and CyBowl & Billiards, with financial support from Student Government and the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau. Questions may be directed to winterfest@iastate.edu or 515-294-8081.
