First spouse Robert Waggoner (center) welcomed guests to The Knoll during the 2019 WinterFest, the last time President Wendy Wintersteen hosted the event at their university home. File photo by Christopher Gannon.
WinterFest, a fun-filled run-up to both final exams preparation and the ensuing winter holidays, takes place Friday, Dec. 6, mostly in and around the Memorial Union.
The evening includes several holiday gift markets, campanile tours, horse-drawn wagon rides, Victorian open house at the Farm House Museum, and lots of indoor games and free food. The free WinterFest show on the Great Hall stage highlights the many talents of a troupe of Tanzanian performers, Zuzu African Acrobats. Their show starts at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Like all WinterFest activities, the performance is open to the public and appropriate for all age groups.
Two WinterFest traditions will be in new locations this year. The president's open house returns to The Knoll after three post-pandemic years in the spacious ground floor of Beardshear Hall. Due to the Cyclone football team's entry in the Big 12 Conference football championship Saturday morning in Dallas, President Wendy Wintersteen and her spouse, Robert Waggoner, will be enroute to Dallas Friday afternoon. Provost Jason Keith will host the Knoll open house. ISU entrepreneurs' Jingle and Mingle market moves indoors to the Beardshear ground floor space after launching outdoors last December.
Iowa State's WinterFest student organization hosts the event, in collaboration with the student engagement office, Student Union Board, AfterDark, First-Year Council, the Workspace, Maintenance Shop and CyBowl & Billiards. The event receives support from student government, Inter-Residence Hall Association, ISU Dining, Hy-Vee and Discover Ames.
Questions about the celebration may be directed to winterfest@iastate.edu or call 515-294-0410.
WinterFest schedule (free and at Memorial Union locations unless noted)
- Horticulture Club poinsettia sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Union Drive Community Center, $12-$40 (cash or check preferred; cards accepted)
- Art Mart holiday sale, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Art gallery, pottery, blown glass, jewelry, décor, accessories, paintings and more by artists from budding to professional. Sales support individual artists, The Workspace and the Gaffer's Guild. Dec. 6 is the final day of this four-day mart.
- President's open house, 3-5:30 p.m., The Knoll, join provost Jason Keith for live music by a student string quartet, seasonal treats and Knoll hot chocolate, enjoy eight holiday trees decorated by representatives of each college
- Forestry Club Christmas tree and wreath sale, 3-6 p.m., Reiman Gardens parking lot, $25-$110 (cash, check and card accepted)
- Jingle & Mingle holiday market, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Beardshear Hall ground floor, handcrafted gifts, food, art and more created by student and alumni entrepreneurs
- Decorating contest: Gingerbread houses, 4-5 p.m. (5-7 p.m. public voting), Room 3560, team registration has filled
- Holiday crafts, yeti painting, 4-8 p.m., The Workspace
- Chair massages, 4-9:30 p.m., Room 3580
- Stuff-a-Plush, 4-10 p.m. while supplies last, Campanile Room
- Bowling and billiards, 4-10:30 p.m., CyBowl & Billiards
- Cookie decorating and hot chocolate, 5 p.m. until supplies are gone, food court
- Andy Albright Jingle Jog (3K), 5-6 p.m., central campus, $20, proceeds support a scholarship in memory of former First Year Council member Andy Albright, register on the Student Organization Marketplace
- Campanile tours, 5-7 p.m., campanile, central campus
- Airbrush tattoos, 5-8 p.m., Cardinal Room
- Yuletide open house, 5-8 p.m., Farm House Museum, central campus, Victorian yuletide-themed activities, crafts and holiday treats
- Karaoke, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Room 2630
- Tree lighting, 6 p.m., across from Beardshear Hall, central campus
- Chili and cornbread, 6 p.m. until quantities are gone, Pine Room
- Horse-drawn carriage rides past Lake LaVerne, 6-9:30 p.m., departures from the west loop driveway
- Bingo, 6-10 p.m., Sun Room
- Performance: Zuzu African Acrobats, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), Durham Great Hall, Tanzanian troupe shares acrobatics, live music, singing and dancing based in 2,000 years of history
- Ice skating, 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Ames/ISU Ice Arena, 1507 Gateway Hills Park Dr., free admission and skate rental for the first 600 participants
