Weekend in Winterset • December 9

Madison County Courthouse Restoration

Legacy in Stone Auction

The Courthouse Restoration Project progress continues: scaffolding is down, cherry pickers rise to heights most of us wouldn’t want to attempt, and the ramps on the south side are taking shape. The Friends of the Madison County Courthouse are fund-raising for the second half of their $660,000 goal in order to receive an additional $330,000 from a Jeffris Family Foundation challenge grant. 

Here’s how you can help:

A second online auction started recently and will end on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Additional unique-to-Madison-County items are included in the auction.

At this site, you can also learn more about the Courthouse Restoration Project, make a one-time donation, or pledge an amount to be paid over several years.

If you stop into the Madison County Chamber of Commerce (10 am – 3 pm Tuesday-Saturday) and give a donation of $25 or more by cash or check (made out to Friends of the Madison County Courthouse), you can choose one of Madison County’s historic tax ledger books to have for your very own. If your donation is $300 or more, you will also receive artist James Graham’s unframed sketch of the Courthouse.

If you need a refresher on the renovation plans, you can read all about it at www.MadisonCountyHistory.net.


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This Weekend

Bells, Bows & Boutiques Tour

Friday • December 10th
Winterset, Earlham, Adel and Winterset

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with their counterparts in Adel and Indianola for a shopping event this weekend. Spend Friday and Saturday shopping your way through all three towns.

For some added fun, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special game on Friday, December 10th, and Saturday, December 11th. Be among the first to find one of six bells (three gold, three silver) hidden somewhere in a retail shop in Winterset or Earlham, and win $20 (gold bell) or $15 (silver bell) in Chamber bucks which can be used at any of our member businesses like cash! There will be six bells to find on Friday and six on Saturday—a total of 12 chances to win!

Find the event on the chamber’s Facebook page to get clues to help you find the bells!


Lights, Christmas, Action!

Friday • December 10 • 5:00 – 7:00pm
Downtown Winterset

Downtown Winterset businesses will host their annual live window display event on Friday, December 10th. Enjoy creative window displays on the theme “Christmas Around the World” while you have another opportunity for local shopping as the businesses stay open late!


Taste of Summer

Friday • December 10
Winterset High School

Enjoy a little Taste of Summer this Friday, at the WHS Basketball Games. The action kicks off at 4:30pm with JV games followed by Varsity Girls and 9th Grade Boys at 6:00 and Varsity Boys at 7:30. In between the games, enjoy food from the Madison County Pork Producers, games, raffles and treats like brownies and ice cream.


Winter Solstice Market

Saturday & Sunday • December 11th and 12th • 12:00 to 6:00pm
Madison County Chamber of Commerce at the Winterset Livery

As you’re shopping in Winterset on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, journey to the Winterset Livery to visit an additional 25+ craft and food vendors. There’s no reason NOT to Shop Local this weekend!


Live Reindeer & Santa Event

Saturday • December 11 • 3:00 – 5:00pm
Madison County Historical Complex

Bring your kids (or kids at heart) to the Madison County Historical Complex this Saturday to see Santa and get a photo op with real live reindeer from 3:00 to 5:00pm.


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Coming Soon

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Monday • December 13th • 6:00pm
Winterset Public Library

Bake six dozen of the one type of cookie, go home with half a dozen of twelve types of cookies. That’s a good deal for sure!


Beekeeping 101

Monday • December 13th • 7:00 – 8:00pm
Winterset Public Library

Several years ago I had a hand in convincing my parents that keeping bees on their property in Clarke County (with extensive flower gardens) would be a good idea. There have been some ups and downs but there’s no denying that pollinators are incredibly important to our ecosystem and they need our help. If you think you might be interested, here’s a good first step!


Open Youth Choir Rehearsals

Cantemus • Grade 5-8 • December 13th • 4:45 – 5:45pm
Cantilena • Grade 2-4 • December 15th • 3:40 – 4:40pm
Heartland Youth Choir, Madison County

The Madison County Satellite of Heartland Youth Choir will hold open rehearsals the week of December 13th. This is a great opportunity for any young singer who might be interested in joining the group to come try it out before they commit. New singers can then join in January.

Cantilena is the ensemble for singers in 2nd through 4th grades. They meet on Wednesday from 3:40 to 4:40 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 E Jefferson.

Cantemus is the ensemble for singers in 5th through 8th grades. They meet on Mondays from 4:45 to 5:45 at the Madison County Music Co studios, 217 N 1st Ave.

To learn more and sign a singer up to attend one or both rehearsals, visit: www.MadisonCountyMusicCo.com/hyc


The Nutcracker

December 17th-19th
Winterset Ballet

Winterset Ballet and Dance is bring The Nutcracker to the Iowa Theater again this year for four performances—some of which are nearly sold out already. If you’d like to get tickets for this quintessential holiday ballet, don’t wait!


Free Watercolor Class

Saturday • December 18 • 9:00am to Noon
Winterset Art Center

All abilities are invited to this free class presented by Mayela Fonseca of the Iowa Watercolor Society. Email: wintersetart2016@gmail.com to reserve your spot. A limited number of spots are available. The instructor has requested that people who have not been fully vaccinated wear a mask.


Living Nativity

Tuesday & Wednesday • December 21st and 22nd • 6:00 – 8:00pm
First United Methodist Church at the Madison County Historical Complex

Celebrate the advent season and Christmas with this unique representation of the birth of the King. This will be the 30th annual Living Nativity event, created each year by the First United Methodist Church with the help of other community members (especially as the holy family!)

Follow the star to the Madison County Historical Museum Complex, where you’ll be greeted by the inn keeper, escorted by the shepherds, serenaded by the angels, and have the opportunity to observe the holy family and the baby Jesus. There is no admission charge and all are welcome.

This year, you can also enjoy a display of nativity sets and refreshments inside the museum lounge before or after your tour through the living nativity.


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Pick-A-Date Events

Watercolor Exhibit

Winterset Art Center
Open every Wednesday – Saturday • 11:00am – 3:00pm • Through January 22

Woolies, Joan Moore

The Winterset Art Center is pleased to present the Iowa Watercolor Society Traveling Show. The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public each Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00am to 3:00pm, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.


Holiday Lights Display

Madison County Historical Complex
Every Night through December 31st


It’s a GREAT day to be a Winterset Citizen—
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Help thank our sponsors by patronizing their businesses!

All community announcements are provided at no charge, courtesy of our sponsors.

American State Bank
Anchored Walls
Ben Franklin
Covered Bridge Realty
Farmers & Merchants State Bank
Homefront Real Estate
The Iowa Theater
Lowe Chiropractic Clinic
Madison County Health Care System
Madison County Historical Society
McGowen Hurst Clark Smith
Medicap Pharmacy
Midwest Heritage Bank
Montross Pharmacy
State Farm, Charlotte Speer
Union State Bank
Winterset Ballet & Dance Studio
Winterset Optimist Club
Winterset Parks & Recreation Department

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