This time of year, the pace of activity really picks up in Winterset! In each Thursday (or Friday) edition of The Winterset Citizen, you’ll find a listing of events happening around our community covering a huge variety of interests. If you’ve got a child (or grandchild, niece, nephew, or adorable neighbor kid), you’ll also want to be checking out the last section of each post…Summer Fun for Young Citizens! This is a compilation (as complete as I can be) of activities available to keep kids occupied all summer long.
You can also switch over to our Community Calendar Page to see all of these events laid out in calendar format. I find this a fantastic way to see which events actually fit in my own schedule.
If you know someone who would like to ease their activity planning by having all of this information compiled in one place, do them a favor and forward this email to them!
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This Weekend
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Friday • April 29th • 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday • April 30th • 9:00am – 1:00pm
Winterset Public Library
Radium Girls
Friday • April 29th • 7:00pm
Saturday • April 30th • 7:00pm
Winterset High School Auditorium
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.
Husky Drama will present this enthralling tale this weekend on Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm, in Henry C. Miller Auditorium at Winterset High School. Tickets are available at the door.
Arbor Day Celebration
Friday • April 29th • 5:30pm
Winterset City Park, Arbor Shelter
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Friday & Saturday at 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
The Iowa Theater
Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. 2hr, 23min, PG-13
Spring Flowers and Ancient Oaks with Iowa Native Plant Society
Saturday • April 30 • 1:00-3:00pm
Pammel State Park
Take a stroll through Pammel State Park with experts from the Iowa Native Plant Society this Saturday! Discover the hidden gems of spring ephemerals across the forest floor, and visit our ancient veteran oaks. You do not want to miss this rare opportunity!
DNR State Ecologist, John Pearson will lead this event which is sponsored by the Iowa Native Plant Society. Meet at 1:00 PM in the parking lot by the ford of the Middle River (west side of Harmon Tunnel).
A message from the Society…
Spring woodland ephemerals will be blooming! In addition to witnessing the wildflowers, we will also encounter several 300+ year old white oaks. Our walk will extend to the “Devil’s Backbone” ridge (through which the Harmon Tunnel was bored to power a mill many years ago) where prairie and savanna species reside on its thin-soiled habitat.
All are welcome!
Opening Day at ‘The Hill’
Sunday • May 1st • 1:00 – 5:00pm
Madison County Historical Complex
The Madison County Historical Complex officially opens their doors for the season on Sunday, May 1st! Head out and explore their exciting new exhibits, featuring “Stitch-Works,” an eclectic collection of historic textiles, and “Portraits of Madison County,” pictures and stories of former Madison County residents. In addition, explore the historic Bevington Mansion and 14 outbuildings on the Complex grounds.
The museum complex is open each Monday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00pm, and Sundays, 1:00 to 5:00pm, through Sunday, Oct. 30. Admission is $5 per adult, which includes access to all exhibits within the Museum and a guided tour of the mansion. Kids are always free, and you can look through the outbuildings anytime during open hours at no charge, so get out and explore! Bring your family and friends, plus a camera, to capture the fun in this beautiful historic setting.
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Next Week
Seabiscuit
Wednesday • May 4 • 7:00pm
The Iowa Theater
In the midst of the Great Depression, a businessman (Jeff Bridges) coping with the tragic death of his son, a jockey with a history of brutal injuries (Tobey Maguire) and a down-and-out horse trainer (Chris Cooper) team up to help Seabiscuit, a temperamental, undersized racehorse. At first the horse struggles to win, but eventually Seabiscuit becomes one of the most successful thoroughbreds of all time, and inspires a nation at a time when it needs it most. 2hr, 20 min, 2003, PG-13
Madison County Heroism & Memorial Ceremony
Thursday • May 5th • 5:30pm
Jackson Building, Madison County Fairgrounds
The Madison County Supervisors extend an invitation for you to attend Madison County heroism award and memorial ceremony. This event will recognize the heroes and first responders, and honor the victims of the March 5, 2022, tornado disaster. The ceremony will begin at 5:30 PM with a community meal to follow. To RSVP, please email: MadisonCountyStrong@MadisonCountuIowa.gov
Favorite Foods for Cinco de Mayo
Thursday • May 5th • 6:00pm
Winterset Public Library
Head to the library on May 5th to test out some favorite Mexican foods in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Caldo, tacos, street corn, & sopapillas will be the main topics of discussion and consumption. There will also be sharing about the holiday and its traditions. No fee is required but the program is limited to 10 participants. Please call the library at 515-462-1731 to register.
Morel Madness
Saturday • May 7 • 1:00 – 3:00pm
Pammel State Park, Backbone Shelter
Madison County Conservation is excited to present mushroom expert and former Madison County Naturalist, Jess Lancial, for an amazing opportunity to learn all about our edible fungi!
The elusive morel mushroom is a sought-after springtime delicacy, but did you know there are other mushrooms and plants that can be foraged? Jess Lancia will share tips and tricks for finding morel mushrooms and how to distinguish them from false morels and other look-alike species. Participants will also discover other fungi and plants that can be foraged in the spring and might even meet some newly trained mushroom sniffing pooches! Be dressed to go off trail in the woods (long pants and close-toed shoes will be a must!). Participants are asked to please NOT bring their own dogs along, as it will distract the working dogs.
Register early as space is limited. Cost is $5 per person. All ages welcome but strollers are not allowed due to terrain.
Winterset Wine Walk
Saturday • May 7 • 2:00 – 7:00pm
Downtown Winterset
Benefit Concert for Winterset
Saturday • May 7th • 5:00pm
Talk Shop Lounge, St. Charles
Brinton Surprise by Red Cedar Chamber Music
Saturday • May 7th • 7:00pm
The Iowa Theater
Red Cedar presents a multi-media extravaganza featuring live chamber music accompanying magic lantern slides and early silent films from the Brinton Collection of early entertainment materials. Philip Wharton has created a magical score for The Fairy of Springtime, a 1902 French film which features hand-painted color. Michael Kimber has scored Venetian Tragedy, a nine-minute drama with a surprise ending. And new to Red Cedar for this project, a duo of French composers, Jean-Francois Charles and Nicolas Sidoroff, have teamed up to create a major multi-media work which explores the life of the great French filmmaker Georges Méliès, known to most from the 2011 film Hugo. Historian Michael Zahs provides narration with music performed by violinist Miera Kim, cellist Carey Bostian, and guests artists guitarist John Dowdall and flutist Claudia Anderson for this entertaining program.
Special thanks to Artist Sponsors Juanita Dennert and Don & Irene (Naxera) Hamous.
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Planning Ahead
The Lion King Ballet
Friday • May 13th • 7:00pm
Saturday • May 14th • 2:00pm
Winterset Ballet at Winterset High School
To celebrate their 10th season, Winterset Ballet and Dance Studio is bringing back the ballet that started it all, The Lion King! In addition, senior dancer, Mia Kerr, has created a themed recital A Night at the Movies. And don’t forget the littlest Twinkle Babies and moving Daddy Daughter dance.
- Friday, May 13, 7:00 pm – Winterset Ballet and Dance ballet dancers perform a full ballet of The Lion King, followed by a themed recital A Night at the Movies showcasing tap, hip-hop, jazz, and modern dance genres.
- Saturday, May 14, 10:30 am – The littlest dancers, the Twinkle Babies make their stage debuts, along with a heartfelt Daddy Daughter Dance, plus some encore dances from A Night at the Movies.
- Saturday, May 14, 2:00 pm – The ballet dancers again take the stage for The Lion King followed by a tribute to senior dancer, Mia Kerr.
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Instrument Petting Zoo
Saturday • May 14th • 9:00 am-Noon
Winterset Public Library
The Winterset Public Library will be hosting Madison County Music Co. and their Instrument Petting Zoo. Kids (and an accompanying adult) will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of instruments. At 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 there will be 15-minute group presentations. The remainder of the time will be open for visiting the instruments. Sign up for a time slot using the button below.
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Summer Fun for our Younger Citizens!
Tee Ball Registration
Last Chance…Deadline May 1st
Music Lessons at Madison County Music Co.
Summer Session Starts June 6th
Summer can be a great time for both kids and adults to start studying a new instrument! Without school occupying large portions of the day, finding practice time is a breeze! Contact Madison County Music Co. today if you’d like to start lessons for piano, violin, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, flute, cello, or voice. MadisonCountyMusicCo@gmail.com or www.MadisonCountyMusicCo.com
Madison County Conservation Board
Multiple offerings
The Madison County Conservation Board announced their summer camps on Monday, and by Tuesday they were nearly full! As of right now, there are a few spots remaining in the Pollinator Parade (Ages 5-7) and Family vs. Wild (All Ages Family Camp) events.
If you were not able to register your child for one of these camps but they are interested in attending, please add them to the waitlist! The MCCB will use the waitlists to determine interest in each program so it is worth your time to sign up! There is a possibility that they will be able to make adjustments to the capacity and numbers of sessions offered this summer based on interest.
The Winterset Stage
Winterset Ballet & Dance
Little Legends Golf Camp
June 13-17
Winterset Area Soccer Club – Challenger Camp
June 13-17
Madison County Extension
Winterset Art Center
Draw & Paint Camp
July 12-14 • multiple sessions
Instructor Amy Maiers will share over 20 years of creative art experience while helping young artists learn about drawing and painting. All supplies are provided. Fees: $25 non-member/$22 member.
10:30am – 11:30am: 4th-6th Grade – Value Scale Night Painting 16×20
1:00pm – 2:30pm: 6th Grade & Up – Bob Ross 16×20 Acrylic
3:00pm- 4:30pm: 6th Grade & Up – Acrylic Mini Landscapes, Watercolor, Spray Paint
Sing it Out! Camp
August 1-3
Heartland Youth Choir, Madison County
The Madison County Satellite of Heartland Youth Choir will also be offering a Madison County-based summer camp this year! (There is also a full-week summer camp at their Des Moines location July 11-15).
The morning session, 9:00 – 11:30, will be for singers who have finished Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Cost is $75.
The afternoon session, 12:00 – 5:00pm, will be for singers who have finished 4th through 7th grade. Cost is $135.
Online registration will be open soon, in the meantime you can email MadisonCountyMusicCo@gmail.com to get on the list.
It’s a GREAT day to be a Winterset Citizen—
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