This week in Madison County…
Tonight
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Thursday • May 28 • 7:00pm
Throwback Thursday at The Iowa Theater
1/2 off popcorn on Throwback Thursday!
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien. 1982, Rated PG, 2hr
Madison County Foundation for Community Arts: Arts Mixer
Thursday • May 28th • 5:30-7:00 PM
The Honey Lounge
Artist Mixer hosted by the Madison County Foundation for Community Arts
Calling all artists, arts supporters, and arts appreciators! Join us for a relaxed and welcoming Artist Mixer designed to bring creative minds together. This is a social space to connect, chat, share ideas, and let inspiration flow freely across disciplines.
Whether you’re actively creating, passionately supporting the arts, or simply love being around creative energy, you’re invited. Come meet new people, exchange stories, spark collaborations, and maybe even plant the seed for the next great community arts event in Madison County.
No agenda-just good conversation, creative cross-pollination, and community. We’d love to see you there!
Thursday Night Trivia
Thursday • May 28th • 7:00 PM
Winterset Cidery
Spotlight Dance Legacy: IXI SHOWCASE
Thursday • May 28th • 6:00 PM
I-35 Auditorium
Join us for our 1×1 Showcase on May 28th at 6:00 PM at the I-35 Auditorium.
This special evening will feature individual performances from our dancers including solos, duets, trios, power pom, trick target and our preschool pop stars.
All proceeds from the evening will be donated to Run As One For Taylor.
We cannot wait to celebrate our dancers while supporting such an incredible cause with our community!
VOTE The Bakery Unlimited as Best Donut Shop!
Daily through Monday • June 8th
Vote every day for The Bakery Unlimited in the USAToday 10Best Donut Shop contest – no signup is needed! They have previously come in 3rd and 5th. They’re currently in 2nd place!!! Let’s make it #1 this year!
Polls close on Monday, June 8 at noon ET. The 10 winning shops, as determined by your vote, will be announced on Wednesday, June 17.
VOTE HERE: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/bakery-unlimited-winterset-iowa
Thank you to our sponsors!
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This Week!
Senior Speaker Series
Friday • May 29 • 10 AM
Bricker-Price Block, Earlham
Friday Flicks at the Library
Friday • May 29th • 1:30pm
Winterset Public Library
Live Music at Lakeview Country Club
Friday • May 29th • 7:30pm
Lakeview Country Club
Magic: The Gathering at The Warehouse
Friday • May 29th • 6:00-9:00pm
The Warehouse on 2nd
A new home for Magic: The Gathering on select Friday nights, as we proudly pick up the torch from our friends at Quest Haven Books & Comics.
Movie at The Iowa Theater: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Friday, May 29 – 7:00PM
- Saturday, May 30 – 7:00PM
- Sunday, May 31 – 2:00PM
The evil Empire has fallen but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they enlist the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
2026 Rated PG-13, 2hr, 12min
It’s a GREAT day to be a Citizen—
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This Weekend!
Madison County Farmers Market
Saturday • May 30rd • 8am – 12pm
Madison County Courthouse Lawn
IT’S MARKET DAY!
Mulberry Farms is back this weekend at the Madison County Farmers Market! Try out their giant breakfast bowls! So good!!
Come shop local and support over 40+ amazing vendors.
Thank you for supporting small farms, local families, and handmade businesses right here in Madison County.
Farmers Market Kids Table: Build Clark Tower Jenga,
Saturday • May 30rd • 8am – 12pm
Madison County Courthouse Lawn
Winterset Cidery 10 Year Anniversary
Saturday • May 30rd • 1 – 10pm
Winterset Cidery
Winterset Cidery is incredibly blessed and excited to celebrate 10 years in business!
For the past decade, we’ve been crafting hard apple cider right here in Winterset, lowa. What started as a vision from Gary Heck grew into the beautiful orchard and one-of-a-kind cidery we all know and love today. From there, Nick and Niña Williams poured in their passion-bringing thoughtful updates and a whole lot of Midwest heart that helped grow both the business and community around it. And now, the Findlay family is honored to continue building a space where everyone feels welcome.
We truly wouldn’t be here without all of you-and we want to celebrate big together!
Join us Saturday, May 30th from 1-10pm
Special anniversary celebration kicks off at 4pm featuring: Gary Heck, Nick & Niña Williams + family Jen & Nathan Findlay + family
Stay tuned for exciting specials, activities, and surprises throughout the day!
Dinner: Graziano Bros Sausage Mobile | 5-8pm
Come raise a glass, make some memories, and celebrate 10 amazing years with us. Cheers to you!
Live Music & Food Truck at the Winery
Saturday • May 30rd • 5:30-9:30pm
Covered Bridges Winery
$5 Cover Charge per person.
Live Music from 6:30-9:30PM
Hey Misters Feast Fare Food Truck Serving from 5:30-8:00PM
Join us on the patio for a wonderful evening of country music by the best. Jesse & The Medicine Men will entertain us with some great tunes.
Live Music w. Jake Schrodt
Sunday • May 31st • 2:00-5:00pm
Winterset Cidery
Jake is back at the Winterset Cidery! Come out to this Madison County gem for some of the best cider around and a fun filled afternoon of live music!
Sunday Wine Down: Live Music w. Rural Route
Sunday • May 31st • 2:00-4:00pm
Covered Bridges Winery
Live Music from 2-4PM
No cover charge if you like what you hear please tip the musicians.
Rural Route is bringing a two piece acoustic band to the winery. They will bring to life some of your country favorites with some rock and alternative added in! They also have plenty of originals you are guaranteed to have fun at the show.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Welcome Desk Volunteer Needed
Madison County Conservation Center
Next Week
LIVE WILD Speaker Series: Rattlesnakes w. Paul Frese
Tuesday • June 2nd • 6:00-7:00pm
Madison County Conservation Center
Join us at the new Madison County Conservation Center in Pammel Park for our LIVE WILD 2026 Speaker Series! These events will be held the first TUESDAY of each month from 6-7 PM.
Free Will Donation: Proceeds will be equally shared between Madison County Foundation for Environmental Education and a conservation organization of the speaker’s choice.
Are you interested in sponsoring this series so we can provide refreshments? Please let us know!
Questions? Email Jessie at jlowry@madisoncounty.iowa.gov
LIVE WILD Speaker Series: Rattlesnakes w. Paul Frese
Mondays • June 1st, 8th & 15th • 6:00-7:00pm
Madison County Conservation Center
Trucks and Trains at the Library!
Winterset Public Library
Shine Studios: Summer Events 2026
Shine Studios
111 South John Wayne Drive, Winterset
Chamber Members: We would love to include your upcoming events in the weekly snapshot, Chamber Chat and The Citizen! To ensure you get included, please email your event information to: communications@madisoncounty.com
Iowa 19th Century Society of Friends (Quakers)
Tuesday • June 2nd • 6:00pm
Winterset Public Library
lowa 19th Century Society of Friends (Quakers) – Glenn York, MCGS member, Ft. Collins, Colorado
This presentation will include information on Quakers and their history, the growth of Quakerism across Iowa, and their migrations beyond Iowa to the west. The Quakers who lived near Earlham on “The Quaker Divide” and their Bear Creek meeting and others, will be explored.
The MCGS provides a public program each month on the first Tuesday at 6:00 pm at the Winterset Public Library with a business meeting following for those who choose to stay. There is no charge and all those interested in genealogy or Madison County history are welcome to attend.
2026 Iowa Quilt Festival
June 3rd-6th
Mark your calendars; the 2026 Iowa Quilt Festival is set for June 3–6, 2026, and it will be a celebration you won’t want to miss!
The festivities begin with our beloved Quilt Retreat at the Winterset Livery from June 3–5. This three-day retreat is all about quilting, camaraderie, and creativity. Bring your projects, gather with friends, and enjoy the chance to connect with quilters from across the region.
Then on Saturday, June 6, Winterset will be transformed for the annual Airing of the Quilts. From the covered bridges of Madison County to the historic courthouse square, churches, parks, and storefronts, quilts will be displayed across the community in a breathtaking celebration of art and tradition.
Workshops, lectures, Quilt Trivia Night, and more will round out the week.
Tai Chi: Arthritis & Fall Prevention Classes
Wenesdays • May – August • 9 AM
Winterset Public Library
Summer Adventures: Registration Open!
June 4, 18 & 25 • 9 AM – 12 PM
Winterset Public Library
Big Read Showcase
Saturday • June 6th • 6:30-8:30 PM
Live Music & Wood Fired Pizza
Saturday • June 6th • 5:00-8:00 PM
Madison County Winery
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Planning your Senior Portraits
The Photician: Portraits & Fine Art
Senior year is closer than you think. Start planning today!
The Photician: Portraits & Fine Art | 515.512.2939 | www.photician.com/seniors
Coming Soon
Micro Retreat at Iris Aisle
Wednesday • June 10th • 5:30-8:00pm
Micro Retreat Includes: REIKI INFUSED, CEREMONIAL CACAO, BREATHWORK JOURNEY, SOUNDBATH, LIGHT-LANGUAGE, INTEGRATION CIRCLE AND WARM SOUP.
Why the combination? Cacao, Conscious Connected Breathwork and Sound Healing?
Cacao allows us to drop deeper into our heart spaces.
Often times we stuff BIG feelings in our bellies and bodies. This may feel like a ‘safe’ response in the moment since it masks an option to really deal with our emotions; Yet doing this can actually be detrimental to our emotional well-being and physical health.
One way to connect with and release the emotions that we have stored in our body is to focus on our breath. By relaxing our bodies fully and turning off the chatter in the mind by focusing on our breath in a quiet meditative state, we can tap into the genius of our body!
The breath guides deep deep wounds to surface and finally be release in a healthy, safe way.
Experience a deep connection to your Breath and your Body. Clear the stored programing that is holding you back in your life purpose and creation.
Birding at Pammel State Park
Saturday • June 13th • 8am
Madison County Conservation Center
Sip & Paint Class
Saturday • June 13th • 1-3pm
Covered Bridges Winery
If you don’t consider yourself an artist, there’s still a way to be part of the fun this weekend! Join us for a Sip & Paint Workshop and create your own masterpiece in a relaxed, social setting.
Register for the Workshop Here!
Paint Madison County – A Plein Air Festival
Sunday • June 14th • 9am
Event by Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Covered Bridges Winery.
Experience Madison County through the eyes of talented artists during this one-day plein air festival!
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Watch Artists at Work
Visit various scenic locations (locations will be released the evening before) around Madison County and watch youth and adult artists create original works inspired by our historic charm, covered bridges, and beautiful landscapes.
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Reception & Art Sale
Join us at Covered Bridges Winery for an evening reception and art sale. Meet the artists, enjoy the atmosphere, and take home a one-of-a-kind piece celebrating Madison County.
The Reception & Sale is open to the public. Come on out to the Winery for live music and food while you check out the artwork that was created during the day!
Youth and Adult Artists are welcome to participate. Applications are required:
It’s a GREAT day to be a Citizen—
Thank you for reading!
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Vacation Bible School
June 14th-17th • 6-8pm
Redeemer Church
Redeemer Church will host Vacation Bible School June 14-17 from 6:00-8:00 PM for children who completed Pre-K through 3rd grade during the 2025-2026 school year.
This year’s theme is “Illumination Station,” where kids will discover who Jesus really is—the Light of the World who brings hope into the darkness. The week will include Bible lessons, games, music, crafts, and plenty of fun activities for kids.
Families can register online at www.redeemerwinterset.com.
Madison County Women’s Giving Circle: Quarterly Meeting
Tuesday • June 23rd • 6pm-7pm
Madison County Conservation Center
The Madison County Women’s Giving Circle 2nd quarter meeting will be held Tuesday, June 23rd from 6pm to 7pm at the new County Conservation building in Pammel Park. We are welcome to arrive at 5:00pm to view (and explore) the new Conservation Building before the meeting. It is a very interesting and beautiful building.
Because the Harmon Tunnel and Main Road through Pammel Park will be closed until further notice due to road work in progress, the best way to access the conservation center is to take Hwy 169 South from the 4-way stop West of Winterset, then turn West on Carver Road, then turn North on Pammel Park Trail to reach the South park entrance.
Anyone interested joining or learning more about the organization is welcome to attend.
Local charitable 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organizations who wish to present information about their projects for supporting women and children in Madison County should arrive by 5:30 p.m. to register. When registering to present, we ask that applicants provide a brief description of their project; their tax-exempt status; and email address and telephone number where they may be reached.
Three organizations will be selected by a drawing to present at the meeting. Each will be given 4 minutes to present and 4 minutes to answer questions. One of the three non-profits will be elected by vote to receive this quarter’s donations. If more than 3 non-profits wish to present, the rest will each have 2 minutes to tell us about their project.
Madison County Fair
July 15-19, 2026
Outdoor Journey for Girls
July 14-16, 2026 at Hickory Hills South of Waterloo
August 3-5 at Wildwood Hills Ranch, St. Charles
Agriland FS
Fuel Up & Give Back to the Winterset Community School District! From now through June 30, fuel up at the Winterset FAST STOPs and AGRILAND FS will donate 3¢ per gallon to the Winterset Community School District.
Fuel Up & Give Back to the Earlham Community School District! From now through June 30, fuel up at the Earlham FAST STOP and AGRILAND FS will donate 3¢ per gallon to the Earlham Community School District.
Chamber Members: We would love to include your upcoming events in the weekly snapshot, Chamber Chat and The Citizen! To ensure you get included, please email your event information to: communications@madisoncounty.com
