This week in Madison County…
Tonight
VOTE The Bakery Unlimited as Best Donut Shop!
Daily through Monday • June 8th
Did you remember to vote? This is our final week to put in those votes! Click the link below.
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
Summer Adventures: Farm to Fun Adventure
June 4 • 9 AM – 12 PM
McFable Farm – 2695 Carver Road, Winterset
Gallery Reception
Thursday • June 4 • 5 PM
Iowa Quilt Museum
Join us for a moving tribute honoring those who have served and the art of quilting. The lowa Quilt Museum will remain open after 5:00 PM to welcome visitors to our newest exhibit while enjoying beverages and hors d’oeuvres. A suggested donation of $10 is appreciated.
We are honored to welcome Karla Overland from Cherrywood Fabrics and Kryste Wallen from Quilts of Valor Foundation. The evening will conclude with a small selection of patriotic songs performed by opera-trained vocalist and serviceman Brady Pugh.
This Week!
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.
Airing of the Quilts: Volunteers Needed!
June 3rd-6th
The Iowa Quilt Festival is here, and we could use your help to make it a success.
We have a variety of short volunteer shifts available, including assisting instructors with setup and cleanup, serving as lunch runners, helping with Saturday setup and teardown, or greeting visitors at quilt displays.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Senior Speaker Series
Friday • June 5 • 10 AM
Bricker-Price Block, Earlham
Quilting and the Art of What If with Tony Jacobson
Friday • June 5th • 5:00 pm
Covered Bridges Winery
Tony will be presenting his “Quilting and the Art of What If” talk at Covered Bridges Winery on Friday, June 5th in conjunction with the lowa Quilt Festival put on by the lowa Quilt Museum.
Tickets must be purchased from Covered Bridge Winery.
This is always a fun night full of quilt inspiration, wine, charcuterie, and door prizes. This event always sells out, so get your tickets now!
Modern Calligraphy for Beginners
Friday • June 5th • 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Winterset Cidery
Join Sip & Script® for Modern Calligraphy Fun!
Join us at Winterset Cidery in Winterset, lowa for pretty lettering! Whether you’re a stationery nerd, DIY Bride-to-be, or just a crafty individual, you’ll be introduced to modern calligraphy with a pointed dip pen and ink in this workshop. We will cover all the basics and prepare you to add those unique lettered details to your snail mail, wedding paper goods, home decor, and more! The perfect crafty night out!
Class includes 1.5 hours of instruction and demonstration, our beginner’s calligraphy kit (two nibs, black ink pot, 2 letter guides, tracing paper, and straight pen holder), and all materials to write on. Everything is yours to keep at the end of the workshop!
Feel free to come early, grab your seat, and purchase any food or drinks (food and drinks are available to purchase throughout the class, too!). Class will start promptly at 6pm!
Class Expectations: Yes, lefties are welcome too! This class is encouraged for someone who has never taken a calligraphy class before. We teach the basics, and our expectation for you is to have ink flowing through your nib with enough confidence to be able to practice way beyond class. We love using tracing paper with our guides to help you build muscle memory and develop your own style! If you have tried calligraphy out before, this class will be a great refresher and hopefully a chance to try some new supplies from our beginner kit that will reintroduce you to this lovely form of art!
A note on bringing guests 16 and under: We love to share this passion with kids. You are welcome to get a ticket for your child if you are comfortable with people around them having a drink or two. We ask that a ticketed adult accompany anyone under the age of 16 at all times.
Get your tickets here!
Trucks and Trains at the Library!
June 5th & 6th
Winterset Public Library
Movie at The Iowa Theater: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Friday, June 5 – 7:00PM
- Saturday, June 6 – 7:00PM
- Sunday, June 7 – 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 • June 6th • 8am – 12pm
Madison County Courthouse Lawn
IT’S MARKET DAY!
Come shop local and support over 40+ amazing vendors. This Saturday on the Madison County Courthouse lawn from 8am to noon.
Thank you for supporting small farms, local families, and handmade businesses right here in Madison County.
Live Music & Wood Fired Pizza
Saturday • June 6th • 3:00-8:00 PM
Madison County Winery
Enjoy a NEW artist to the winery, Dan Trilk! Music from 6:00-8:00. Also firing up the pizza oven from 5:00-8:00!
Live Music at Winterset Cidery
Saturday • June 6th • 5:00-8:00 PM
Winterset Cidery
Join us Saturday, June 6th from 1-10pm for a fun-filled day at the cidery! Enjoy live music from The Velvet Trio from 5-8pm and grab a delicious dinner from Walking Noods food truck serving 5-7pm.
The cider will be flowing all day, and we can’t wait to spend the day with you!
$5 cover per vehicle – no matter how many people inside!
Live Music at Covered Bridges Winery
Saturday • June 6th • 6:30-9:30 PM
Covered Bridges Winery
$5 Cover Charge per person at the door.
Live Music by The Barrelhouse Rockets 6:30-9:30PM
Backroads Grill Food Truck Serving 5:30-8:00PM
Music will be outdoors weather permitting. Bring your lawn chairs as seating is limited.
The Barrelhouse Rockets are Midwest rockabilly, known for their electrifying live performances. With a lineup of seasoned musicians, they deliver high-energy & upbeat rockin’ boogie-woogie that gets the crowd moving every time.
Big Read Showcase
Saturday • June 6th • 6:30-8:30 pm
Madison County Conservation Center
Live Music at Winterset Cidery
Sunday • June 7th • 1:00-6:00 PM
Winterset Cidery
Sunday Funday is back at the cidery! Join us Sunday, June 7th from 1-6pm for all the refreshing cider you could want.
Enjoy live music from David Watson from 2-5pm and grab a delicious Graze Craze charcuterie box available for purchase.
Come out and wrap up your weekend with us—we can’t wait to see you!
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Next Week
Intro to Ukelele
Mondays • June 9th & 15th 6:00-7:00 pm
Winterset Public Library
Free Summer Meals for Kids
Tuesdays & Thursdays • June 9th-August 6th • 12:00-1:00 pm
Cobblestone Hotel
Winterset Public Library Events
Wednesday • June 8th-12th
Winterset Public Library
Hill O’ Beans: Madison County’s Poor Farm
Tuesday • June 9th • 9:00 am
Madison County Historical Complex
Built in 1876, a bit north of Winterset, the buildings and farm were to provide refuge for the poor. Madison County operated the farm until 1956 when it was leased as an adult nursing home, and later a residential facility for the impaired. In 2002, the buildings were sold then burned, with much community discussion about reserving its history. Linda Griffith Smith will tell its story from researching 125 years of newspaper articles.
This free presentation/discussion on various historical topics is open to all and held the second Tuesday of each month.
Summer Support Groups
Weekly • Starting this June
Madison County Music School Building
123 W. Jefferson Street
Summer Support Groups Are Here!
Looking for connection, support, creativity, and community this summer? Light Gets In Therapy Center is excited to offer three groups to support adults, parents and children.
All groups held at the main office at: 123 W. Jefferson Street in the Madison County Music School Building
GOOD INSIDE: Parenting Book Club & Support Group
Thursdays | 5:00–7:00 PM, Starting June 11th, 2026
Join us as we read and discuss Becky Kennedy’s bestselling book Good Inside. Together, we’ll explore a compassionate, practical parenting approach that emphasizes connection, empathy, healthy boundaries, and confident leadership.
Enjoy snacks, meaningful conversation, and support from other parents who are navigating many of the same challenges and joys.
Craft & Chat for Kids (Ages 7–12) – Weekly Drop-In.
Wednesdays | 3:00-6:00 PM, Starting June 3rd, 2026
Kids will participate in fun, structured crafts while learning valuable social-emotional skills. Topics include:
• Managing stress and big feelings
• Anger management
• Mindfulness
• Friendship and social skills
• Building confidence and resilience
Stitch & B*tch: Adult Crafting & Community Group (18+) – Weekly Drop-In
Tuesdays | 5:00-8:00 PM, Starting June 9th, 2026
Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, quilting, or any creative project and join us for an evening of connection and conversation. This welcoming, low-pressure group is a chance to meet new people, build community, relax and unwind & work on creative projects. No crafting experience required—all are welcome! Suggested donation: $15 per session. No one will be turned away due to financial hardship.
To register or learn more, email April at april@lightgetsintherapy.com. We’d love to spend part of the summer with you!
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
The Madison County KIDS Coalition meeting
Wednesday • June 10th • 12:00 pm
St Paul Lutheran Church
The Madison County KIDS Coalition meeting is June 10, 2026 at 12:00 Noon at the St. Paul Lutheran Church 1120 N. 8th Street in Winterset. The agenda and past minutes are located here. There is a meeting folder that you can load things such as flyers, etc and it is located here. The folder is organized by state fiscal year and month of meetings.
This meeting is in person and there is no online or hybrid meeting option. As a note this will be the last Kids Coalition meeting as the meetings have been combined with Madison County Cares. Also, there will be a presentation next week from Warren County Public Health about the Thrive navigation services offered in Madison County
Micro Retreat at Iris Aisle
Wednesday • June 10th • 5:30-8:00pm
Iris Aisle
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.
Stitch In at the Museum
Thursday • June 11th • 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Iowa Quilt Museum
The Goonies
Thursday • June 11 • 7:00pm
Throwback Thursday at The Iowa Theater
1/2 off popcorn on Throwback Thursday!
A band of adventurous kids take on the might of a property developing company which plans to destroy their home to build a country club. When the children discover an old pirate map in the attic, they follow it into an underground cavern in search of lost treasure but come up against plenty of dangerous obstacles along the way. 1985, Rated PG, 1hr 54min
Thursday Night Trivia
Thursday • June 11th • 7:00 PM
Winterset Cidery
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:
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Bird Walk & Iowa Birding Habitat Presentation
Saturday • June 13th • 8am, 10am
Madison County Conservation Center
On Saturday June 13th the Madison County Conservation Center will host an 8:00AM one hour bird walk w/Sharon Bauer leading to help
identifying birds
At 10.00 Am Seth Breeding will be introduced and do a presentation on lowa birding Habitat and a review of his recent Alaska experience as the 25th recipient of the SCHANTZ BROTHER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION – The first lowa recipient!
Welcome Desk Volunteer Needed
Madison County Conservation Center
Central Iowa Auto Club: Show & Shine
Saturday • June 13th • 4:00-7:00 pm
Winterset Town Square
Coming Soon
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.
Summer Dance Camps
Winterset Ballet & Dance
It’s a GREAT day to be a Citizen—
Thank you for reading!
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Forward this email to a friend who you think would enjoy being ‘in the know’ about community happenings!
Friends of Winterset Parks: Hot Dog Nights at Tee Ball
Saturday • June 15-16 • 5 – 7pm
Martin Marietta Fields
June 15 & 16, hot dog free will donation dinner @ Martin Marietta – 5pm – 7pm
PepperHarrow Lavender Fest
Friday & Saturday • June 19-20 • 9:00am – 3:00pm
PepperHarrow Farm
Join us at the height of lavender season! Each year, PepperHarrow Flower and Lavender Farm opens its gates for a rare and fleeting experience when the fields are in full bloom, and the air is perfumed with lavender.
Stroll through sweeping rows of lavender at peak bloom, gather your own hand-cut bouquet, and linger over thoughtfully crafted food, drink, and artisan goods. Slow down, settle in, and savor the season. This is an invitation to reconnect with beauty, to indulge the senses, and to experience PepperHarrow at one of its most enchanting times of the year.
June 19-20, 2026
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Winterset, lowa
Tickets are limited to preserve the experience. Grab tickets in advance before they sell out!
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.
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.
Madison County Fair
July 15-19, 2026
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
