I’m definitely not the only one around here with spring fever! As we all emerge from our winter hibernation, more and more events are becoming available again! In this Weekend in Winterset post, I’ll also highlight some options to help fill spring break next week. Unfortunately, the spring break information won’t be quite as comprehensive as I had originally planned because my working hours have been majorly reduced this week with two quarantined kids at home. Oofta!
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This Weekend
Some Like it Hot
Saturday • 3/13 • 7:00pm
The Iowa Theater
After witnessing a Mafia murder, slick saxophone player Joe (Tony Curtis) and his long-suffering buddy Jerry (Jack Lemmon), improvise a quick plan to escape from Chicago with their lives. Disguising themselves as women, they join an all-female jazz band and hop a train bound for sunny Florida. While Joe pretends to be a millionaire to win the band’s sexy singer, Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), Jerry finds himself pursued by a real millionaire (Joe E. Brown) as things heat up and the mobsters close in. 1959, Not Rated; 2 hr, 1 min
Pi Day
The Drift
Sunday • March 14 • 1:00 – 5:00pm
Celebrate National Pi (3.14) Day this Sunday at The Drift with live music and pizza pie! Head over to the taproom for an afternoon of music with Willie Mac and a slice (or whole pizza if you prefer!) of Abby’s Deep Dish. Order your whole pizza ahead of time for carry-out or eat-in. Pizza by the slice will also be available for purchase the day of.
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Spring Break & Coming Soon
Scavenger Hunt
March 15th – 19th
Hosted by the Winterset Public Library
The Winterset public library is ready to help keep kids (and grown-ups if you want!) occupied during spring break next week. The Spring Break scavenger hunt will take five days to complete with new clues being posted on the WPL Facebook page and the library’s front window each day Monday through Friday.
Starting Tuesday, the WPL will also have a make-and-take craft available for pickup in front of the library.
And perhaps best of all, the WPL is open again for in-person browsing. Current Hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 am to 6:00pm and Fridays 10:00 am to 5:00pm.
St. Patty’s Day at The Drift
Wednesday • March 17th • 3:00 – 9:00pm
The whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth O’ March! Celebrate with special drinks and a traditional Irish meal of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, a slice of spent-grain-rye-soda bread, and bread pudding for dessert.
Local Attractions to visit (or visit again!)
In my non-Winterset Citizen life, I work as the director of the Iowa Quilt Museum which has been located on the south side of the Winterset town square since 2016. In that role, I welcome guests all year long who are visiting Winterset from around the world—and that’s not an exaggeration. Thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world travel to Winterset and Madison County each year to visit our covered bridges, museums, and other attractions.
But, you know who I don’t see very often at the Iowa Quilt Museum? Winterset & Madison County residents! I get it…when you’re looking for an adventure, it’s usually more exciting to travel somewhere and visit a new attraction. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you of all the cool places you can visit right here
- Iowa Quilt Museum – open Mon-Sat 10-6 and Sundays 12-4 – admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids – current exhibit is called String Theory and has some really cool quilts, both historic and contemporary. Plus, there’s a neat display called a bed turning where visitors can put on white gloves and ‘turn down’ quilts on the bed.
- John Wayne Birthplace & Museum – open daily 10-5 – admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 8-12, Free for kids 7 and under – There are some really cool artifacts related to filmmaking and the Western movie genre. On their website, you can find some videos if you want a preview.
- Madison County Historical Complex – grounds & outdoors exhibits – no admission – this is a great place to spend some time walking and exploring if we get some warm afternoons next week. The museum itself isn’t open right now but you can wander through the grounds, take a peek at the out buildings, and visit the peacocks, chickens and ducks.
- Covered Bridges Scenic Byway – the 82+ mile route focuses on the iconic and widely-known covered bridges located throughout Madison County, as well as our scenic natural areas, historical sites, cultural sites, and many other unique destinations. You can even download a Scenic Byways Passport to help chronicle your journey.
- City Parks – we all probably have our favorite park—our family’s is the Whistle Stop Park (or purple dinosaur park as we call it!) because it’s just a few blocks from our house. Take the opportunity to visit a different park next week!
- County Parks – there are over a dozen parks in the county managed by the Madison County Conservation Board. Put on a couple of light layers and explore one (or more) than you’ve never visited before. Last summer, our family became fans of Goeldner Woods!
Local Experiences
If you’re looking for something more ‘low key’ that fills a little time, here are some suggestions of some Iconic Winterset Experiences to try.
- Lunch (or dessert) at the Montross Soda Fountain
- Donuts from The Bakery Unlimited
- Walk around the Winterset Square and focus on the second story windows and building details
- Walk around the Winterset Square and read the plaques on the historic buildings
- Take some pictures at the mural in the alley between the square and the library
- Visit the George Stout storybook monument
- Sit in the reading nooks at the library
- Visit one or more of the free little libraries
- Look at the historic photos on the sides of some of the downtown buildings
- Drive the country roads and look for barn quilt blocks
- Wander the aisles of Ben Franklin—give your kids a $10 budget, point them to the dollar aisle, and they’ll be occupied for at least an hour!—or hunt the craft section together to pick up a new hobby
Madison County Women’s Giving Circle
Tuesday • 3/23 • 6:30pm
Via Zoom
Despite all the changes to our lives during the Coronavirus pandemic, Madison County Women’s Giving Circle (MCWGC) continued their mission of supporting women and children in need in Madison County during 2020. In the 1st quarter in 2020, instead of combining their separate $50 donations for one non-profit, each member selected at least one local charity for individual donations. Second quarter, they combined donations and invested another $5,625 in the Community Foundation Fund. Meeting at Winterset City Park in September 2020, members voted to give the 3rd quarter combined donation of $5,710 to C.R.I.S.P. for their Feel-Good Fund, which provides those little extras that are huge in the eyes of a child, e.g., supplies needed for a class or school activity, warm gloves or snow pants for winter recess, gym shoes, etc. In December 2020, MCWGC met on Zoom to hear from local non-profits about their current projects to serve those in need in our community. Combined fourth quarter donations of $5,625 went to Matura for their project of winterizing homes for their clients.
Although eagerly looking forward to once again meeting in person, MCWGC plans to meet on-line via Zoom for the 2021 first quarter meeting. The no-more-than-an-hour-long meeting will be on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, starting at 6:30 pm. Members will receive an email with instructions for accessing the Zoom meeting. Anyone who might be interested in joining the Madison County Women’s Giving Circle can contact Ester Mae Cox at missestermae@gmail.com for information about the organization and how to join.
Local charitable 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profits or other qualifying tax-exempt organizations who wish to present information about their projects for supporting women and children in Madison County must contact Jacque Mohs at jacmohs@aol.com or at 515-468-1899 on or before Wednesday, March 17, 2021 to be entered in the drawing to present at this meeting. We ask that each applicant provide a brief description of their project, tax-exempt status, plus an email and telephone number where they may be reached. Three organizations will be selected to present at the meeting and each will be allocated 4 minutes to present and 4 minutes to answer questions. Jacque will confirm with each applicant by Friday evening, March 19, and will give them instructions for presenting and for joining the Zoom meeting.
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday • April 4th • 11:00am
Winterset City Park
Last year the WPRD led us all in creating a virtual Easter egg hunt but this year we’re back to storming the grounds of the Winterset City Park in search of treats left by the Easter Bunny. The event is open to all children up to age nine.
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Thinking About Summer
Madison County Conservation Youth Programs
Registration open now for camps in June, July & August
Yesterday, the Madison County Conservation Board announced the summer line-up of youth camps and opened registration. If your kids are as excited as mine to get back to ‘normal’ activities, then it’s time to get them signed up! These camps typically fill up early, so don’t procrastinate. To register, visit the MyCountyParks.com website. You’ll have to adjust the dates to include the whole summer and change the category to Youth Camps.
Tee Ball Registration Open
Boys & Girls Ages 3-6
Register by May 1
Get your pre-schooler registered for co-ed Tee Ball! There are divisions for ages 3/4 and 5/6. This is a seven week program and practices will begin the week of May 17th. Cost is $30 per child; register online with the Winterset Parks & Recreation Department.
Finally
Optimist Student of the Month
The Optimist Club of Winterset recognized Rose Honnold at their weekly meeting this morning. Rose was nominated by her teacher, Lana McDonald, to be the Optimist Student of the Month. Rose was awarded with a certificate, a $50 gift card, and was able to choose an organization to donate $100 toward. She chose the Youth Diabetes Research Organization.
Here is what Mrs. McDonald had to say about Rose:
Rose is an outstanding and admirable Winterset High School senior student. She is kind-hearted, determined, honest, reliable, and strives to see the good in all things that come her way. It would be rare to see Rose without a smile on her face. I can confidently share that Rose brings joy to those she encounters with her sweet personality and heart of gratitude. Rose also works diligently on her school work and never complains about being worried, stressed, or overwhelmed. She helps with her family’s furniture business in town and loves to spend time in the garden with her mother and sisters. When faced with challenges Rose moves forward with pride and resiliency in her stride. Rose is pure joy. She brings a special kind of light to any room in which she enters. It is challenging for me to think of anyone more optimistic, humble, and centered in good deeds and a love for life than Rose Honnold.
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American State Bank
Anchored Walls
Ben Franklin
Blanchard Family Dentistry
Covered Bridge Realty
Farmers & Merchants State Bank
Homefront Real Estate
The Iowa Theater
John Wayne Birthplace Museum
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
The Drift
Union State Bank
Winterset Ballet & Dance Studio
Winterset Optimist Club
Winterset Parks & Recreation Department
