The long hours put in by one woman will culminate this Saturday in a gathering of thousands of Ames faces on Main Street. More than 50 hours will be logged in at the Ames Chamber of Commerce as Program Manager Kori Heuss puts the finishing touches on preparations for this weekend’s FACES festival.

Heuss is part of a team of 15 volunteers making sure FACES, or Families of Ames Celebrate Ethnicities, goes off without a hitch this Saturday in downtown Ames. Heuss, along with Elaine Dunn, will serve as a co-chairwoman for the event and will oversee the progress of the festival, which has taken the entire year to plan. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street.

FACES is a festival showcasing different ethnicities and cultures in Story County. Last year, more than 2,000 people descended on downtown Ames to see the music, performances by cultural groups, food vendors and cultural exhibits.

Heuss said she is happy at the large number of participants this year. Sixty booths, twice the number from last year, will be at the festival.

“More booths show that we have more countries and cultures represented,” Heuss said.

Planning for an event that will draw thousands is not easy, Heuss said.

Last-minute logistical changes and questions from participants occupy Heuss’ last week of planning.

“The phone is ringing off the hook right now,” Heuss said.

David Maahs, executive director at the Ames Chamber of Commerce, said Heuss puts in long hours in preparation for the event.

“She’s an asset to the community,” Maahs said. “She is doing a marvelous job coordinating volunteers for the FACES program.”

The stress of juggling the different committees and FACES is stressful at times. “It’s not a negative stress, it’s a good stress,” Heuss said.

For Heuss, FACES isn’t just setting up booths and making phone calls. She said a unique group of friends has come out of working with FACES.

Four couples get together the first Friday of every month and have a dinner party. The point of the dinner parties is to try foods from different cultures. Heuss said the parties would have never been possible if FACES wasn’t around.

“We got together and had dinner once and we decided to have it every month,” Heuss said.

Heuss said Ames is a very diverse place because of the university’s draw of students from different cultures.

“It’s a great festival and it has a focus that is meaningful,” she said. “As a member of the city of Ames it’s our role to give back to the community and this is one of the ways I get to do it.”