Ames’ third-annual Ginkgo Festival will be held Friday through Sunday and offers events for everyone to enjoy.

“The festival is wacky and fun and is a celebration of laughter and family,” said Rich Harter, executive director for Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The opening event will be the “Running of the Birds” through Main Street in downtown Ames at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Harter said.

“This event came about from 1995 when there was an effort by the merchants to scare the birds off Main Street because of their droppings,” he said.

This event involves people running down the street yelling to represent the merchants scaring the birds away.

“It is similar to the ‘Running of the Bulls’ in Spain,” Harter said.

Dr. Jim Wand will be the featured entertainer Friday evening. Wand will challenge audience members to join him on stage for mind-boggling and hypnotic experiences in Bandshell Park at 7 p.m., Harter said.

“Wand is a huge favorite in the area and really sets the tone for the weekend as being wacky and different,” he said.

Ginkgo Festival coordinators and the Youth and Shelter Services are joining forces for a teen dance called JAMfest ’97, Harter said. The dance will be held in the city hall parking lot from 9 p.m.-midnight Friday night.

Everyone will need to bring their appetites with them on Saturday for the 7-10 a.m. pancake breakfast sponsored by the Ames Noon Kiwanis. Downtown merchants will open their shops for specials from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From 9:30 to 11 a.m., 30 entrants will be a part of the “Virtual Parade.”

“This is a fun, light-hearted event where the parade actually stays in place and the spectators walk by,” Harter said. The event occurs on Main Street and goes from Clark Avenue to Douglas Avenue, he said.

New this year is the Main Street Station’s 3-on-3 Basketball JAMboree for kids under 18 years old. Harter said this is a preregistered event and 30 teams are currently signed up.

“We hope to make this event open to Iowa State students in the upcoming years,” he said.

Another new addition to the festival is the Backwards Ginkgo Open held at the Homewood Golf Course, 20th St. & Duff Ave. Harter said golfers start from the ninth green and play the course backwards.

“There is even a club-throwing contest for people that sometimes get frustrated with the game,” he said.

A “virtual” fireworks show accompanied by music will wrap up the festival Sunday at 10 p.m. in Bandshell Park.

Ginkgo Festival Events

Friday, July 11, 6:00 p.m.-Midnight — Kick Off

* Art Dedication at Tom Evans Park

* Running of the Birds

* Jim Wand, Master Hypnotist at Bandshell Park

* Jam Fest ’97 — Teen Dance with Live DJ at City Hall

Parking Lot

Saturday, July 12, 7:00 a.m.-Midnight — On Main Street

* Ames Noon Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

* Virtual Parade

* Main Street Station’s 3-on-3 Basketball

* YSS Dedication & Tours of the Jacobson Building

* Silly Ginkgo Sidewalk Sale

* Street Performers

* Tribute to the Arts

* Art Where U Park

* Box City

* 2 Stages Full of Entertainment

* Ginkgo Chautauqua Tent and Exhibits

* Edible ArtContest

* Celebrity Wok-Off

* Many NEW Activities for All the Great Kidz

* Midnight Madness 26

* Blues Guitarist Lonnie Brooks, City Hall Parking Lot

Sunday, July 13, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. — In Bandshell Park

* Backward Ginkgo Open at Homewood Golf Course

* Special Olympics Bike Ride

* Kreature Park

* Entertainment Stage — ALL DAY!

* The Society for Creative Anachronism

* Horse and Carriage Rides

* Unique Neighborhood Tours

* Ginkgo Chautauqua Tent and Exhibits

* YSSOpen House and Tours of the Jacobson Building

* Ice Cream Social Sponsored by Friedrich/Iowa Realty

* Virtual Fireworks