Three years ago, downtown Ames’ ginkgo trees faced extinction because people were tired of smelling the putrid fruit they produced every fall. The public organized a drive to get the trees cut down.

Due to heated opposition, the proposed destruction eventually failed. In the wake of this event, the Ginkgo Festival was born.

A broad variety

“The festival is a celebration of the ginkgo tree’s survival in downtown Ames,” Entertainment Committee Chairman Jay Heydlauff said. “It is also a celebration of family and laughter.

“It fills the void left by Veishea and other public gatherings that are almost entirely geared towards college students and older people. We try to cater to a broad variety of interests.”

Heydlauff said the Ginkgo Festival has tons of activities for kids. “But there are also fun things for adults to do as well,” he added.

The Ginkgo Festival, which kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. and wraps up at 10 p.m. on Sunday, will be held throughout downtown Ames. Among the events scheduled for this year’s festival are appearances by master hypnotist Jim Wand, blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks and local band The Nadas, as well as a virtual parade and fireworks, sidewalk sales, a huge food court, a sports extravaganza and numerous children’s events.

Ginkgo jewelry

Jewelry artist Poppy Vincent will also be on hand giving free demonstrations on how to make ginkgo leaf jewelry using the lost wax casting method.

The demonstration will occur at The Octagon Shop (427 Douglas Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. She will be selling some of her works, which range in price from $18 for a pair of ginkgo leaf earrings to $48 for a ginkgo leaf nose ring, at the festival.

Vincent’s ginkgo leaf jewelry has been a hot commodity among festival attendees in past years. The lost wax casting method is an ancient technique which coats the back of the ginkgo leaf with wax and then painted silver or gold.

The jewelry is extremely difficult to make because the ginkgo leaf is so delicate and fragile.

“I became fascinated with the ginkgo tree because of all the stories and legends surrounding it,” Vincent said. “It is the oldest living tree known to man — practically a living fossil. It was the only tree to survive the bombing of Hiroshima. It is also able to withstand various types of pollution.”

Vincent is also fascinated by the leaves on the ginkgo trees. “Every fall the leaves turn gold and then drop almost simultaneously,” she explained. “It is absolutely amazing to see.”

Roadhouse rules

Blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks may not know what a ginkgo leaf is, but he definitely knows how to play blues with a rock/funk edge in a mixture of the Louisiana, Chicago and Texas styles. He will be appearing Saturday at 9 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot.

“I’m doing about fifty festivals this year,” Brooks said. “People like to come out and see me because I make music fun. I like to work the audience — include them in what I’m doing.”

Brooks is touring in support of his latest release, “Roadhouse Rules,” his 14th recording since his career began in 1969. The blues legend (who has played with such stellar musicians as Eric Clapton, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters and B.B. King) is now on tour with his son, guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks.

“I enjoy playing music with my son,” Brooks said. “He writes songs that I’ll play on. When he is on tour with me, it feels like I haven’t left home.”

Brooks said touring with his son reminds him of when he was younger. “I used to watch my grandpa play music on the front porch every morning. When I was a baby, he’d play the banjo and I’d stop crying.”

So far, huge commercial success has eluded Brooks. Although he is not the household name that some of his peers have become, he is still happy with his career.

“I love to play music,” Brooks said. “It’s like sleeping or eating. It’s just something that I’ve got to do. I’m just trying to go as far as I can with making music.

“My grandpa made it on a radio station once. He was really proud of that. I’ve gone even further by making records and appearing on television. I’ve even got a spot in an upcoming Blues Brothers movie. But I really hope that I can see my kids go further with it.”

Virtual insanity

Another festival highlight will be the virtual fireworks display, which is “a high-tech slide show of artificial and celestial fireworks, nebulae, constellations and other natural phenomenon,” according to the Ginkgo Festival brochure.

“The festival has a great deal of free entertainment,” Heydlauff said. “We rely solely on donations so that everything is completely free to the public.”

Heydlauff said the Ginkgo Festival introduces young families and new students to Ames and the entertainment in the area. “We want as many people as possible to attend this annual event.”

The entire festival is free, including the concerts and sports games.