From the fiery athletics of the Summer Iowa Games to the chill jazziness of a concert at the Ames Bandshell, there’s no shortage of things to do in Ames this weekend.

 

ATHLETICS

 

Summer Iowa Games – The annual Summer Iowa Games will feature a variety of competitive sports from track and field to archery Saturday and Sunday at ISU gyms and Ames area venues.

 

Summer Iowa Games Opening Ceremony – The opening ceremonies will take place from 7:45 to 9 p.m. Friday at Jack Trice Stadium. The Athlete Jamboree will take place in lots S6 and S7 east of the stadium from 5 to 7 p.m. Both events will feature former ISU quarterback and NFL player Seneca Wallace. The jamboree will include inflatable games, face painting, activity zones, music, entertainment, fireworks and an autograph session with Wallace.    

 

Stage Coach Stables Open Horse Show – The Stage Coach Stables will welcome all riders from beginners to advanced at an open horse show at 8 a.m. Saturday. 

 

Yoga In The Park – Volunteer instructors will lead a free outdoor yoga class appropriate for all skill levels from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Durham Bandshell at 125 East 5th St.

 

Go For Gwen 5K – Ada Hayden Heritage Park will host a 5K run (or walk) at 8 a.m. Saturday. The run will serve as a benefit for Ames resident Gwen Atkinson. Everyone is welcome, and the proceedings will help Atkinson battle esophageal cancer.

 

MUSIC

 

Live Music at Snus Hill – The El Dorados will perform a mixture of blues and rockabilly music from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Snus Hill Winery in Madrid. It is one of the band’s final eight performances this year. Get Off My Lawn will also perform classic rock music from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

 

Live At The Crib – Craig Swallwell will perform live blues music from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Prarie Moon Winery on 3801 West 190th St. The event will also include artisan brick oven pizzas.

 

CULTURE

 

Red Hot July Book Sale – The Ames Public Library will be halving the price of select books Friday and Saturday. The common theme among the books will be the red-hot color of their covers.

 

Ames on the Half Shell: Appreciation Party – The Ames Junior Chamber (Jaycees) will celebrate the 13th year of the Ames on the Half Shell event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Torrent Brewing Company at 504 Burnett Ave. A check will be presented to Ames Park and Rec for its youth scholarship, which supports youth of lower income in the Ames area. The celebration will feature a chance to win $100, as well as food and drink.

 

Cyclical: New Works By Kristin Roach – Multimedia artist Kristin Roach will give an artist’s talk and Q&A session about her new art, which will be exhibited from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Design on Main at 203 Main St. The piece deals in life, death, health and the cyclical nature of our existence.

                           

North Grand Farmers’ Market – Local vendors will offer seasonal foods and products from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in the North Grand Mall’s JCPenney parking lot. Entertainment will include music performed by Jamie Leigh.

 

Main Street Farmers’ Market – Local vendors and producers will offer a variety of fresh foods and products from Iowan farms from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday on the 300 to 400 Block of Main Street. The event will include live entertainment from the Bill Martin Trio.

 

Reiman Gardens Discovery Stations – Family members, young and old, can enjoy education “discovery stations”  based around the theme “Celebrating the Past and the Future” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Reiman Gardens.