Arts & Entertainment
Ames and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Bonsai Show, Oktoberfest, Ringling Bros. Circus, Les Miserables, Norah Jones
Time, dates and ticket information for what's going on in Ames and the metro, including Oktoberfest Bill Maher and Celtic Thunder.
The weekend always seems to start early in Ames. Tonight people could catch Bella Hristova, an international renown Bulgarian violinist, 7:30 p.m. at Iowa State University's Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall. Tickets are $15.
Saturday Ryan Sheeler will perform free starting at 5 p.m. at the Choclaterie Stam. He plans to play the piano.
Calle Sur
Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A Latin American acoustical duo, Calle Sur, will perform 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Stomping Grounds
Bonsai at Reiman Gardens
Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Iowa Bonsai Association will display its private bonsai collections at Reiman Gardens for the Annual Fall Bonsai Show 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the gardens are $7 for seniors and $8 for adults.
Piano Duo
Ed and Janet Kaizer will perform free 3 p.m. Sunday at Collegiate United Methodist Church-Wesley Foundation.
Pumpkin Express
The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum is offering rides to the pumpkin patch 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15.
Oktoberfest
Live music, food and Olde Main brews will all be part of the fun 7 p.m. Saturday at Ames first ever Oktoberfest in the 300 block of main street. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.
Rodeo
The Cyclone Stampede Rodeo's 50th Anniversary show is 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the ISU rodeo arena at 3726 State Ave. Tickets are $5 and $10. College students from the Great Plains region will compete for top honors in various divisions. Bull fighting and rodeo clowns are all part of the show.
Check the Ames Patch Calendar for more events in Ames and if you want to travel into to Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.
Here are some selected events happening in Des Moines, with a full list of Des Moines metro events from the Des Moines Register.
Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schö's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, at the Civic Center in Des Moines.
Show times are: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
This circus will present four shows that start with a Barnum Bash where circus goers can learn fresh dance moves from Ringling Bros. clown DJ Dean, style in glitzy costumes, learn balancing and juggling skills, meet and take photos with circus stars, and even step behind the curtain for an exclusive backstage experience which includes an up-close look at the circus' exotic animals all at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets.
American Quilter’s Society National Show
More than 1,000 quilts, a huge Merchant Mall with new and antique quilts, the newest quilt-making supplies, and jewelry and other gifts that are quilt related.
Iowa Events Center, Des Moines.
Thursday, Friday, 9 am. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cityview Martinifest
Sample the metro's finest martinis at this year's Martini Fest. Try specialty martinis from all of your favorite West Glen retailers. For all beer lovers, for the first time there will also be a Summit Beer Garden at Cabaret.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Norah Jones just released her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts. Since coming on the scene in 2002, Jones has sold over 36 million albums worldwide. Her three studio albums have each topped the Billboard top 200 album charts in the U.S. and gone to No. 1 around the world.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Thursday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m.
Bill Maher
For the past 17 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last eight years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him twenty-six Emmy nominations.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Celtic Thunder
Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has been hailed as BILLBOARD’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for their most current disc, Heritage.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.
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