Amana Colonies Winterfest Returns Jan. 24

AMANA — Winter in Iowa will come alive in the Amana Colonies Saturday, Jan. 24, as the community hosts the 22nd Annual Amana Colonies Winterfest, a celebration filled with outdoor games, live music, family-friendly activities, local flavors and seasonal cheer throughout the villages of Amana.

The day begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the Amana Freezer 5K Run/Walk from Hotel Millwright’s Carding Studio to East Amana and back. Race-day signups take place from 8:30—9:30 a.m. This event is hosted by Amana Colonies Trails.

From 10 a.m. — 4 p.m., visitors can enjoy free admission to the Amana Heritage Museum. Beginning at 1 p.m., R.C. Eichacker, author of “Marriage by Committee: Marriage Customs of Early Amana,” and Melinda Wichman, author of “How to Live with a Ghost,” will discuss and sign their books at the museum.

Books will be available for purchase.

Adults 21 and older can participate in the popular Amana Colonies Winterfest Wine and Beer Walk from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m., sampling beverages at Ackerman Winery, Fireside in the Village, Millstream Brewing Co., Village Winery and White Cross Cellars.

Participants can pick up their $5 Wine and Beer Walk Passport at any participating business, collect stamps at each stop and return completed passports to the Amana Visitors Center by 5 p.m. to receive commemorative Winterfest wineglasses (limited to the first 275 participants) and be entered to win one of five $25 gift certificates.

Beginning at 11 a.m., the Market Barn becomes the heart of Winterfest activity. The Amana Fire Department will serve open-fire chili, hot chocolate and cider while supplies last. Proceeds benefiting the department.

From 11 a.m. — 2 p.m., guests can take part in classic Winterfest favorites, including the Great Amana Ham-Put, sponsored by the Amana Meat Shop, and the wreath toss, with winners announced following the Beard Contest.

From noon to 2 p.m., teams of two can compete — or participate for fun — in the log sawing competition hosted by Amana Forestry, using an old-fashioned cross-cut saw.

First-place plaques will be awarded in co-ed, womens and mens categories. Throughout the afternoon, visitors can watch chain saw artist Bobby Ward in action during the Colony Carvers demonstration and take home a one-of-a-kind carved piece.

A longtime crowd favorite, the beard contest, concludes the Market Barn festivities at 2 p.m., with competitors vying for prizes in categories including fullest beard, most unique beard and best overall beard.

Signups take place prior to the contest at the Market Barn.

Throughout the day, families can enjoy hands-on activities across the villages. The Amana Furniture Shop will have a paper snowflake station, and Ackerman Winery will host a snowflake scavenger hunt and movie day.

Kid-focused activities at the Ox Yoke Inn begin at 11 a.m. Children can decorate Yokey Bear cookies, enter a coloring contest and get kinder gift bags with children’s menu purchases.

From 10 a.m. — 10 p.m., guests can warm up at Millstream Brewing Co. while savoring a specially handcrafted Winterfest brew. From 12—4 p.m., visitors are invited to gather around a warm fire in the Millstream Brewing Co. Biergarten, enjoying marshmallow roasting and “poking” their Winterfest brew for a delicious caramel flavor.

From 6—9 p.m., guests at Millstream Brewing can wrap up their Winterfest celebration with live music by Joel Berger, whose classic acoustic sound and soulful vocals will fill the taproom.

The Ox Yoke Inn Bierstube Cellar Bar will host live music from 5—8 p.m. with the Jeff Weimer and David Arnold Duo.

All weekend long, visitors can enjoy Winterfest promotions across Amana, including cocktails and cocoa at Fireside Winery, a gift raffle at Four Winds Farm Apothecary and warm beverages and a winter sale at Yana’s Ladies Boutique.

On Saturday, visitors can explore additional promotions, including hot cider and local.

Amana Colonies Winterfest 2026 is made possible with the support of community sponsors that include Compass Memorial Healthcare, Bankhaus, Hills Bank and Vetter’s Culligan Water.

For more information, visit amanacolonies.com/things-to-do/festivals/winterfest/ or contact the Amana Colonies Visitor Center at info@amanacolonies.com or 319-622-7622.

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