Celebrate Winterfest 2012 Saturday, Jan. 28

Winterfest will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, in Amana. A variety of indoor and outdoor events are planned as follows:
At the Market Barn on main street in Amana:
• Open fire chili, 11 a.m. The Amana Firefighters will serve chili, cider, coffee and hot chocolate starting at 11 a.m. until it’s gone. All proceeds go to benefit the Amana Fire Association.
• Log sawing competition, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams of two can compete to see how fast they are with an old-fashioned cross-cut saw or try it just for fun. Winners announced at 1:30 p.m.; sponsored by the Amana Forestry Department.
• Hammerschlagen, 11 a.m. to  1 p.m. Compete to be the first to drive a nail into a cross-section of a log to be a winner in this fast-paced game; sponsored by the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop.
• The Great Amana Ham-Put,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. See how far you can fling a ham in this shot-put style event. Winners announced at 1:30 p.m. after the best beard competition; sponsored by the Amana Meat Shop.
• Eisbahn Ice Rink, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your own skates or slide on your shoes on the Amana Eisbahn Ice Rink between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Free.
• Winter Wreath Toss, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ring a Christmas wreath around a cone to win a prize. Winners announced at 1:30 p.m.; sponsored by Amana Colonies Heating and Cooling.
• Best beard competition, 1 p.m. Competitors are invited to show off their beards and compete for prizes. Categories are fullest, most unique and best overall. Sponsored by Schanz Furniture and Refinishing Shop, South Amana.
• Meet the Winterfest Ice Princess, 1 to 2 p.m. Come to the Market Barn and meet Alyssa Priebe, the 2012 Winterfest Ice Princess. She will also be at various businesses throughout Amana all day.
Events throughout the Amana Colonies:
• Winterfest scavenger hunt, all day: Pick up an entry form at one of these participating businesses, then complete 10 or more answers for a chance to win an Amana Colonies gift basket. Bring the completed forms to the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse and receive a free cookie specially made by the South Amana Bakery. Carl Oehl, retired Amana Burgermeister, will draw the winner of the gift basket at 5 p.m. at the Meat Shop.
• Cooking on the Communal Hearth, 8:30 a.m. Enjoy breakfast the way it used to be at the Amana Communal Kitchen. Limited seating available; admission $15 per person. For reservations call the Amana Heritage Museum at (319) 622-3567.
• Amana Freezer 5k Run/Walk.    Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Appliance Center and the race starts at 10 a.m. at the Woolen Mill. All proceeds benefit the Kolonieweg Recreation Trail
• Amana quilting demonstration, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come to Heritage Designs to see Amana quilters create a beautiful heirloom using an original, communal-era design.
• Free schnitzel samples, 11 a.m. Visit the Ronneburg Restaurant and try wiener schnitzel and chicken schnitzel samples from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Eagle watch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Watch for eagles at the Lily Lake Shelter and learn about their natural habitat.
• Knitting and spinning, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Graham’s Hand Carding and Spinning and free cookies and coffee at the Woolen Mill all day long.
• Door prizes at Amazing Grace Antiques and Gifts all day.
Register all day for door prizes of handmade soap.
• Winterfest shuttle, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Catch a ride on this free shuttle to your next Winterfest activity, compliments of the Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Center.
• Free admission, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Stop in to the Amana Heritage Museum to learn about Amana’s rich history.
• Candy-making demonstration, 1 p.m. Learn how to make chocolate-marshmallow snowmen at the Chocolate Haus.
• Make your own snow globe,
1 to 3 p.m. Come to the Amana General Store and make and take your own snow globe for $4. All ages welcome!
•Furniture shop tours, 1 and 3 p.m. Check things out behind the scenes at the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop.
• Icicle decorating at the Woolen Mill, 1 to 4 p.m. Kids can decorate an Amana quill with glitter to take home for $2.
• Ice harvesting, 2 p.m. See how ice was cut and harvested in years past. Located on the Millrace just past the Woolen Mill and Millstream Brewery, weather and water levels permitting.
• Marshmallow roast, 2 p.m.
Warm up at the Millstream Brewery bonfire and enjoy roasting marshmallows around the fire.
• Pictures with Yokey the Bear, 2 to 4 p.m. Kids can visit the Ox Yoke Inn and have their pictures taken with Yokey the Bear. Downstairs in the Bierstube, try some “Oxen wings” and winter specials 11 a.m. to 9 pm.
• Lehm Books and Gifts door prize drawing, all day, register to win a snowman. Drawing will happen at the end of the day Saturday, need not be present to win.
• Winter Warmer-Upper Wine Walk, all day. Try hot spiced wine and other samples as you travel from winery to winery. A total of six wineries are participating.
• Chocolate dipping, all day.
Kids can visit the Chocolate Haus and dip their own chocolate for only $3.50.
• Live entertainment at the Bierstube, 5 to 9 p.m. Music throughout the evening and specials all day at the Bierstube, located in the lower level of the Ox Yoke Inn.
• Silver Wings at the Ronneburg, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the live music of eastern Iowa’s favorite Beatles tribute band at the Ronneburg.
Activities subject to change in the event of inclement weather. Call (800) 579-2294 for up-to-date information.

Tagged as: Amana Colonies, Winterfest