Musicians from the El Kahir Shrine play to the parade crowd gathered for Maifest earlier this month in Amana, Iowa. Annually the Shriners parade clowns, small cars, and a special float supporting a small army of red jacketed members.
Showing posts with label Maifest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maifest. Show all posts
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
At Maifest 2014, the Clear Creek Amana Marching Band paraded the entire length (and back) of main Amana. Many locals have commented that the band's presence at the annual parade is a highlight and validates the occasion. The marchers may be small in number, but they certainly liven up the parade route with Sousa music. What else would you expect from the heartland of America?
Sunday, 5 May 2013
A tale of two days. Yesterday's opening Maifest activities in Amana, Iowa were filled with clouds and hard rain during the late afternoon. Today's fog gave way to bright sunshine which brought people out to see the celebration of May including several performances by the Maipole dancers. See photos from PART 1 here.
Traditional German music played on an accordion entertained visitors throughout Amana this weekend.
Nothing like 70 degree weather to bring out families to taste Maifest's sweets.
Linda Dolph runs Country Gentleman's Horse & Carriage Service Company. They provide horses and carriages for rides around Amana at Maifest time.
Purple is IN for these two visitors. Bus loads of people from around the area came to experience the sites, sounds and smells of Maifest. The furthest bus load of travelers arrived from Corpus Christi, Texas this morning to see several sites in the Midwest. During their trip the Texans were treated to several inches of snow in central Iowa during the past few days.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Maifest, the annual celebration of Spring was held rain or shine (we had both) in the German heritage village of Amana, Iowa today. The highlight of the two day festival is the maipole dance which is performed several times throughout the two day event. Young women dressed in traditional costume dance and sing (in German) around two maipoles as hundreds of festival goers watch. Today bus loads of tourists from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin were on hand to watch. Many people came to Amana after some events of the annual tulip festival in Pella, Iowa was cancelled due to snow received on Friday.
If you are not watching the maipole dancers most likely you are eating German food or shopping. These two antique shoppers found a Dewars Scotch wooden box that they plan to decorate. Inside the wooden crate were four blue glass mason jars.
Face painting is always a hit with the young. This girl's face was a canvas for an intricate design. Her younger sister had already smeared half her face paint off and refused to be photographed.
By the end of Saturday, Mr. Christmas came by to say hello. Actually his name is Dave. His white beard helps him to play Kris Kringle throughout eastern Iowa. Santa's presence helped to bring snow to western, central and northern Iowa yesterday but only rain to Maifest - this time.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Occassionally several elements of photo composition, lighting and cooperation from the model come together. This was the case while in Amana, Iowa to photograph Maifest this past weekend. A bit removed from legions of visitors who absorbed the German heritage Spring celebration, this cat relaxed on a home's front yard. Situated between dandelions, creeping charlie and a few blades of grass, the feral-looking cat's intense green eyes complimented its surroundings with a message of "I'm tracking you." Apparently even the lure of brats, music and beer just blocks away was not enough to deter green-eyes from watching a strange passersby. Know that.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Maifest in the Amana Colonies is one of a series of annual celebrations with themes of season, German, Amana, agrarian, and family. This past weekend's three day celebration in Main Amana featured traditional May pole dancers, German polka music and of course lots of food and beer. Saturday's exceptional summer-like weather brought many people out early to see the sights, hear the music and chow on brats and locally brewed Millstream Beer. 
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