It's Veishea week in Ames, the annual celebration of tradition and student life at Iowa State University. Through Saturday, April 12, campus will be busy with student competitions, free entertainment, great food and family fun. Here's a sample of what's planned this week:
Campus parade
A Veishea favorite, the Saturday morning parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. and wind its way through campus from northwest to southeast. This year's parade will include 100-plus entries – including six bands and about 10 floats. Dignitaries include parade marshal and international opera star Simon Estes, Gov. Terry Branstad and President Steven Leath with first lady Janet Leath.
Under a new strategy, the floats will be constructed through partnerships between College of Design student teams and the sponsoring student organization or council. Float building will be going on all week (3-10 p.m.) inside at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' new Hansen Agriculture Learning Center on Mortensen Road.
Iowa Staters Steven Mickelson, chair of agriculture and biosystems engineering; and Terry Mason, director of Student Counseling Services, return in their roles as television hosts of the parade for Mediacom.
The recording will be broadcast statewide on Mediacom's Connections (channel 22 in central Iowa) at these times:
- Veishea Saturday: 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday, April 13: 8 p.m.
- Monday, April 14: 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 16: 7 p.m.
Additionally, ISU seniors Kyle Steingreaber and Chris Cox will announce the parade entries from a booth in front of Beardshear Hall.
Cherry pie 5K
The annual 5K run to benefit the Veishea scholarship fund for high school students has a new cherry pie twist this year. At three points along the campus route, runners have the option of competing in an eating challenge, with their times adjusted downward for how much they consume. The three stations will feature graham crackers, cherry pie filling and whipped cream. Entry fee is $20; the race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday south of the Molecular Biology Building and ends there, too.
Fun at Veishea Village
A near-record 145 campus and community organizations are expected to host activities at Veishea Village and Main Street on central campus and in campus buildings Saturday (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). All of Iowa State's colleges are represented. A special focus again this year is STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. Visit the Insect Zoo on the fourth floor of Science II (and stop for some insect fondue on the first floor), let the kids ride a pony at the horse barns on Pammel Road, check out the Lunabotics Club and Robotics Club's latest projects or watch a 3D printer in action at central campus tents. The Dairy Science Club will sell six flavors of homemade ice cream outside Lush Auditorium in Kildee Hall. Take a self-guided tour through the renovated Curtiss Hall, including a new student commons beneath the auditorium, student services wing and gallery in the dean's suite.
Kid's Corner (noon-3 p.m., lawn south of the Campanile), features free entertainment – juggling, face painting, magic and characters from the PBS television show The Zinghoppers.
There will be tours of the Campanile from 1 to 2:30 p.m., followed by a student carillon concert (3-3:30 p.m.). Included in the concert lineup will be the Cunningham trio, siblings Craig (2012 biology grad), senior Carrie and sophomore Cayla, both elementary education majors. Side by side on the same carillon bench, the Cunninghams will perform the theme song from the hit HBO television show Game of Thrones.
The College of Veterinary Medicine will hold its open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday indoors at the Vet Med complex. Events that showcase the veterinary profession include a petting zoo, wildlife and exotic pet exhibits, teddy bear surgery, dress like a surgeon, facility tours and more. Visitors should use the Christensen Drive (west) entry to the campus and enter the doors near the CyRide bus stop.
Horticulture Club members will sell annuals, perennials, tomatoes, peppers and herbs on Saturday (9 a.m.-5 p.m., 0045 Horticulture Hall; look for directional signs). Prices range from $4 (4-inch containers) to $30 (14-inch planters).
Good things to eat
Hospitality management students will make and sell an estimated 14,200 cherry pies on Friday (7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Saturday (7:30 a.m. until they're sold out, 16 MacKay). Pies are $1 each; proceeds help fund scholarships.
The International Food Fair, hosted by the International Student Council in the Memorial Union Great Hall (11 a.m.-3 p.m. or until samples are gone), features samples of dozens of food items and beverages from around the globe. Admission is $3; clubs also charge a small fee per sample.
Look for student-run grill stands on campus, serving Friday afternoon (noon-5 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m.-4 p.m.). Food vendors at the Taste of Veishea along the north shore of Lake LaVerne will provide funnel cakes, corn dogs and other carnival favorites Friday (5 p.m.-3 a.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.-3 a.m.). Pancakes (all you can eat) and sausage will be served on central campus Saturday morning (8:30-11a.m.); admission is $5.
Distinguished awards
The ISU Foundation and ISU Alumni Association will bestow the university's highest awards to alumni and friends during the annual Distinguished Awards Ceremony on Friday (1:30 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room). It is open to the public.
Free evening entertainment
Enjoy nightly free evening entertainment in the Memorial Union, courtesy of Veishea. Iowa State students are the performers Tuesday through Thursday in these competitions:
- "Veishea Says I'm Funny" standup comedy competition, Tuesday, April 8 (8 p.m., Maintenance Shop)
- Dance competition, Wednesday, April 9 (8 p.m., Great Hall)
- Final round of Cyclone Idol, Thursday, April 10 (7 p.m., Great Hall). Kristian Bush, the male voice in the country music duo Sugarland, will host the show. Bush also will perform at the conclusion of Cyclone Idol, approximately 8:30 p.m.
The fun on Friday and Saturday nights begins at 9 p.m., also in the Great Hall. Friday performers include actress and comedian Nicole Byer (9 p.m.) and Scottish regurgitator Stevie Starr (11 p.m.). On Saturday night you can enjoy hypnotist Brian Imbus (9 p.m.), magician Justin Willman (11 p.m.) and a wireless interactive trivia experience, ThinkFast (1 a.m.). Comedian David Koechner will give a free show Saturday at Stephens Auditorium (10 p.m., doors open at 9 p.m.).
Club Veishea on Friday and Saturday (10 p.m.-2 a.m., northwest of the Campanile) provides an outdoor dance club atmosphere with live music.
Stars Over Veishea musical
A collaborative effort between ISU Theatre and the music department, this year's musical, Into the Woods, began its two-weekend run on April 4. Remaining shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, all in Fisher Theater. Tickets ($24 adults, $16 students) are available at the Iowa State Center ticket office or through Ticketmaster.
Live@Veishea outdoor concerts
ISU students, faculty, staff and alumni may purchase tickets for the Friday and Saturday night outdoor concerts. The stage is east of the Carver Co-Lab in the northwest corner of campus. Faculty, staff and students should buy tickets online ($20 for one night or $25 for both nights). Tickets are exchanged for wristbands at the concert venue. The concerts will be held rain or shine and tickets are nonrefundable. Weapons, umbrellas, bags, backpacks and outside food and drinks are prohibited at the concerts. Pizza slices and water will be sold at the concerts (6 p.m.-1 a.m. nightly).
Through 4 p.m. Friday, anyone with a valid Iowa State ID can purchase up to five tickets. After that time, including at the concert venue, tickets are $25 per night.
Spring football
The Cyclone Gridiron Club spring football game, an intrasquad scrimmage, begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Admission is free; fans should enter through Gate 1 (NE gate) and sit on the east side of the stadium. A live audio broadcast on some Iowa stations in the Cyclone Radio Network and on Cyclones.tv will begin at 1:45 p.m.
Parking lot closures for outdoor concerts
Sections of parking lots 28 (general staff) and 29 (commuter students) north of the Communications, Molecular Biology and Metals Development buildings will be closed in phases to parking permit holders later next week in order to prepare for the Live@Veishea outdoor concerts Friday and Saturday nights. Veishea committee members will put flyers on cars in the affected lots beginning Monday.
Veishea favorites
Friday, April 11
- 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Cherry pie sales, Tearoom, MacKay Hall
- 1:30 p.m., Distinguished Awards Celebration, MU Sun Room
- 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Live@Veishea concert, parking lots north of Molecular Biology
Saturday, April 12
- 7:30 a.m. until sold out, Cherry pie sales, Tearoom, MacKay Hall
- 8:30-11 a.m., Pancake breakfast, central campus
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Veishea Village and STEM festival, central campus
- 10:30 a.m., Parade, central campus route
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Open house at College of Veterinary Medicine
- 2 p.m., Cyclone football intrasquad spring game, Jack Trice Stadium
- 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Live@Veishea concert, parking lots north of Molecular Biology
