Saturday, May 4, 2013

The Many Faces of Amana's Maifest 2013 Part 1


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.

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