Alumapalooza

10/09/2026

And now for something completely different..I never thought I would be posting this for Alumapalooza!
Any horse people out there that might fancy a trail ride?
Well I have located a vendor. Here's the details:

True Heart Equine Enrichment. They are located between Cedar Rapids and North Liberty (roughly 7 minutes south of the Swisher exit), making them a convenient drive from the Colonies.

Details:

Experience: They offer guided trail rides through wooded trails and rolling hills with views of the Iowa River. They cater to both beginners and experienced riders.
www.trueheartequine.com

Pricing: (Could change, call them or visit their website)
1 Hour Trail Ride: $65 per rider

2 Hour Trail Ride: $130 per rider

4 Hour Trail Ride: $260 per rider
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Private 2-person 1-hour ride: $150

Requirements & Policies:
Reservations: Required (no walk-ins).

Footwear: Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are mandatory; sandals are not permitted.

Age/Weight: Riders must be age 5 and up. There is a weight limit of 280 lbs.
trueheartequine.com
Safety: Helmets are required for all minors.

Where feeling transcends words. Where people and horses come together in partnership.

10/07/2026

Amana seriously has something for everyone!
Active person? Take a walk or a bike ride.
Into history? See Monday's post about that.
Into arts and crafts? This post is for you!

Go to www.alumapalooza.com to register!

The Amana Art Guild and Collective Scene

The heart of the artistic community is the Amana Art Guild. Rather than a single museum building, the Guild operates as a collective of professional artists who maintain studios throughout the colonies.

Visitors can engage with the scene through:

Open Studio Tours: Periodically, artists open their private workspaces to the public, allowing visitors to see the creative process in real-time, from the kiln to the canvas.

The Amana Art Guild Gallery: This serves as the primary showcase for the collective, featuring a rotating selection of works from local members. It acts as the "hub" for those looking to see a cross-section of the current regional style.

Diverse Mediums: While the region is famous for its textile arts, the scene includes a heavy emphasis on landscape painting (inspired by the surrounding Iowa river valley), contemporary sculpture, and mixed-media installations.

Specialized Art & Craft Centers

While Amana does not have a traditional "Fine Arts Museum" in the sense of a massive metropolitan institution, it has several specialized centers that function as living museums:

The Amana Woolen Mill: This is essentially a functional museum of textile art. It preserves the heritage of weaving and spinning, showcasing how the communal society used art to meet practical needs.

Pottery and Ceramics Studios: Several independent potters operate in the villages, focusing on stoneware and ceramics that echo the utilitarian aesthetic of the original settlers while incorporating modern artistic techniques.

Woodworking Shops: The tradition of Amana furniture is an art form in itself. The precision and simplicity of the furniture produced here are treated as a legacy of design and are showcased in various showrooms.

10/06/2026

One night, we aren't sure which one yet, there will be an event.. Alumpalooza bottle share. Bring a bottle or a can of anything, B**r, w**e, c***r, liquor, or something non alcoholic to share! This has always been a fun event. No pre registration is required! Mingling is required! Great way to meet folks.

10/05/2026

When you join us at Alumapalooza 17 July 13-18, 2027 in Amana Iowa you will coming in to a place that is rather unique and you'll have several days to explore and learn about what life was back then and see what its like now. here's a list of places to start your Amana journey:
Immersive Education

Heritage Museum Tours: The museum provides a comprehensive look at the transition from communalism to capitalism, featuring artifacts from the daily lives of the Inspirationists.

Guided Village Walks: Walking tours through the seven villages highlight the specific layout of the community, showing how the proximity of homes and workshops facilitated their cooperative lifestyle.

Homestead Exploration: Visiting the Homestead village allows visitors to see the earliest settlers' footprints and understand the challenges of carving a society out of the Iowa wilderness.

Living Traditions

Artisan Workshops: Participating in or observing demonstrations at the Amana Woolen Mill or local pottery studios connects visitors to the "work as worship" ethic of the founders.

Traditional Culinary Experiences: Dining on traditional recipes—such as Amana-style preserves, breads, and meats—is a direct way to experience the flavors of the communal kitchens.

Handcrafted Shopping: Purchasing items from the General Store or local guilds supports the continued practice of the crafts (weaving, quilting, and carpentry) that were essential to the colony's survival.

We really hope you make plans to join us at this unique place!

10/04/2026

We've taken AlumaEvents on to other platforms, we are just getting started with them but would appreciate picking up some followers. Some of the content will be cookie cutter from this and Skinny Flamingo but we will be trying to get original content up on those platforms as well!

X (formally known as Twitter)
Instagram Alumaevents2020

Thank you!!

09/30/2026

If you're coming to Alumapalooza July 13-18th 2027 bring your bikes and walking shoes and enjoy many different trails!
I've put together a list of trails that anyone can enjoy, just remember safety is important so bring plenty of water and a bike helmet as wanted. (There is no legal requirement the state of Iowa to wear a helmet.)

Kolonieweg / Colony Way
Walk or bike between Amana and Middle Amana. The route passes Lily Lake, the millrace, pasture, farmland, and prairie-like scenery.
3.1 miles one way; easy. Mostly paved, with a short gravel section.

Amana Colonies Trail loop
Ride the signed Amana Colonies Trail, a scenic road loop connecting all seven villages.
About 14 miles; moderate by distance. Best for road bikes, hybrids, or e-bikes.

East Amana bike route
Use the marked bike connection from the Colony Way area toward East Amana and the Amana Colonies Golf Course.
Easy to moderate; route conditions may vary.

Gravel Route A
Start in Middle Amana and ride through wooded countryside to High Amana.
About 7 miles round trip; moderately easy. Gravel/touring bike recommended.

Gravel Route B
Ride from Middle Amana toward West Amana through rural scenery and historic areas.
Check the current route map and surface conditions at the Visitors Center.

Village walking tour
Walk the historic streets of Amana, Middle Amana, and nearby villages, combining architecture, gardens, shops, and historic sites.
Flexible; mostly easy walking.

Lily Lake and Amana Depot area
Use the Lily Lake/Depot section as a short walk, picnic stop, or starting point for the Kolonieweg.
Easy; good for a relaxed outing.

Fireside Winery grounds
Combine a countryside drive or bike ride with a walk around the landscaped w**ery grounds and a tasting.
Easy walking; verify 2027 hours and events.

For more information visit:

The Kolonieweg, or Colony Way, is a 3.1-mile trail connecting the villages of Amana and Middle Amana. Most of the trail is paved, but a small portion

09/29/2026

Are you into textile art? If you are, you *really* want to be at Alumapalooza 17 in Amana Iowa, July 13-18th 2027. Textiles are huge there - with quite the history.
Just a teaser here, as of today these are some of the stores around the area. You'll want to grab your fellow artists and explore these stores:

Heritage Designs, at 614 46th Avenue in Amana, is a dedicated quilt and fabric shop. The Amana Colonies visitor guide describes a selection of more than 3,500 fabrics ranging from traditional to contemporary, along with quilting, cross-stitch, embroidery, and tatting supplies.
This is a particularly good stop for quilters and anyone interested in traditional textile needlework.

Fern Hill Gifts and Quilts in South Amana is another destination for fabric and quilting enthusiasts. The shop includes a substantial fabric area and combines quilting materials with gifts and antique/salvage items.

The Woolen Needle
A short drive from Amana, The Woolen Needle in Williamsburg specializes in wool and traditional fiber arts. Its selection includes wool fabric, hand-dyed wool, quilting supplies, kits, patterns, and materials for wool applique, rug hooking, penny rugs, and punch needle.
For someone specifically interested in working with wool rather than simply purchasing finished woolen goods, this is a particularly relevant nearby destination.

Oldhaus Fibers
Oldhaus Fibers is a small fiber business in the Amana area associated with Angora rabbits and Angora wool. Its focus makes it different from a traditional quilt shop and potentially interesting to fiber artists interested in specialty animal fibers.
Because it is a small maker-oriented operation, visitors should contact the business before making a special trip to confirm current availability.

Rainbows & Calico Things Quilt Shop
For another nearby fabric destination, Rainbows & Calico Things Quilt Shop is located near Williamsburg. It focuses on quilting fabric and supplies and can be a useful addition to a larger Amana-area quilt-shopping trip.

09/28/2026

If you're here you know about Alumapalooza, but did you know we also host an event in Florida called Skinny Flamingo ? if you have a need or a want to escape the winter, come join us in Land O Lakes Florida Feb 10 - 15th. There will be food, entertainment, Super Bowl party and a ton of stuff to do in the area. Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Tampa are all with in an easy drive. Camping will have basic power, water, drop grey on the ground, there will be porta potty's and a generator area for anyone who wants it, but to be honest you'll likely run your furnace! If you want to know more head on over to the Skinny Flamingo page. If you are convinced head over to skinnyflamingo.com and sign on up! We are limited on space so first come first served!!

09/14/2026

Has everyone started working on their winter travel plans yet? Skinny Flamingo down in Land O Lakes Florida should be in your plans!
There is A LOT to do in Land O Lakes and the surrounding areas and we have been busy getting this information gathered for you so you can make some plans for the days at the rally!
I will be adding a little bit at a time as the amount of information can be a bit overwhelming. There is something for everyone as you will see. There are no hyperlinks but there is enough for you talk to AI or do a google search for more information.

Let's begin with the outdoor events as the weather will be delightful for this!

Outdoor activities near Land O’ Lakes:

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park — Hike, bike, observe wildlife, or picnic among pine flatwoods and open habitats.

Suncoast Trail — Good for walking, jogging, and cycling; bring water and sun protection.

Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex — Walking paths, sports fields, tennis, green space, and recreation facilities.

Crews Lake Wilderness Park — Picnic, fish, walk, and enjoy a quieter natural setting.

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park — About 30–40 minutes west in Port Richey. Hike the Springs and Eagle trails, bird-watch, picnic, or kayak through mangroves and tidal waterways. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset; kayak rentals are generally available Thursday through Sunday. floridastateparks.org

James E. Grey Preserve — Short nature walks and wildlife viewing near New Port Richey.

Anclote River Park — Waterfront views, fishing, picnicking, and access to the river.

Hillsborough River State Park — Hiking, wildlife viewing, picnic areas, and river scenery east of Land O’ Lakes.

C**t Creek State Park — Hiking, fishing, paddling, and birding north of the area.

Giraffe Ranch in Dade City — A guided wildlife experience that is especially pleasant during Florida’s cooler winter weather. Reservations are typically required. cbaquaterrarealty.com