2026 Annual Members' Show Group Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts May 21 - June 27 in the Octagon Community Gallery About this group exhibition: This non-juried show celebrates the skills, creativity, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work […]
We provide the flower pot and paint, you create a beautiful home for your plants! We will have plants available for a small fee or give one of your own plants a new home. Open to all ages. Refreshments available for a donation.
Music is back at the Octagon this summer! Join us on the patio, on the west side of the Octagon, from 5:30-8:00 PM on Thursday, July 16 for an evening of great music. This is a free event for all ages. Drinks will be available for a donation.
The Octagon is holding its second annual poetry slam! Last year brought creative writers and lyricists and we are excited to see who participates this year! Come hear original work from local poets of all ages and styles. The event will begin at 5:30 and poets will take the stage at 6:00. This is a […]
Octagon 60th Birthday Hullabaloo Octagon History Exhibition by the Octagon Staff Exhibition Dates: August 31, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day TBD – Exhibition Reception October 10, 2026 – Exhibition Closes
Music Walk is back for another year and we are thrilled to have Foxpin back with us. Join us on the patio for great music, a place to sit and relax and refreshments for a donation. This all-ages event is a part of the downtown event that showcases musicians from central Iowa. We hope you […]
The Octagon Art Festival takes place the fourth Sunday of September along Main Street in downtown Ames, IA. The festival is held outdoors on pavement, RAIN OR SHINE. Visual arts, children’s art area, food vendors and performing arts form the foundation of the Octagon Art Festival. Approximately 10,000 people attend the festival.
If your first response is confusion, you’re not alone. If your first response is oh, I remember that, then you’ve been around Ames for a while. In honor of our 60th anniversary, Puppets and Cheese is returning for a one-night only event! This all ages event features a puppet show, cheese (of course) and you […]
If you love to be creative but are intimidated by the idea of painting, drawing or throwing clay, this is the night for you. Join our group of mixed media artists and experiment with different found objects, paper and ephemera to create your own unique piece of art. This is an activity that allows your […]
4th Annual Winter Market Event by Octagon Shop Event Dates: November 23, 2026 – Event Opening Day December 24, 2026 – Event Closes About This Event: The Octagon will hold the 4rd annual Winter Market, featuring great finds on holiday-themed artworks from local artists and week-by-week special deals.
About Us
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a non-profit community art center in the heart of downtown Ames, Iowa. A cornerstone of the cultural scene in Ames since 1966, the Octagon serves more than 30,000 people each year through art classes and outreach, rotating exhibits, a retail gallery shop, and the annual Octagon Art Festival.
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded in part through memberships, donations, and grants, including the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) and the Iowa Arts Council.
© 2025 Octagon Center for the Arts. All rights reserved.
Octagon Center for the Arts
413 & 427 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-232-5331
Email: info@octagonarts.org
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Octagon Shop and Community Gallery
Monday-Wednesday 10:00am-5:30pm
Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm
Friday 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday CLOSED (except during the holidays)