Mahanay Bell Tower – Page 21 – Mahanay Bell Tower

Mahanay Bell Tower 54th Birthday Concert

Peg Raney on October 1, 2020

The community will enjoy a live concert to celebrate the 54th birthday of the dedication of the Mahanay Bell Tower on Friday, October 16 from 5 – 6 p.m. Four local musicians will play 15 minutes each with a variety of tunes. The Tower Tunes Live Concert will be shared as a Facebook Live event on the Mahanay Bell Tower’s Facebook page. For those listening in person on the square, the Bell Tower Community Foundation Board will be passing out 54 Ding Dong treats along with a penny that could be used in the penny press souvenir machine located in the Bell Tower lobby.

The Mahanay Bell Tower has moved to October hours open each Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Those wanting to make an appointment for a tour at other times can call Jefferson Matters: Main Street & Chamber at 515-386-2155.

Tower Tunes Live concert

Peg Raney on August 6, 2020

Wendy VanderLinden will be playing the carillon today in memory of her father, whose birthday would have been today.

Tower Tunes Live concerts on Memorial Day Weekend

Fusebox Marketing on May 16, 2020

The Bell Tower Community Foundation has scheduled special Tower Tunes Live concerts for Memorial Day weekend. A variety of patriotic songs and hymns will be played by three musicians over the weekend to celebrate this important holiday.

Wendy VanderLinden will play on Saturday, May 23 from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Yvette Bardole will play on Sunday, May 24 from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Rick Morain will play on Memorial Day, May 25 from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. with this concert offered on Facebook Live.

At this time, the Mahanay Carillon Tower is not open to the public for tours but the community can still enjoy the music of the bells. The bells continue to play each hour digitally with the Westminster Chimes at each quarter hour. The four octave carillon also plays several selections after each hour.

Other special Tower Tunes Live concerts for the summer are being planned. The Chews Jefferson concerts every Wednesday in June and July will also take place.

Please check the Mahanay Bell Tower website at www.mahanaybelltower.org or the Facebook page for info on the Tower.

The Bell Tower Foundation oversees the staffing and marketing of the Mahanay Bell Tower through the partnership with the Greene County Supervisors and City of Jefferson. Board members include Carole Custer, Peg Raney, Jean Feldmann, Nancy Gerken, Wendy VanderLinden, Don Van Gilder, Tim Christiansen, Bob Schwarzkopf, Pete Bardole and Pat Richards.

Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Tower

Peg Raney on November 16, 2019

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available to visit with children after the community tree lighting on Thursday, December 5 from 6:45 – 7:30 pm. There is no admission fee. Children and their families will ride the elevator to the observation deck where Santa & Mrs. Claus will speak with them.

Christmas at the Tower

Fusebox Marketing on November 16, 2019

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will be a location for several holiday activities this season. Each Tuesday and Thursday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Tower Tunes Live concerts will be played from 5:15 – 5:30 p.m. by local musicians. These musicians will choose their own music so listen for a wide variety of holiday tunes while shopping in Jefferson.

The schedule is:

Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Pat Richards

Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Lois Last

Thursday, Dec. 5 – Rick Morain

Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Rhena Lane

Thursday, Dec. 12 – Yvette Bardole

Tuesday, Dec. 17 – Wendy VanderLinden

Thursday, Dec. 19 – Danille Curtis

On Thursday, Dec. 5, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with children in the Paul Nally Observation Deck of the Bell Tower from 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. as part of the Christmas Tree Lighting activities in Jefferson.

The Tower also celebrates the holidays with Christmas bells that light up in the observation deck of the tower. Board member Craig Berry worked on restringing the bell frames with LED lights to be a beacon of Christmas throughout the holidays in downtown Jefferson. These lights can be seen for miles as people approach the community.

Chews Jefferson

Peg Raney on July 10, 2019

On Wednesdays, get a take out lunch and come listen to the Tower Tunes Live concert on the Square.

Chews Jefferson

Fusebox Marketing on June 6, 2019

Chews Jeffersonis the catchy title of a new event of the Promotion Committee in coordination of the Mahanay Bell Tower’s Tower Tunes Liveconcerts. This is the third year of the daily live concerts from 12:15 – 12:30 pm with local musicians sharing their talents by playing the carillon. An idea emerged to draw people to eat their lunch while listening to the concerts near the Tower. It is like Java & Juice, only bring your own lunch and it is on Wednesdays!

The Promotion committee contacted local eateries to offer a take-out special on Wednesdays in June. One restaurant each Wednesday would be the featured spot for people to stop in and get a $5 take-out lunch. Call ahead to have it ready for you. Then head to the Bell Tower Plaza, Thomas Jefferson Gardens, or Sally’s Alley to enjoy the concert during lunch. Everyone is invited to “Chews Jefferson” on Wednesdays.

Lynda Cochran and Angie Reese-Heuser are chairing this event for the month of June working with restaurants in the Main Street District. Debra McGinn is helping with publicity. The Promotion committee plans to work with the Chamber of Commerce to see if other restaurants around Jefferson would be willing to offer a $5 take-out meal on a specific Wednesday during the rest of the summer.