Tower Tunes – Mahanay Bell Tower

Father’s Day Tower Tunes Live Concert

donvg on June 12, 2024

The Mahanay Bell Tower will feature a special Father’s Day Tower Tunes Live Concert on Sunday, June 16. Mahanay Maestro Yvette Bardole will play selections on the carillon from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. The public is invited to gather downtown to listen.

The Mahanay Bell Tower is now open daily. Hours are 10 am – 4 pm.

The carillon will play music digitally throughout the weekend with two tunes after each hour from 9 am – 7 pm. The new Jefferson Chimes fanfare will play daily after 8 am and 8 pm.

The Mahanay Bell Tower is lit up with LED lights every Friday and Saturday night after dusk.

For more information about the tower and activities, follow the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page and check out thewebsite www.mahanaybelltower.org

Tower Tunes Live & Name That Tower Tune 2024 Schedule

donvg on May 28, 2024

For more information about each Tower Tunes Live & Name That Tower Tune concert check out the Events tab from the Experience main menu item at the top of this page.

Name That Tower Tune

Fusebox Marketing on May 17, 2023

Do you like trivia? Especially musical trivia? Then plan to play Name That Tower Tune during the Wednesday Tower Tunes Live concerts at the Mahanay Bell Tower. Mahanay Maestros will play the four octave carillon from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. with songs of their choice. The entirety of each song will be played, not just a few notes.

Participants will have an official sheet to write down the titles of the songs. No cell phones or song identification apps are allowed. At the end of the live concert, the Mahanay Maestro will announce the correct titles. Mahanay Music Committee members will assist the participants and determine a winner. Prizes will be awarded. Music Committee members include Nancy Teusch, Janet Durlam, Joann Rasmussen, Ces Brunow, Pat Richards, Don VanGilder, Peg Raney and Bill Monroe.

The Name That Tower Tune event will begin on Wednesday, May 31 with Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain and continue each Wednesday through the end of June. Participants are encouraged to arrive at the Mahanay Bell Tower soon after noon to receive a sheet and instructions prior to the 12:15 pm live concert.

The Bell Tower Foundation encourages people to pick up a to-go lunch at any of the local restaurants and enjoy it on the Bell Tower Plaza during these lunch time events.

Name That Tower Tune Live Concert

Peg Raney on May 7, 2023

A Mahanay Maestro will play the carillon with songs of their choice. Individuals or groups will write down the titles of the songs. The Maestro will announce the titles at the end. Prizes are awarded!

Opening for 2023

Fusebox Marketing on May 6, 2023

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, recently ranked as the #1 rural tourist attraction in Iowa, officially is open weekends in May. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm. The tower will be open daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. The hours remain at 10 am – 4 pm. Appointments for special tours during the week in May or at other hours during the season when the tower is not open to the public can be made by calling the Welcome Center at 515-386-2155.

The four octaves of bells play the Westminster chimes at each quarter hour throughout the day. A carillon concert of two songs is played after each hour from 8 am – 8 pm. Mahanay Maestros, local and area musicians, provide special Tower Tunes Live concerts during the season. For a schedule go to www.mahanaybelltower.org

An elevator, handicap accessible, takes visitors to the glass-enclosed Nally Observation Deck up 128 feet for a view of the landscape of five counties and the five installations of rooftop art on buildings around the square. Local artist Dana Harrison is currently working on another rooftop art creation, a project of the Tower View Team of Jefferson Matters. Four new Ring Out for Art sculptures have been installed for the season on the Bell Tower Plaza.

The lobby has souvenirs and a video and historical items telling the story of the tower and the Jefferson community. A display honors the many Bell Tower of Fame Award recipients. The hospitality-trained tower tour guides are very knowledgeable about the history of the tower and Greene County.

Tower admission is $5 for adults. Youth 18-years old and younger are admitted free, courtesy of annual sponsors. The 2023 sponsors are the Victor Zike Trust and the Rosalene (Kay) Zike Trust, in memory of the parents of Bell Tower Foundation President Carole Custer. Season passes are available at the tower for $25.

For more information about the tower and its activities, follow the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page and check out its website www.mahanaybelltower.org

Chews Jefferson concerts every Wednesday

Fusebox Marketing on May 31, 2022

Chews Jefferson is a Wednesday lunch event for the summer. It will begin on Wednesday, June 1 and continue each week through the end of August. Residents and visitors are encouraged to order take-out lunch from the many restaurants in Jefferson, and enjoy a Tower Tunes Live concert downtown. A variety of Mahanay Maestros will be playing live each Wednesday from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Each will select their own playlist. The lunch and the music will be a treat for all to enjoy!

This popular event is a promotion coordinated with Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community and the Bell Tower Community Foundation.

Christmas Tower Tunes Live

Peg Raney on December 15, 2021

Come downtown to listen to Christmas Tower Tunes Live concert Thursday from 5:15 – 5:30 pm

Christmas Tower Tunes Live concerts

Fusebox Marketing on November 16, 2021

The Mahanay Bell Tower will be celebrating the upcoming Christmas season with carillon music played throughout the day. A variety of tunes will continue after each hour from 8 am – 8 pm coordinated by Bill Monroe.

Christmas Tower Tunes Live concerts will be played by local Mahanay Maestros each Sunday from 12:15 – 12:30 pm and Thursday from 5:15 – 5:30 pm from Nov. 28 – Dec. 23. Each Maestro will select their favorites to serenade the community. These concerts are coordinated by Peg Raney and the music committee of the Bell Tower Community Foundation.

A special concert will be held surrounding the Community Christmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 5 in the early evening by Janice Harbaugh. The Tree Lighting will be held at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens.

All concerts with the Maestros who will be playing will be noted on the website at www.mahanaybelltower.org as musicians choose their dates.

The Mahanay Bell Tower is closed for the season but is available for tours by appointment only by calling the Jefferson Matters office at 515-386-2155.

Veteran’s Day Tower Tunes Live Concert on Nov. 11

Fusebox Marketing on November 10, 2021

On Veteran’s Day, November 11, a special Tower Tunes Live concert will be performed by Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain. From 12:15 – 12:30 pm, the public is invited to listen to the four octave carillon concert. Rick’s playlist will certainly be amazing selections to honor our veterans. The Veteran’s Day concert is part of the regular Tower Tunes Live concert series set up by the Board of Supervisors and coordinated through the Bell Tower Community Foundation.

Veteran’s Day Concert

Peg Raney on November 10, 2021

A Tower Tunes Live Concert will be performed by Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain on Veteran’s Day from 12:15 – 12:30 pm.