Thank you to our many local musicians who volunteer to play live concerts on the Mahanay Carillon during the holidays. Many of these concerts have been recorded on the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page. These can be enjoyed at the time of the concert – or later as they are saved on the Facebook page.
Here is the link to the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MahanayBellTower
Local musicians will be sharing the Christmas spirit this season with live music from the Mahanay Memorial Carillon. Each Thursday from 5:15 – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. a variety of holiday music will be shared with the community. These concerts will begin on November 19 and continue through December 20. Musicians include Michelle Fields, Rick Morain, Wendy VanderLinden, Rhena Lane, Danille Curtis, Pat Richards, and Yvette Bardole. The Bell Tower Community Foundation Board organizes these concerts and appreciates these volunteers known as Mahanay Maestros sharing their talents.
Several bells had been damaged during storms this summer and are now repaired. The community can expect to hear the full 4 octave carillon being played.
Bill Monroe continues to manage the music that is played digitally with several songs playing after each hour. The Westminster Chimes play each quarter hour and rings out the hour.
The Mahanay Bell Tower is now closed for the season but visitors can make an appt. with small groups to visit by calling Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community office at 515-386-2155. COVID precautions are in place for visitors and staff.
Six bells of the carillon have not been ringing due to storm damage late this summer. With these bells placed on the outer edge of the framework, a large crane was needed for the Verdin Bell Company technicians to reach them. This work was completed on Nov. 12 – 13. Now the full carillon of 4 octaves is in great condition and ready for the holidays.
Bill Monroe continues to change out the music for carillon to play digitally with several songs after each hour. The Westminister Chimes also play each quarter hour and ring out the hour.
The Mahanay Bell Tower has closed for the season but is open by appointment. Small groups wishing to make an appt. can call the Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community office at 515-386-2155 to schedule a visit. COVID precautions are in place with masks required and a limit of 5 people in the observation deck at a time.
Youth 18 and under are free courtesy of the Greene County Community School Foundation and $3 for adults. The tour includes a history of the tower and an elevator ride to the Paul Nally Observation Deck at 120ft. The bells play the Westminster chimes at each quarter hour. The bells ring the hour followed by several songs played digitally on the bells.
Local musicians will be playing the four octave carillon on Sunday afternoons from 12:15 – 12:30 pm and Thursday evenings from 5:15 – 5:30 pm during the holiday season.
During the month of October, the Mahanay Bell Tower will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The bells continue to chime each quarter hour and play several songs after each hour. The observation deck is reached by elevator. Covid -19 precautions have been implemented for the safety of our visitors and staff. Masks are required to enter the Tower and limited numbers in the observation deck at a time. The staff is delighted to explain more about the Tower right outside the entrance door on the Bell Tower Plaza.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the Mahanay Bell Tower. The colors in the downtown and surrounding rural area are breathtaking! Visitors of all ages enjoy viewing the peaceful landscape while listening to the four octave carillon throughout the day.
Tours are also available by appointment by calling the Jefferson Matters: Main Street & Chamber at 515-386-2155.
Youth 18 & under are free courtesy of the Greene County School Foundation! Adults are $3.
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower is OPEN and glad to welcome back visitors! Hours: Beginning on Memorial Day the tower is open daily from 10 AM – 4 PM through the end of September and weekends in May and October. Cost is $3 for adults and FREE for youth 18 and under courtesy of Rotary Club of Jefferson.
Bus Tours, special groups, and visitors may call our Welcome Center at 515-386-2155 to arrange a tour any time of the year. The air-conditioned observation deck is accessible by elevator. It is also available to rent for small events.
The Tower complies with our state Covid-19 guidelines. Masks are optional inside the Tower. There may be a limited number of people in the lobby in observation deck for the comfort level of the visitors.
The Bell Tower is ADA accessible and has recorded tours available with headsets.
The derecho was responsible for several broken windows in the Mahanay Bell Tower. The Tower will be closed on Monday and Wednesday this week as new glass is installed. The Tower will be OPEN on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and throughout the weekend. We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience this has caused our visitors but want you to be safe when you visit. Thank you!
This summer, local musicians have been playing live carillon concerts on Wednesdays from 12:15 pm – 12:30 p.m. During the month of August & the first week in September, the musicians will be
Wed. Aug. 5 – Bonnie Orris
Wed. Aug. 12 – Wendy VanderLinden
Wed. Aug. 19- Rick Morain
Wed. Aug. 26- Danille Curtis (cancelled)
Wed. Sept. 2- Rhena Lane
Thank you so much to each of these volunteer Mahanay Maestros for sharing their talents with the community.
Par for 2020, a big storm came through Greene County on Monday, August 10 blowing out a window above the entrance to the Mahanay Bell Tower. Until the window can be removed or replaced, we have temporarily closed the tower to visitors. The company available to fix this window is planning to do so next Tuesday, so watch for word to reopen the Tower on Wednesday, August 19. We sincerely regret needing to close the tower for those planning to visit, but please come back when it would be much safer. There are many other wonderful attractions to visit in Jefferson in the mean time. Thank you!
Take a listen to this interview with local musician Rick Morain who continues to share his talent with the community by playing the carillon for the Tower Tunes Live concerts.
