The Mahanay Bell Tower will be open extended hours during the Bell Tower Festival weekend on June 11 – 12. On Friday, the Tower opens at 10 a.m. and will stay open until 8 p.m. for those who are attending the Opening Ceremonies and festivities in the downtown to take a tour. On Saturday, the Tower will open early at 9 a.m. and stay open until 7 p.m. On Sunday, the Mahanay Tower will be open the regular daily hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Rick Morain will play the carillon during the Opening Ceremonies on Friday evening at 6 p.m.
Admission for youth 18 and under is FREE courtesy this year of the Rotary Club of Jefferson. Adults are $3.
The Mahanay Bell Tower was named the 2021 Attraction of the Year by the Iowa Tourism Dept. with visitors coming from across the state and beyond. The bells play the Westminster Chimes at each quarter hour and two songs are played after the hour from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. Visitors also enjoy the elevator ride to the air-conditioned Paul Nally Observation Deck for the view of the community and countryside. There are five rooftop art installments with the newest one added this spring by artist ARCY. Jefferson Telecom sponsored this installation. Also on the Bell Tower Plaza are four sculptures to view with public voting on their favorite in the Bell Tower’s lobby area.
The staff of the Mahanay Bell Tower want all visitors to feel comfortable at this time so may limit the number of people in the lobby area and also in the observation deck, but everyone will get a chance to visit this iconic structure in Jefferson during the Bell Tower Festival.