Ames Patch Five Things: Enter Photos of Your Decorated Home and Win

1) Holiday Contest

Ames residents have until Dec. 26 to enter videos and photos of their decorated houses into Patch.Com's national contest. About two dozen winners will have their electric bills paid and the grand prize of $100,000 will go to the winner's school district.

2) Gardens open late

is open until 8 p.m. tonight and admission is free from 4 to 8 p.m. The garden will accept donations for ' Holiday Giving program. The holiday program “Snug as a Bug” will be on display.

3) Family Craft Storytime

will have a family craft story time at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. today. The 45 minute program includes a story and a related craft activity. This program is open to families with children of all ages.

4) British Foods & Wine

The will host a wine and beer tasting from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery of Madrid will offer samples of its wines. And British Food Store Owner Marcus Johnson will also offer tastes of Crispin Hard Ciders from Minnesota and U.K. and Wells Banana Bread Beer and Wells Bombardier of Wells Brewery in England. It's one of the first wine tastings since the City of Ames relaxed its alcoholic beverage regulations. The food store is in the former Octagon space. Read a story about the store .

5) Weather

The National Weather Service predicted a 50 percent chance of snow before noon today with a high in the 30s.