BY: RACHEL WUMKES

Hopefully, you all survived the plunge back to reality after a weeklong hiatus for Spring Break. I loved seeing the various pictures floating around social media of fun in the sun, ski adventures and waterparks.

It’s hard to believe it was only one year ago that everything fell apart. One minute, we were living our best life, going to concerts and eating at restaurants with no inhibition and then COVID smacked us right in the face.

It was a full year ago already that I started this “Feel Good Friday” blog series. In hopes to spread a bit of joy, highlighting the best parts of each week and upcoming activities to give us all a ray of sunshine.

While the effects of this pandemic will likely be felt for years to come, its encouraging to know our community sticks together when times are tough.

The celebration of such togetherness actually kicks off tonight with the launch of the 2021 Visitor Guide: Destination Clear Lake. This award-winning publication usually hits the shelves in January, highlighting all the upcoming events and activities of the upcoming year. This year, due to uncertainty swirling around us all, we pushed back the release until we had a bit of a better grasp on what to expect this summer.

There are still a few tickets available for Chamber Members and their guests which can be purchased HERE.  It’s going to be a socially distance night of fun, including a Dueling Piano show, at the Surf Ballroom from 4:30-9PM.

Thus, as we are planning to forge ahead full steam ahead on all the super-duper incredibly awesome Clear Lake fun, the 2021 Clear Lake 4th of July Extravaganza event was announced. To find out all the details pertaining to the event, find us on Facebook, share with your friends, and mark yourself as ‘going.’

And yes – THE PARADE IS ON MONDAY, JULY 5th!

I know this seems odd, but when the 4th of July falls on a Sunday, the parade is held on Monday, which is the Nationally observed holiday. This is nothing new. The reason you may not remember it has been done this way, is because the last time July 4th fell on a Sunday was in 2010. (It should have been on a Sunday in 2016, but that was a leap year, thus, the holiday landed on a Monday).

Incidentally, it won’t be much longer before we begin the epic search for Bingo Volunteers. After having to cancel our 2020 celebration, I’m assuming the volunteer sheet will be overflowing with people looking for ways to help!

In other news, with the slow spring warm up of temperatures, I’ve noticed the amount of people out and about walking and biking is beginning to pick up. That being said, if you haven’t already signed up for the Earth Day 5k/10k run, you should get on that! The deadline has already passed to receive a long-sleeved shirt with your registration, but there is a good number of extra t-shirts that were ordered. Once they’re gone… they’re gone, so be sure to get your name on that list!

Thanks for another great week at the Lake, friends. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.