Visit our full events calendar
Last call for Harvest Festival Experience Bags! Pre-order deadline is Saturday, September 5. Order here.
Champagne 5K registration is open until race day, but tshirt deadline is Monday, September 7. Register here.
All events are free unless noted.
This Week’s Highlights
Thursday | 6-9 PM | $50 | The Music Man Square | Hosted by American Cancer Society of CG County
Food, auctions, survivor celebrations, remembrance, and “Bras & Briefs on the Runway.”
Friday | 11 AM- 4:30 PM | Lakeview Room
Honor 9/11 through giving at this community blood drive, helping provide hope to neighbors in need.
9/11 Memorial Event: “Never Forget” & Statue Unveiling
Friday | 6 PM | Clear Lake Fire Department (Front Memorial Area & Station)
Honor 9/11 with FDNY Chief Richard “Pitch” Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse, plus a special memorial statue unveiling honoring sacrifice, courage, and community strength.
Special Double Feature: Wayward Kin (PG-13) & Be Glad He Did It (PG-13)
Friday | 7PM | $5, all proceeds going to renovation efforts | Lake Theatre
Wayward Kin: A father’s reunion with his daughter ignites a custody battle that uncovers a devastating family secret. Directed by Adam Lowder.
Be Glad He Did It: A lifelong patriot must find the strength and wit to protect his family’s future. Directed by Jim Parrack, starring Barry Corbin.
Enjoy a refreshment break between films, followed by a Q&A with both directors.
Ongoing & On View
All events are free unless noted
Exhibition: North Iowa Landscapes by artist Pamela Douglas
July 18-September 12 | Tue-Sat, 10AM-4PM | Clear Lake Arts Center
Explore paintings inspired by North Iowa landscapes that capture quiet beauty, memory, and emotion while inviting viewers to slow down and appreciate the natural world.
Iowa Independent Film Festival
September 10-12 | Weekend Pass $30, Day Pass $20, Block $10 | Mason City
Visit website for tickets, film selections and schedule
Celebrating 19 years bringing independent films to North Iowa.
Exhibition: Watermarks & Constellations by artist Kimberlee Rocca
September 11-October 17 | Tue-Sat, 10AM-4PM | Clear Lake Arts Center
Explore layered inks, paints, and sculptural forms inspired by water, earth, and the cosmos, inviting reflection on curiosity, connection, and the lasting impact of even the smallest touch.
Thursday, September 10
Christmas Cheer Fund Fundraiser
11 AM-2 PM & 5-7 PM | Mason City Culver’s
Mason City Culvers will give 20% of its sales. Help add holiday joy to 1,500 households in North Iowa.
6-9 PM | Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Live jazz, great food, and a relaxed, upscale atmosphere.
WINGO
6-8 PM | Lake Pin & Play
BINGO with great prizes plus 50¢ wings.
6-9 PM | $50 | The Music Man Square | Hosted by American Cancer Society of Cerro Gordo County
Food, auctions, survivor celebrations, remembrance, and “Bras & Briefs on the Runway.”
8 PM-Midnight | Tap’d
Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Famer playing country, rock & roll, and outlaw country.
Friday, September 11
Fresh on Fridays Bouquets
9-11 AM | Central Gardens of North Iowa
Pick up a fresh flower bouquet and relax in the Gardens.
11 AM- 12 PM | Clear Lake Chamber
A hands-on workshop covering social media SEO, smarter analytics, search-friendly content, and Google Search Console to help Clear Lake Chamber members spend less time chasing algorithms and create content people can find.
11 AM- 4:30 PM | Lakeview Room
Honor 9/11 through giving at this community blood drive, helping provide hope to neighbors in need.
9/11 Memorial Event: “Never Forget” & Statue Unveiling
6 PM | Clear Lake Fire Department (Front Memorial Area & Station)
Honor 9/11 with FDNY Chief Richard “Pitch” Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse, plus a special memorial statue unveiling honoring sacrifice, courage, and community strength.
6-9 PM | VFW Post 4868
Maclane Powell performs.
Special Double Feature: Wayward Kin (PG-13) & Be Glad He Did It (PG-13)
7PM | $5, all proceeds going to renovation efforts | Lake Theatre
Wayward Kin: A father’s reunion with his daughter ignites a custody battle that uncovers a devastating family secret. Directed by Adam Lowder.
Be Glad He Did It: A lifelong patriot must find the strength and wit to protect his family’s future. Directed by Jim Parrack, starring Barry Corbin.
Enjoy a refreshment break between films, followed by a Q&A with both directors.
Karaoke 9 PM-1:30 AM, Trivioke 10-11PM | Rumorz Bar & Grill
Trivia meets karaoke with prizes, great music, and your chance to win a $25 gift card!
9 PM-Midnight | Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar
Your playlist, your night — request your favorites with a live DJ.
8 PM-Midnight | TAP’d
Acoustic country & rock.
Saturday, September 12
9 AM-12 PM | Surf Ballroom Parking Lot
50+ vendors, food trucks, live music, kids activities, and fresh local finds every Saturday morning.
2-3 PM | Clear Lake Public Library
Learn to harvest seeds hands-on, help stock the seed library, and take home your favorites.
2-6 PM | VFW Post 4868
Celebrate the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry with a potluck, live music by Kraft Bros, and game-day fun.
Waldorf University Community Night
3-9 PM | Gate: $10 adults, $3 grades K-12, 4 and under free | Bolstorff Field, Forest City
Cheer on the Warriors with tailgating, food trucks, a bouncy house, football, autographs, and fireworks!
Take a Walk with a Doc, hosted by the Clear Lake Earth Day Committee
6-7:30 PM | McIntosh Woods; meet at the picnic table to the north of the boat ramp parking lot
Enjoy a guided nature walk while learning how outdoor activity supports physical and mental well-being.
7-10 PM | Lake View Pub
Playing all of your favorites.
8 PM-12 AM | $6 per person/hour | Lake Pin & Play
Glow lights, music, and bowling turned up for a fun Saturday night.
9 PM-1 AM | Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar
Your playlist, your night — request your favorites with a live DJ.
9 PM- 1 AM | TAP’d
Classic and outlaw country.
Sunday, September 13
National Grandparents Day
Monday, September 14
6-7 PM | Clear Lake Public Library
A relaxed writing group with time for projects, prompts, and creative games.
6:30-8:30 PM | VFW Post 4868
Good times for a good cause! Proceeds from every game support local charities and veteran programs.
Tuesday, September 15
SHRM North Iowa Law Conference
8:15 AM-3:30 PM | $75 for non-SHRM North Iowa members | Surf Ballroom Music Experience Center
Open to members and non-members. Join us for a day full of fun (and SHRM credits!).
9:30-11:30 AM | Central Gardens
Outdoor line dancing classes for all ages and skill levels in the beautiful setting of Central Gardens.
Book Chat: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
12-1 PM | Clear Lake Public Library
Two sisters take different paths toward survival, resistance, love, and freedom in Nazi-occupied France.
National Voter Registration Day
3-6 PM | Clear Lake Public Library
Get answers about voter registration, polling locations, and voting from the County Auditor’s Office.
Wednesday, September 16
10:30-11:30 AM | Central Gardens (meet by the fountain inside the main gate)
Tour the gardens, explore different plants and garden styles, and learn about programs offered.
Death Gets a Red Card: A Teen Murder Mystery Event
2:30-3:30 PM | Registration Required | Clear Lake Public Library
Teen detectives examine a staged crime scene, gather clues, and solve an interactive library mystery.
6-8 PM | Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Hosted by the one and only Bingo Daddy with cool prizes and plenty of laughs.
6-7:30 PM | $10 | Registration Required | Central Gardens of North Iowa
Chef Quan Joyner prepares soul food while sharing cooking tips in this America 250-themed event.
7 PM | Tickets start at $23 | NIACC Auditorium
Contemporary Scottish music blending bagpipes, fiddles & accordion with high-energy folk, pop & rock.
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