Visit our full events calendar
All events are free unless noted
Inland Lake Yachting Association Championships
The ILYA organization has served as an advocate of amateur yacht racing on the inland lakes of the Midwest for over 125 years. The Clear Lake Yacht Club is proud to sponsor this event. A scows, 38 ft long-will be racing Sun afternoon through Wed morning. MC scows, 16 ft long racing Mon-Wed. On Thurs morning C scows, 20 ft long- and E scows, 28 ft long will take to the water.
Races continue through Saturday, August 17, 2024
Visit the Yacht Club’s website
Click here to read more about this event
Clear Lake Yacht Club, 103 Main Ave
Paper and Clay Exhibition
A Legacy of Artistic Friendship, Form & Figure by Jo Ann Hendricks and Maureen Seamonds. Captivated by human form and figure, the exhibit is a beautiful collection of paintings and sculptures by artists Hendricks and Seamonds. Exhibit runs through August 31, 2024.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Visit the Clear Lake Art Center’s website
Clear Lake Arts Center, 17 S 4th St
Renovo Media Group’s First Open House
Celebrate the relaunch of our studio with bites, games, and beverages!
Click here to RSVP
Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Visit Renovo Media Group’s Website
1401 6th Ave South
Dockside Night
Sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening on the Lady of the Lake Dockside! Feel the fresh air on your face, sway to the music, and relax into the lake lifestyle. Cash bar opens at 5pm. No cover charge. Live music 6-9pm with Jarno Solo!
Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Visit the Lady of the Lake on Facebook
Lady of the Lake, docked downtown at the Seawall
NOW PLAYING: Deadpool & Wolverine (R)
Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throwdown.
Showtimes: Monday-Friday 7:00PM, Saturday & Sunday 1:00pm, 4:00pm, & 7:00pm
Purchase tickets online
Lake Theatre, 4 N 4th Street
$5 adults, $4 children 12 & under
Live Music at Elly’s
The Kraft Brothers will be playing in Elly’s Alley to welcome the 2024 Inland Champs!
Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Visit the Facebook event
Elly’s Lounge, 12 South Shore Dr
Karaoke at TAP’d
Karaoke has been rocking Wednesdays all summer long! We’re bringing you the best, MOJO Productions All Star Karaoke! Jared & his crew are constantly updating their song book & coming up with new on stage effects to make it so much fun!
Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 8:00 PM – Midnight
Visit the Facebook event
TAP’d, 313 Main Avenue
Thursdays on Main
Get ready to bid farewell to the season with a bang as we celebrate the final Thursdays on Main on August 15! Join us for Back to School night, featuring a thrilling dunk tank fundraiser and a night filled with laughter and family fun. This Chamber event features live entertainment, “Mojo’s Main Ave Cruise-In” classic car show, bounce houses, extended retail store hours, vendor street market, and more!
Main Avenue activities are 6:00-9:00pm
6:00pm Special Entertainment (SE corner of City Park): Dunk Tank Fundraiser for Clear Lake Schools & Clear Lake High School Dance Team
7:00-9:00pm: Live Music, Main Avenue Stage: Bear Creek Band (an “extreme variety” band that plays popular covers)
All activities are FREE thanks to our generous sponsors!
Thursday, August 15, 2024, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Visit the event on Facebook
Downtown Clear Lake
Live Music at Elly’s
Join us for the last Thursdays on Main at Elly’s Alley!! Jesse Calvert takes the center slab at 6:00pm.
BONUS: We have Mt Gay Reps (Barbados Rum) ready for sampling!
Thursday, August 15, 2024, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Visit the Facebook event
Elly’s Lounge, 12 South Shore Dr
Live Music at TAP’d
Danny Grouse puts the finishing touches on Thursdays on Main ’24! Danny comes to us from Ames to give us a mixture of country, blues, funk & rock! His favorite artists to cover are Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, & Chris Stapleton! Danny also has some originals for us, most notably, Midwest CMO Song of the Year “Man on a Mountain”! Danny takes the stage at 9!
Thursday, August 15, 2024, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Visit the Facebook event
TAP’d, 313 Main Avenue
Fresh on Friday
Savor Friday mornings in the Garden! Select from a number of beautiful garden fresh bouquets put together by a talented group of volunteers. Enjoy complimentary coffee and refreshments on the patio and sample veggies and herbs picked straight out of the Bee Happy Discovery Garden! Kids activities abound! Our youth group, Gardeners of Tomorrow, will be selling a wide variety of organically grown veggies and herbs! Come join us for this popular event!
The Bee Happy Discovery Garden buzzes with excitement each Friday morning as kids of all ages connect with the garden, community and each other! Taste what’s growing, explore, help out, and observe using all one’s senses! Magnifying glasses, watering cans, art materials and books help kids connect with the garden at their own pace. Each Friday features special garden activities and community visitors. Follow our Facebook page for updates.
Friday, August 16, 2024, 9:00am – 11:00am
Visit Central Garden’s website
Central Gardens of North Iowa, 800 2nd Ave N
Live Music at TAP’d
The Sweet Nuthins are making the trip back to TAP’d all the way from Mason City, Iowa! This local pop rock group has really made a name for themselves in the area! You’ll hear them cover some of the greats by The Band, The Beatles and Van Morrison! Show starts at 9!
Friday, August 16, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Visit the Facebook event
TAP’d, 313 Main Avenue
Yoga by the Lake
Join us for an energizing and serene experience at Yoga by the Lake! Head down to the Seawall in downtown Clear Lake at 7am for our final session of the summer. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking sunrise over the picturesque Clear Lake as our certified instructors guide you through a revitalizing yoga session. No pre-registration needed, making it ideal for weekend visitors. Just bring your mat, wear comfy clothes, and enjoy this drop-in class. Discover the perfect blend of relaxation and invigoration amidst a truly unique setting. Don’t miss out!
Saturday, August 17, 2024, 7:00am – 8:00am
Visit the event website
Downtown Seawall $2 per session
Farmers Market
Come out to the Clear Lake Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings! With 50+ vendors each week, you’ll find fresh produce, baked goodies, meats, handmade crafts, coffee, lemonade, and more. Grab a bite from food trucks, enjoy live music, and let the kids have a blast with fun activities. It’s a great way to support local and have a good time!
Saturday, August 17, 2024, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Visit the Farmers Market on Facebook
Surf Ballroom Parking Lot – 460 N Shore Dr
Beginner Guitar
Always wanted to learn guitar? Here is your chance! Instructor Kristie Hayner will host beginner guitar classes every Saturday July-August! These group style, relaxed classes are for beginner-intermediate students to learn the basics of this beloved instrument. All students 4th grade and up are welcome. Learn some chords, get strumming and play some good old fashion Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center this Summer! Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center Saturdays July-August 9:00-10:00AM- Beginner 10:00-11:00AM- Intermediate Free No Registration Required Drop-ins Welcome
Saturday, August 17, 2024, 9:00am – 11:00am
Visit the event website
Surf Ballroom Enrichment Center, 509 Buddy Holly Place
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation
Join us for our 2nd Annual Graduation Ceremony for those families who have read (at least) 1000 books to their child before kindergarten. Invitations for graduates to be recognized will be sent in July. Family and friends are welcome to attend, as well as others interested in learning more about setting their child(ren) up for success by reading 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
Saturday, August 17, 2024, 10:30am
Visit the Library’s website
Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N 4th St
Live Music at TAP’d
Blake Jacobs comes to us from Forest City to take the TAP’d stage for his first official show! Blake has graced us with his presence on a couple occasions but we are so ready for him to have a night of all his country and rock! We’ll hear some of the great songs by Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton to Poison and Blink 182!
Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 9:00pm
Visit the Facebook event
TAP’d, 313 Main Avenue
Church in the Park
Whether you’re a lifelong Christian or just exploring faith, everyone is welcome. Held at the bandshell in Clear Lake’s City Park, services run every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Come and experience a message of truth, life, and community in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Sunday, August 18, 2024, 10:00am – 11:00am
Church in the Park’s Website
City Park
Lions Hamburger & Sweet Corn Feed
The Clear Lake Evening Lions hold their annual dinner in Clear Lake City Park from 11am-2pm (or until sold out). Meal includes a hamburger, Iowa sweet corn, cookies, and a drink. Tickets are available from any CL Evening Lion or at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
Sunday, August 18, 2024, 11:00am – 2:00pm (or until sold out)
Visit the Clear Lake Evening Lions on Facebook
Clear Lake City Park
Picnics & Performances
Celebrate local talent at this eight-week, family friendly, FREE concert series! Bring a lawn chair, a picnic, a bottle of wine, and enjoy music in the beauty of the Gardens. This week Sam Crosser and Melissa Dorenkamp perform! Sam and Melissa are a couple of friends who go back about 20 years and enjoy playing jazz standards, show tunes gospel favorites, and easy listening from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Their love of music and joy in performing is sure to keep you smiling along with them! Sit back and enjoy some high energy, intricate piano and smooth, soulful vocals!
Sunday, August 18, 2024, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Visit Central Garden’s website
Central Gardens of North Iowa Activity Lawn, 800 2nd Ave N
Writing Group
Bring a pencil and some paper (or grab your laptop) and join a community of writers. Use the time to work on a project or join in on the prompts and games provided. The group meets from 6:00 – 7:00 pm on Monday nights whenever the library is open.
Monday, August 19, 2024, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Visit the Library’s website
Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N 4th St
Line Dancing with Mary Jo
Free Line Dancing is back at Central Gardens! Join instructor Mary Jo Kennan for a free hour of instruction every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 at the Fountain Plaza inside the main gates. Anyone wanting to have fun and get some exercise is welcome, regardless of skill level or age. Bring comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and a smile!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 9:30am – 10:30am (weather permitting)
Visit Central Garden’s website
Central Gardens of North Iowa, 800 2nd Avenue North
Book Chat: Two Wheels Good
Book Chat meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 12:00 pm in the library meeting room. August’s selection is Two Wheels Good by Jody Rosen. Summary: In Two Wheels Good, journalist and critic Jody Rosen reshapes our understanding of this ubiquitous machine, an ever-present force in humanity’s life and dream life—and a flash point in culture wars—for more than two hundred years. Combining history, reportage, travelogue, and memoir, Rosen’s book sweeps across centuries and around the globe, unfolding the bicycle’s saga from its invention in 1817 to its present-day renaissance as a “green machine,” an emblem of sustainability in a world afflicted by pandemic and climate change. Readers meet unforgettable characters: feminist rebels who steered bikes to the barricades in the 1890s, a prospector who pedaled across the frozen Yukon to join the Klondike gold rush, a Bhutanese king who races mountain bikes in the Himalayas, a cycle-rickshaw driver who navigates the seething streets of the world’s fastest-growing megacity, astronauts who ride a floating bicycle in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Visit the Library’s website
Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N 4th St
Business After Hours hosted by Kinney Pioneer Museum
You’re invited to a Business After Hours hosted by Kinney Pioneer Museum and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce First Mates.
Discover the history of Clear Lake, take a museum tour, and enjoy refreshments while building valuable connections with other Chamber members. Get the first look at Mark Whitten’s fossil project at this event, plus check out the new exhibit Our Flying World that debuted last month.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Visit Kinney Pioneer Museum on Facebook
Kinney Pioneer Museum, 9184 265th St
Party in the Park
Harvest Bible Chapel invites you to an evening of inflatables, food, and fun!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Clear Lake City Park
Dockside Night
Sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening on the Lady of the Lake Dockside! Feel the fresh air on your face, sway to the music, and relax into the lake lifestyle. Cash bar opens at 5pm. No cover charge. Live music 6-9pm!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Visit the Lady of the Lake on Facebook
Lady of the Lake, docked downtown at the Seawall
Surf Sounds: The Schmidt Brothers
Join us on August 21, 2024, for The Schmidt Brothers from Vinton, Iowa! Growing up, music was always a huge part of their lives, thanks to their father who introduced them to the joy of performing when they were little kids. For the past 15 years, the three of them have been performing with various bands all around Iowa. Now, they’ve decided to pursue their dream of creating their own band, The Schmidt Brothers. They’re a true variety band, covering genres like country, pop, and specializing in 80s rock n’ roll (think Journey, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, and more). Follow them as they bring you music videos of songs you know and love! Don’t miss this night filled with great music, and the best part? It’s all free, thanks to our amazing sponsors!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, doors open at 6:00pm
Visit the Surf Ballroom’s Website
Surf Ballroom, 460 North Shore Drive
Book Chat: Two Wheels Good
Books on Tap meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm at Lake Time Brewery. August’s selection is Two Wheels Good by Jody Rosen. Summary: In Two Wheels Good, journalist and critic Jody Rosen reshapes our understanding of this ubiquitous machine, an ever-present force in humanity’s life and dream life—and a flash point in culture wars—for more than two hundred years. Combining history, reportage, travelogue, and memoir, Rosen’s book sweeps across centuries and around the globe, unfolding the bicycle’s saga from its invention in 1817 to its present-day renaissance as a “green machine,” an emblem of sustainability in a world afflicted by pandemic and climate change. Readers meet unforgettable characters: feminist rebels who steered bikes to the barricades in the 1890s, a prospector who pedaled across the frozen Yukon to join the Klondike gold rush, a Bhutanese king who races mountain bikes in the Himalayas, a cycle-rickshaw driver who navigates the seething streets of the world’s fastest-growing megacity, astronauts who ride a floating bicycle in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Visit the Library’s website
Lake Time Brewery, 801 Main Avenue