Visit our full events calendar
All events are free unless noted.
Exhibition:
Windows in the Church of Nature by Tom Dakin
This exhibit traces an unintentional journey of self-awareness that began years ago with a deck of cards using animals to reflect human behavior. From that starting point, Tom Dakin explored cross-stitch animal patterns, then beading, and eventually moved fluidly between media, creating new designs along the way. About six years ago, his muse led him to glass, where the work has continued to evolve. The show blends influences of mosaic, petroglyph, cave painting, prairie school, and fantasy, featuring totems that hold personal meaning for the artist while inviting universal reflection, reminding us that even an ant casts a shadow. Dakin hopes viewers reconnect with the fleeting joy of encountering wildlife and consider the value of recognizing and emulating the positive traits of other beings, a central idea of this “Church.” On view until February 28th.
Open Wednesdays-Saturdays from 10AM-4PM
Follow Clear Lake Arts Center on Facebook
Clear Lake Arts Center, 17 S. 4th St.
Rockin’ & Boppin’ Record Show
Vinyl lovers won’t want to miss this three-day record show! With thousands of records and music collectibles, it’s a must-stop during Winter Dance Party week. Free parking, ATM on site, food options available. Vendors accept cash, debit, and credit cards. Have records, CDs, memorabilia, or stereo equipment to sell? Bring them along or talk with the experts on site. Questions? Call Matt: 641-251-1275, Kit: 515-689-6666, or Rich: 952-297-2614
Thursday, January 29th from 10AM- 6PM, Friday, January 30th from 8:30AM-6PM,
and Saturday, January 31st from 8:30AM- 3PM
Best Western Holiday Lodge, 2023 7th Ave. N.
50’s/60’s Music BINGO
Kick off the Winter Dance Party weekend with Music Bingo! Songs from the 50″s and 60’s. Stop in for drink specials and fun before heading to the Surf Ballroom!
Thursday, January 29th from 4-6PM
Follow Lake Pin & Play on Facebook
Lake Pin & Play, 514 Buddy Holly Pl.
2026 Winter Dance Party
Celebrate the legacy that started it all! The 2026 Winter Dance Party returns to the Surf Ballroom January 29–31, honoring the music, memories, and spirit of rock ’n’ roll that will never fade away. Join us for three unforgettable nights on the historic Surf stage — plus special events before and after the weekend that keep the excitement going. From live music and dancing to one-of-a-kind experiences right here in Clear Lake, it’s the most anticipated weekend of the year where history, nostalgia, and rock ’n’ roll come to life once again. In addition to the live performances each night, enjoy dance lessons, Shadows Over Clear Lake presentation, Fox House tours, vow renewal and wedding ceremony, Valens Family luncheon, and the new Music Experience Center and Immersive Experience “Not Fade Away.”
Thursday: Jay & The Americans, Austin Allsup, and Richie Lee & The Fabulous 50s
Friday: The Killer Vees, Featuring Chris Montez, Brian Hyland, The Drifters, The Whitesidewalls, The Holy Rocka Rollaz
Saturday: Billy F. Gibbons and the BFGs, Slim Jim Phantom, The Midnight Cowgirls, Albert Lee, Linda Gail Lewis, Danny B. Harvey & Annie Marie Lewis
Thursday, January 29th – Saturday, January 31st
Surf Ballroom, 460 North Shore Dr.
Ticket prices vary by event
Trivia Thursday
Think you know it all? Gather your friends and put your knowledge to the test every Thursday at Lake Time Brewery for a night of fun, friendly competition, and craft beer! The trivia topics change weekly, so make sure to check our Facebook page for updates. Whether you’re a history buff, pop culture fanatic, or just love a good challenge, there’s something for everyone. Great prizes, great brews, and great times await—see you there!
Thursday, January 29th from 7-9PM
Visit Lake Time Brewery on Facebook
Lake Time Brewery, 801 Main Ave.
Now Playing: Zootopia 2 (PG)
Zootopia 2 comes to Lake Theatre for an encore presentation this week!
Thursday & Friday at 7PM, Saturday & Sunday at 1, 4, & 7PM
Lake Theatre, 4 N. 4th St.
$5 adults, $4 children 12 and under
Klassic Karaoke at TAP’d
Kick off your Winter Dance Party Weekend with some Klassic Karaoke @ TAP’d! Week 146 of karaoke at TAP’d brings a constantly updated song book, fun stage effects, and the same high-energy crowd ready to grab the mic.
Thursday, January 29th from 8PM – Midnight
TAP’d, 313 Main Ave.
The Legends Lunch
Live band, dancing, & cash bar! For tickets contact Amy Eckard, 515-203-6917 or thelegendslunch@gmail.com.
Friday, January 30th, doors open at 12PM
Best Western Holiday Lodge, 2023 7th Ave. N
$35
Live Music at TAP’d
Winter Dance Party Weekend! TAP’d will have live music throughout the days and nights!
We’ll kick it off at 4 on Friday with Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Split Second Band! They will be playing all of your 50s and 60s hits in honor of Winter Dance Party Weekend!
Next up, Jeremy Ober, of the band Brutal Republic, makes the trip from Fort Dodge to rock out with us for a Friday winter dance party evening, covering the Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, and Led Zeppelin.
Friday, January 30th, Split Second Band from 4PM – 7PM & Jeremy Ober from 9 PM – 1 AM
Follow TAP’d on Facebook
TAP’d, 313 Main Ave.
All Request DJ Night at Rookies
Request your favorite songs from a live DJ!
Friday, January 30th from 9PM – 1AM
Saturday, January 31st from 12 – 5PM & 9PM – 1AM
Rookies, 307 Main Ave.
Karaoke Night at Rumorz
Grab the mic, grab a drink, and let your inner rockstar shine every Friday at Rumorz Bar & Grill! Ice cold drinks, all your favorite songs, no judgment — just good vibes! Kicks off at 9PM so bring your crew, belt it out, and make it a night to remember.
Friday, January 30th starting at 9 PM
Follow Rumorz Bar & Grill on Facebook
Rumorz Bar & Grill, 1210 South Shore Dr.
Live Music at Rumorz
Step back into the 1950s with a full day of live music, throwback food, and classic vibes at Rumorz.
Live Music: Rockabilly Kid | 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. and Clear Lake Classics | 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., Plus 1950s DJ the rest of the night!
50s Throwback Specials:
Smash burgers & fries with caramelized onions | $10
Classic root beer floats | $3
Great music, great food, and timeless 50s energy.
Saturday, January 31st starting at 11AM
Follow Rumorz Bar & Grill on Facebook
Rumorz Bar & Grill, 1210 South Shore Dr.
Live Music at TAP’d
The Sweet Nuthins are making the trip back to TAP’d for the Winter Dance Party! 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!
Next up, Bittersweet Nation makes their way up to TAP’d for the first time! Coming to us from Des Moines this band is led by the beautiful vocals of Toni Williams! They will play us a fun variety of top soul and rock from Tina Turner and Michael Jackson to Bruno Mars and Chris Stapleton!
Saturday, January 31st, The Sweet Nuthings from 3PM – 7PM & Bittersweet Nation from 9 PM – 12 AM
Follow TAP’d on Facebook
TAP’d, 313 Main Ave.
50’s/60’s Music BINGO
Kick off the Winter Dance Party weekend with Music Bingo! Songs from the 50″s and 60’s. Stop in for drink specials and fun before heading to the Surf Ballroom!
Sunday, February 1st from 1 – 3PM
Follow Lake Pin & Play on Facebook
Lake Pin & Play, 514 Buddy Holly Pl.
Through Their Eyes:
1959 Winter Dance Party Memories
The Surf Ballroom proudly presents the new and exclusive Through Their Eyes: 1959 Winter Dance Party Memories, an unforgettable experience moderated by author and historian Tommy Canale, with live music from Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s, and special appearances by The Valens Family, The Richardson Family, and Sherry Holley. Known for his acclaimed work Shadows Over Clear Lake, author Tommy Canale, invites guests into the world behind one of rock ’n’ roll’s most enduring stories. Through powerful research, rare photographs, and firsthand accounts, Canale explores the lives, legacies, and cultural impact of the musicians whose journey forever shaped American music history. Following the presentation, attendees will be transported back to the golden era of rock ’n’ roll with a high-energy performance of 1959 Winter Dance Party hits by Iowa’s own Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s, a fan favorite known for delivering the authentic sound and spirit of 1950s rockabilly.
Sunday, February 1st, doors open at 6:30PM
Surf Ballroom, 460 North Shore Dr.
$39
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, February 2nd from 6 – 7PM
Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N. 4th St.
John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party® with guest Jonny Farina of Santo & Johnny
John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party” ® is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens and Richardson estates. Each live concert performance includes over two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50’s era: That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh, Boy, Rave on, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, and many, many more.
Monday, February 2nd, doors open at 6:30PM
Surf Ballroom, 460 North Shore Dr.
$44
Mystery Book Club: By Book or By Crook
The Mystery Book Club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm in the library. By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates: For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. But when her ten-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite. Calling on her aunt Ellen, Lucy hopes that a little fun in the Outer Banks sun—and some confections from her cousin Josie’s bakery—will help clear her head. But her retreat quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when Aunt Ellen gets her involved in the lighthouse library tucked away on Bodie Island. Lucy is thrilled to land a librarian job in her favorite place in the world. But when a priceless first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen and the chair of the library board is murdered, Lucy suddenly finds herself ensnared in a real-life mystery—and she’s not so sure there’s going to be a happy ending….
Tuesday, February 3rd from 6 – 7PM
Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N. 4th St.
BINGO Night at Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Spend your Wednesday nights with Bingo Daddy at Reserve 173° for laughs, prizes, cocktails, and great food. Grab your crew, settle in, and make it a weekly tradition.
Wednesday, February 4th from 6-8PM
Follow Reserve 173° Bar & Grill on Facebook
Reserve 173° Bar & Grill, 306 1st Ave. N.
Bags Night at the VFW
VFW weekly bean bag night is every Wednesday. Sign up at 6:30pm, play begins at 7pm. $1 entry per person, prize money awarded each week. Bring a snack to share if you like!
Wednesday, February 4th from 6:30-9PM
Follow Clear Lake VFW on Facebook
VFW, 219 Main Ave.