BY:  RACHEL SMITH

 

It’s no secret Clear Lake relies on the influx of tourists to keep our town running.  Our endless summer events make the hustle and bustle of summer life worth living.

By the time you realize another summer has passed in our beautiful lake town, school is already in full swing.  Back to schedules, homework, practices and games.  The only shining star in an otherwise small bout of depression over the fact that Old Man Winter will soon be here to visit… Harvest Fest!!

The event takes place on Saturday, October 7th, and if you’ve never been in attendance before, you MUST check it out this year!  Yes, all your favorite attributes of the day will be the same… the wide array of vendors, grape stomp contests, salsa contests, great music and more!  As usual, there will still be a handful of wine stations where you can taste local wines and also make purchases if you choose.  But this year, as an added bonus, there will be brewery beer sampling along with Iowa distilleries.

Best.  Idea.  Ever.

So here’s what you do:  log on to www.harvestfestivalcl.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.  For the price of $30, you’ll get a souvenir Harvest Fest Bag FILLED with goodies, including a sampling wine glass.  In one bag, a lucky person will win round trip tickets courtesy of Air Choice One.   There will also be 5 chances to win other great prizes, including $500 in Clear Lake Chamber bucks.

How awesome is that??  There are only 1000 bags available and they always sell out.  So be sure to get yours early!

This event is the epitome of the perfect “Girls Day.”  I go every year with the same group of friends.  We start the day at the Bloody Mary bar inside the VFW.  The morning is spent strolling through the streets of our picturesque town, browsing shops and sipping wine.   By mid-afternoon, we cap the day with lunch uptown before we head home.

That sounds like the trifecta of perfection.

I agree.  It really is.  As the trees in City Park begin to lose their leaves, blanketing the ground in burgundy and gold, it’s the perfect transition from our busy summer months into fall.

For more information and to stay up to date on Harvest Fest activities, visit the Chamber website at www.clearlakeiowa.com