Don’t Miss Out on the Ultimate Girls’ Day!

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

Time to break out the shackets and wide-brimmed hats, ladies.  Today is all about Harvest Festival!

Wait.

What?

Seems a bit odd as we are smack-dab in the middle of having all the summer fun.  But you see, it appears we blink, and the next big Clear Lake event is upon us these days.  I swear we were gearing up for the start of Thursdays on Main and the 4th of July Extravaganza yesterday.

Then – BOOM!

Here we are… finalizing plans on all the fall fun.

I must admit, as much as I’m a fan of summer and all it entails, I am ready for fall.  Leggings, sweaters, fuzzy socks and cute boots.  Enjoying a cup of hot coffee as you watch your kiddos get on the bus to school. <– SPOILER ALERT!  This part is my favorite.

It’s the change I enjoy more than anything.  My brain comprehends that once the humidity lifts and we pull out all our favorite sweatshirts for a new season the dreaded winter is right around the corner.  Still, I welcome the changing leaves and cool, crisp mornings of fall with open arms.

Mostly because it means Clear Lake’s incredibly amazing signature event, Harvest Festival, is next up on the docket of Clear Lake fun!

If you’ve never experienced the thrills of Harvest Festival before, this is your year.  It’s an awesome day to stroll our vibrant Main Avenue while enjoying wine samplings, shopping, a huge outdoor farmers market, vendors, homemade salsa contest, grape stomp competition, food trucks, live music and more!  The retail stores often have specials going on that day, making it the ultimate shopping affair.

All around, it’s basically just the best day ever.

And today is the kick-off to purchase Harvest Festival bags!

This year, as the entire country struggles with supply chain issues and being able to order items, it seems we are facing the same dilemma.  As a result, Harvest Festival bags will be on a pre-sale basis only for 2022.

What does that mean?

Well, it means you best be ordering, my friends!  We are planning to only order enough goodies to cover the pre-sale numbers.

Bags are available to purchase NOW and will end on August 31st.

And I know I say it every year, but THIS is the year you DO NOT want to miss out on getting a bag!

Ever year, the Harvest Festival bags are filled with discount coupons and deals to local retail hotspots.  There are also special gifts, a wine glass, and other surprise goodies for you to enjoy.  The VIP bags get you elite access to the VIP lounge located in the Yacht Club.  This includes a free coat check, snacks, extra wine to enjoy, special entertainment and so much more!

It’s up to you to decide – General Admission or VIP.  Either way, block off your calendar for October 1st, get your Harvest Festival bags ordered, and plan to have the best day ever in beautiful downtown Clear Lake.

As always, the BEST way to start your day is with a little warm up running the Champagne 5K.  In what other race do you get a glass of delicious bubbly at the half-way point?  It’s unheard of!  You can walk, run, jog or skip the entirety of the course.  We don’t care!  It’s just a FUN way to start your FUN day in the coolest place in North Iowa!

Get registered for the Champagne 5K HERE.

And then grab your Harvest Festival bag HERE.

Tell your friends on social media.  Make sure to inform your mom, your aunts, your cousins, your neighbors.  In fact, just go ahead and tell anyone you meet on the street.  They won’t think you’re weird – I promise!  Just make sure no one misses out on this fantastic day of Clear Lake Fall Fun.