It’s so close I can almost taste it!

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

The sweet sensation of summer is soon upon us.  Lazy days of sleeping late, afternoons spent lounging by the pool, and the simplicity of lake life.  With just one full week left of school, summer is so close I can almost taste it!

And do you know what comes along with summer??

THURSDAYS ON MAIN!!!!

                                               

Kicking off the festivities on June 2nd, this season will bring an action-packed punch of fun.  It’s the ultimate kick off as we slide into the weekends here at the lake.  Or maybe it’s a celebration for making it through another grueling week?  Either way – it’s an exciting time for everyone.

If you’ve never been to this spectacular display of awesomeness, you’re going to need to get on the ball and check it out this year.  Only in downtown Clear Lake will you find entertainment, live music, a vendor market, classic cars, a hand-powered kiddie train ride, bounce houses, and rows of food trucks every week!

That’s a lot of FUN!

The fun kicks off at the corner of Main Avenue and 3rd Street (by the VFW) with special entertainment.  These groups work hard to show off their talents and skills for the crowd.  Always a treat to watch!  This year, Ballet Des Moines will be performing during the last week of July.  You won’t want to miss them.

Just down the street, on the corner of Main Avenue and 4th Street (by Larson’s Mercantile), you’ll find live music.  From 7-9pm each week, these bands are jamming out to all your favorite hits from yesterday and today!

Some old favorites will be back, like Bear Creek Band, Split Second Band, The Mockingbirds and Betty & the Gents.  Keeping true to our Clear Lake roots seeded deep in rock ‘n’ roll, Come Back Buddy will play all the hits of the 50s and 60s during the final event of the season. Of course, the locals will be excited to hear the Kurt Allen Band playing country favorites.  And there are some new faces we’ll see on the stage this year.  Deja Blue, a jazzy rocking blues tribe from the Cedar Valley is scheduled to kick things off during the June 2nd event.   Maurice Jules & Friends will take you back to the golden oldies and have you dancing (literally) in the street!

Now, on to my favorite portion, the food.

There is never a shortage of delicious bits and bobs from all your favorite food trucks and establishments during Thursdays on Main.  I mean, where else can your dinner consist of a boatful of cheesy nachos, a pulled pork BBQ delight AND an ice cream treat?

This year, I’m beyond excited for the new additions to the food truck line up.  In fact, it makes me downright giddy with glee.  To your culinary delight, La Borinqua will be serving up Puerto Rican food.  If this is something you haven’t experienced before, I highly recommend giving it a try.

I mean, you had me at empanada!

Another new kid on the food truck block is The Shiver N’ Squirrel. I was pleased to find upon my research that they, in fact, do not serve squirrel.  WHEW!  They have shaved ice and sweet treats and, quite frankly, the coolest name in all the land.  The Crust & Crumb will also be headed this way, their truck filled with delicious cookies, bread, pies and other baked goods.

Y’all, we are going to need some extra steps this summer to work off all this food.  I’m not even kidding.  I plan to just eat my way through the line on Thursdays this entire summer.  All the food.  Get in my belly.

Of course, between these sessions of stuffing my face incessantly, I will also peruse the many vendors as well as our shops along Main who stay open late for this occasion.

Shop.  Eat.  Shop some more.  Eat again.

Seems like a reasonable plan, right?

And then, as if all these things weren’t enough of a kick-off celebration for a weekend of all the fun at the Lake, there is the movie in the park.  Each week at 9pm, cozy up on your favorite blanket and be entertained under the stars of the Midwest night sky.  It’s the perfect end to the perfect evening.

We don’t have much longer to wait, friends.  June 2nd is just a hop, skip and a step away. The official start of summer at the Lake will be here before we know it!

Are you ready?