Clear Lake, Iowa

01/16/2025

Winter Weekend fun at the lake! ❄️

Lake Theatre Clear Lake Public Library Katie Casey Designs Lake Time Brewery NIACC TAP'd The Funky Zebras Clear Lake Boutique Elly's NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

Winter Weekend Wonder! Check out what is going on at the lake this week, including live music and plenty of activities to warm you up!

01/16/2025

🚗🎶 Straight from Austin… TEXAS!

The Austin Chronicle just featured the Surf Ballroom & Museum in their Day Trips column, saying:

"𝘞𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦."

That’s right—Austin, Texas, not Austin, Minnesota (hey, neighbor! 👋), is calling the Surf a must-visit destination! Music lovers from all over make the trip to experience this legendary venue.

Check out the article below.

Have you made the pilgrimage? Tell us your favorite Surf memory in the comments! ⬇️

We know it’s more than a day trip, but the Surf Ballroom is worth the pilgrimage

01/15/2025

The Surf Ballroom & Museum's traveling exhibit is on view now at the State Historical Society of Iowa including some pretty cool artifacts!

On view now at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, visitors can enjoy a new traveling exhibit from the legendary Surf Ballroom. Come learn about the history of Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom and see a variety of artifacts illustrating its importance in rock and roll history. As the last concert venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, the Surf is the bedrock of where the sound and attitude of rock and roll changed forever. The music continues to live on at the Surf Ballroom, which averages 24-30 concerts a year. This traveling exhibit will be on view through March 8.

The Surf Ballroom celebrates the life and influence of Holly, Valens, and Richardson annually during the Winter Dance Party. The multi-day event will take place this year from January 30 to February 1. Visit https://www.surfballroom.com/wdp.html to learn more.

01/14/2025

Having fun filming with Nelson Media Company this morning in preparation for our Building a Bright Future Annual Meeting!
❗️Have you registered!? Registration closes Friday!❗️

Contact Ashley at [email protected] or register online below ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️
https://members.clearlakeiowa.com/events/details/clear-lake-area-chamber-of-commerce-82nd-annual-meeting-awards-celebration-739314?calendarMonth=2025-01-01&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0INbQ-fgBAKXNAXOts05yIkjylEMpeZeIY3kljGSA2t45TS7_GHtmZ-jo_aem_2Wq_Myx-xpyrHzmyDwzrGQ

01/13/2025

Please join us in congratulating Stacy on this incredible accomplishment! 👏

Stacy Doughan Graduates from Institute for Organization Management, A Leadership Training Program Produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce We’re thrilled to share that Stacy Doughan I.O.M., President and CEO of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerc...

01/13/2025

A long, long time ago, Clear Lake fell into music history. Visit the Surf Ballroom & Museum, a National Historic Landmark that recognizes it’s enduring role in the history of American Music. Hear how the music lives on at the Surf Ballroom, which remains a popular venue for artists to play just as it was in the 1930s during the Big Band era and throughout the decades following. Visit the crash site memorial 5 miles north of the Surf in a quiet Iowa cornfield.

The Day the Music Died Tour in Clear Lake, IowaExplore the Clear Lake locations featured in “The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie,...

01/11/2025

01/10/2025

01/10/2025

Can’t wait for Color the Wind Kite Festival Feb. 15th 11-4 🪁🪁

01/10/2025

Wanna see what’s new in the Chamber?

Our December 2024 quarterly newsletter is here! Stay up-to-date on all the latest events, updates, and opportunities.

Check it out now!
https://clearlakeiowa.com/2024-12-december-newsletter/

01/09/2025

💚 “Want to be popular?
There’s one simple way—go see Wicked at the Lake Theatre this weekend!” 🎶 It’s the show everyone is talking about, so don’t miss your chance to experience this spellbinding story (whether it's for the first or the tenth time)! 🩷

01/09/2025

Check out Jase's recent catch!

DNR Fishing Report:
Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have aeration systems running. Avoid any open water areas and be cautious of waterfowl holes on these lakes. Check ice thickness often as you go. Most of the lake has 9 to 12 inches of ice. There are several open water holes and areas that have frozen over recently with much thinner ice. Wear safety gear and check conditions as you go.
🐟Walleye - Fair: Fish a minnow near rocky habitat. Best bite is after sunset.
🐟Black Crappie - Fair: Use caution when fishing near the rushes on the north shore. Foot traffic only recommended.
🐟Yellow Bass - Slow: Fish a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water.
🐟Bluegill - Fair: Fish a small jig tipped with bait near vegetation.
🐟Yellow Perch - Good: Most of the perch being caught are 4 to 6 inches.
📷Jase Curley

01/08/2025

Join us in Clear Lake for the Midwest’s largest and most colorful winter kite festival, featuring huge kites of all kinds flown by serious kite-flyers from across the United States (and some from England). 🪁 Saturday, February, 15 from 11am-4pm 🪁

Suggested donation for admission is $5 per person. Use Venmo , or look for the donation buckets throughout the event!

More details here: Color the Wind Kite Festival

01/07/2025

Join us for an afternoon of fun, celebration, and community at our Building a Bright Future Annual Meeting, Visitor Guide Reveal, and Awards Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the iconic Surf Ballroom & Museum!

🕑 Event Highlights:
🎸 2-3 PM: Tour the Surf Ballroom Music Experience Center
🍹 2:30 PM: Happy Hour & Heavy Appetizers
🏆 3:30-5 PM: Annual Meeting, Visitor Guide Reveal & Awards Celebration

🎟️ Reserve your tickets by Friday, Jan. 17! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate Clear Lake’s bright future with us.

Register online or contact Ashley Weiss at 641-357-2159 or [email protected] to reserve your seat!
https://members.clearlakeiowa.com/events/details/clear-lake-area-chamber-of-commerce-82nd-annual-meeting-awards-celebration-739314?calendarMonth=2025-01-01

01/07/2025

A huge thank to Pritchard Family Auto Stores for their incredible $25,000 donation to our new Welcome Center!

The Pritchard family has been serving the community for generations, ensuring exceptional automotive experiences for every client. Their generosity is helping us bring our vision for the new Chamber and Welcome Center to life—a space that will serve as the heart of community and commerce in Clear Lake.

📸 Pictured: Pam and Joe Pritchard with Clear Lake Development Foundation Board Member Carrie Tysdal, Chamber President & CEO Stacy Doughan, and Chamber Board Member Amanda Kasten.
Join us in building a brighter future for Clear Lake! Every contribution makes a difference. 💛 Donate today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/07043854-31a2-4864-8674-b81ae475338f

01/06/2025

🎥 A fun little surprise throwback for your Monday! 🇺🇸

While cleaning out some old flash drives (New Year = desk decluttering, right?), I stumbled across the July 4th, 2019 Parade video, a parade that was extra special because Larry & Kay Day were the grand marshals. They’re the amazing couple who started Color the Wind Kite Festival, which is coming up on February 15th. Can’t wait to see those kites fill the sky again! 🎏

What a cool find for the first Monday back after the holiday break—I think everyone could use a little distraction this afternoon! Enjoy!

-Libbey

The traditional Clear Lake, Iowa Independence Day Parade featuring Grand Marshals Larry & Kay Day on July 4, 2019.Larry & Kay Day founded Color the Wind Kite...

01/03/2025

Color the Wind Kite Festival merch is available at the Chamber!! 🪁🪁

Stop in 205 Main Ave 8am-5pm Mon.-Fri.

Beanies - $30
Black Crew - $45
Tan & Green Hoodies - $50
White Long Sleeve - $30
Youth Yellow Long Sleeve - $25
Youth Blue Crew - $35