OPA!!!! Whooooo hoooo...my 250th review!! My Big fat Greek…read moreFestival. It's hot and humid but that doesn't stop people from enjoying a good Greek festival. I came at 11:30am and things were just getting started. By the time I left, it was packed with people. It's not a huge festival, but it's till worth visiting. This festival lasts all day long until 10pm. Plenty of Greek food, Greek beer, Greek music, dancing and more. Remember to go to the ticket booth first. Each ticket is worth $1.00 You can redeem your tickets at each of the booths you desire to go to. Example: Want a Gyro? That's 6 tickets. Service is fast so you don't have to wait too long. Grab a chair under the canopy and enjoy the sights and sounds. There's even a Greek bake sale inside the church if you want to take home some baklava or other Greek pastries. Have fun! OPA!!!

OOOOOOoooh Bacon - The North Iowa rendition of bacon fest. Not a big as the original, but nearly as…read moredelicious!

What a cool festival... they have a kite festival on the frozen lake. It had these incredible…read moregiant balloons. It was for all ages and the main area of town was open to shop as well. Each kite was better than the next. There was ample street parking plus you could drive along the lake shore and catch all the kites and still stay warm. I bet you can gather what we did. The template was hovering around 0 degrees.

I'm not sure if I came too early or what, but there really wasn't a lot of art exhibitors there…read more I'm guessing 15 max? A few booths were selling pottery, jewelry and other hand made items. Not many painting or photography vendors. Maybe it was too hot? I was told it started at 9 am.... I was there at 9:30 am. Plenty of people stood in line for the free pancake breakfast. Live music played while the people ate. There were tables that supplied crafts for kids to do and a big air inflatable slide to jump on. I walked the whole thing in less than 15 min. Something to do on a hot summer day.

What a delight was the arts festival! A great showcase for artists around the state and a wonderful…read morechance to showcase the art museum that is quite the gem for this small town. Tons of exhibitors with plenty to sell, live music from around the area, and delightful inflatable slide on which your child will squeal with delight for only $1 a slide! Money goes to a good cause so it's worth it right! Well worth going to and checking out.

Just happened to notice all the street rods driving through town and didn't realize it was a street…read morerod show in central park. We eventually found a parking spot and decided to walk around and take a look. Talk about a blast from the past. If only I could of been born in the 50's and have actually owned one of those cool cars. Why not bring those styles back? Those cars have so much character than the styles we have today. Anyway, it was actually really fun checking out all those old cars even if it was 90 degrees.

Civil war reenactment in East park. I was told the event happens every year…read more It's a fun time for those who love the Civil War period. People camp, dress up, and reenact the Civil war...cannons included. There's also homemade crafts and food vendors there. Kettle corn and root beer made the old fashioned way. This event isn't too big or crowded. It a med-small crowd so you won't have to fight your way through the crowds.

This was a fantastic museum to stumble upon in Mason City. We could have spent longer here looking…read moreat everything (but we were pressed for time). Bil Baird's puppets were my absolute favorite permanent collection. Such a variety of puppets - you'll even get to see some of the puppets featured in The Sound of Music from 1965. (If you've seen the movie, you'll recognize them immediately.) MacNider has the most extensive Bil Baird puppet collection anywhere in the world; I suspect it's because Bil grew up in Mason City. The museum resides in a Tudor-style home, previously a private residence and a convent. The house has gone through several renovations over the years. The original staircase is beautiful. The art outside the museum between it and the library is neat, too. If you're going to Mason City, take advantage of MacNider! Free admission.

Such a great museum. A must see when visiting Mason City…read more It's FREE, so no worries if you've just spent all your money at the local ice-cream shop. Donations only. Full of rich history and great exhibits. They even have a small gift shop with items made from local artist. Upstairs the Bill Baird puppets are on display. If you don't know who Bill Baird is, he's the guy who created the puppets for the movie.... The Sound Of Music. They have an Imagination playground for younger children and even a few local exhibits from artists all over the Mid-West. Some of the local exhibits change monthly. They also offer art classes like painting and pottery. Fun place to visit.

This review is for the museum and the historical part of the place. The Surf Ballroom is best…read moreremembered as the final place that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper performed just hours before the tragic fatal plane crash. The place is not just a museum and landmark but it is mostly an events place as well as still being a music venue! The museum is self-guided and free, though donations are encouraged. They also have a souvenir shop so be prepared to spend some $$. But plan on at least an hour just looking around if you're a rock and roll history geek like me. Several photos on the wall and memorabilia. You'll be very surprised on who has played here - from the 1940s big bands to modern-day rock and pop/country acts. Be sure to step onto behind the stage as well as the green room. I could go on, but be sure to check this out for yourself sometime. Yes, the location is in central-northern Iowa, one of the least visited spots in the USA. It's between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, but driving all the way to Clear Lake to check this out is, in my mind, worth it. Check it out!

Wow...so much history here! I had no idea what I was walking into here...its definitely a must do…read morefor anyone with a love for music.