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Clear Lake's Surf Ballroom reveals its 2027 Winter Dance Party lineup

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — The Surf Ballroom & Museum has announced the entertainment lineup for the 2027 Winter Dance Party, taking place Feb. 4-6 in Clear Lake. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chubby Checker & The Wildcats will headline this year's celebration. The annual event honors Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, whose final performances took place at the Surf Ballroom on Feb. 2, 1959.

Clear Lake, IA · 3d
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KIMT

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New carnival company coming to North Iowa Band Festival

MASON CITY, Iowa — The North Iowa Band Festival has chosen Midwest Rides as its new carnival provider for the 88th annual festival. The festival runs May 27-31, 2027, in Mason City. The North Iowa Band Festival Committee, made up of community members, voted to bring in Midwest Rides for the festival weekend.

Mason City, IA · 23h
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travelmag.com

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10 Old-School Iowa Hobby Shops Where Trains And Kits Still Line The Shelves

Ever walked into a store looking for one small thing and ended up wanting half the shelves?. That’s exactly the trouble I have with a good hobby shop, especially when model trains and building kits are involved. I might arrive looking for a replacement part, only to spend the...

Iowa · 9d
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951thebull.com

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Chubby Checker to Headline 2027 Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chubby Checker will headline the 2027 Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, set for February 4th through the 6th. The annual celebration honors Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who played their final performances at Surf Ballroom on February 2, 1959, before all three died in a plane crash. Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 13) at surfballroom.com.

Clear Lake, IA · 20h
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familyvacationsus.com

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This Small Iowa Downtown Is Home to the Only Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel Still Taking Guests

Frank Lloyd Wright drew plans for six hotels, and only one still hands out room keys at night. That last survivor sits in a small downtown in Iowa, right across from a city park. Wright sketched it in 1908, then left for Europe before the job was done. His associate,...

Mason City, IA · 2d

KIMT

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North Iowa Concert Band plays free show at NIACC Tuesday, Nov. 24

MASON CITY, Iowa — The North Iowa Concert Band will perform its fall concert Nov. 24 at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the NIACC campus. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Conductor Mary Kate Arians will lead the band through an...

Mason City, IA · 17h

KIMT

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KIMT News 3 says goodbye to Meteorologist Hunter Donahoe

After over two years at KIMT News 3, KIMT Storm Alert Weather 3 Meteorologist Hunter Donahoe is leaving to pursue a new chapter in his life journey.

Mason City, IA · 5d

Iowa Public Radio

partner publisher · 2.9K followers

Pianist to perform Beethoven’s complete piano concertos with Orchestra Iowa

Pianist and composer Stewart Goodyear is putting his talents to the test in a rare feat of musical endurance during a visit to Cedar Rapids. Over two nights, Goodyear will perform all five Beethoven piano concertos with Orchestra Iowa.

Cedar Rapids, IA · 3d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 638 followers

Blue-collar background informs Cedar Rapids native’s fiction

CEDAR RAPIDS — Unlike a lot of authors, Keith Pilapil Lesmeister didn’t set out to become a writer from an early age. Instead, the Cedar Rapids native was well into adulthood before he realized he had a knack for storytelling. While in his late 20s and working in the admissions office at Luther College in Decorah, Lesmeister said he decided to record some of the “wild and outlandish” family stories he’d heard growing up in Cedar Rapids. He started to write down some of that family lore, while at the same time taking a few writing-related classes at Luther. It was a class on creative writing that helped light the spark for him. “It felt very liberating, in the sense that, you know, instead of airing out all of my family's dirty laundry, I could … instead just make things up and call it fiction, which was far more liberating to me,” Lesmeister said. Nearly two decades later, Lesmeister has turned that interest in fiction into a full-fledged career. He recently released his second collection of short stories, “Ask Me About the Money,” in addition to working full time as a writing and literature instructor at Northeast Iowa Community College.

Cedar Rapids, IA · 2d

radioonthego.com

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Christian concert tour coming to Hampton Nov. 14

A concert featuring two nationally recognized Christian artists is coming to Hampton next weekend. The Good News Unplugged Tour, featuring Jordan Feliz and Thunderstorm Artis, will perform at the Church of the Living Word on Nov. 14. Feliz is known for songs including “The River” and “Beloved,” along with multiple...

Hampton, IA · 3d

sun-courier.com

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Gladbrook Commercial Club, Reinbeck library host Halloween fun for the boo crew

AREA – The boo crew turned out in full force this year for the Gladbrook Commercial Club’s annual Halloween activities on Saturday, Oct. 31, and also the Reinbeck Public Library’s three days of Halloween fun that began the Thursday prior. In downtown Gladbrook Saturday evening, where the...

Reinbeck, IA · 4d

cbs2iowa.com

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Jerry Seinfeld to perform at Cedar Rapids' Paramount Theatre

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will return to Cedar Rapids for a performance March 25 at the Paramount Theatre. The show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are listed starting at $67.50, with prices subject to change. Tickets go on sale to the general public...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 5d

sun-courier.com

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Call for Union Carolers bookings

LA PORTE CITY – In need of music for a holiday gathering, Christmas party, or church meeting this season? The Union Carolers are now accepting bookings for events throughout eastern Iowa. The Union Carolers are an a cappella ensemble that provide about 20 minutes of holiday music for any...

La Porte City, IA · 4d

KIMT

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Music meets magic at North Iowa auditorium on November 17

MASON CITY, Iowa — A magician who blends live music with illusions is bringing his show to North Iowa next month. Chris Funk will perform "Redefining Wonder" at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the NIACC campus. First Citizens Bank and Visit Mason City are presenting the show as part of the 2026-2027 NIACC Performing Arts & Leadership Series.

Mason City, IA · 4d

iowapublicradio.org

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Documentary connects Indigenous tribes from Iowa, Hawaii and Mexico through dance

In 1883, the U.S. Department of the Interior created a Code of Indian Offenses — it made Native dancing and ceremonies illegal and gave Indian Agents authority to punish anyone who violated the code. This was part of a systematic effort to erase individual tribal cultures and to force all indigenous people to assimilate. The documentary Why We Dance takes viewers into the heart of Indigenous communities around North America in Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Hawaii and Mexico. It's a film about heritage, connection, joy and cultural resilience.

Iowa · 7d

cbs2iowa.com

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Zach Johnson Foundation announces new executive director

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Zach Johnson Foundation says Development Director Stephanie Stulken will take over the organization's leadership after Executive Director Eric Christenson retires at the end of 2026. Stulken will become executive director effective Jan. 1, 2027. The foundation, established by professional golfer Zach Johnson, supports Cedar...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 5d

I-Rock 93.5

partner publisher · 4.5K followers

Concert Announcement: Breaking Benjamin Coming To Cedar Rapids

Breaking Benjamin brings their hard rock sound to the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids on February 16th.

Cedar Rapids, IA · 6d

familyvacationsus.com

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Inside the National Czech and Slovak Museum, Cedar Rapids Tells Its Immigrant Story Plainly

A whole museum building once moved 480 feet to higher ground. It weighed about 1,500 tons, and crews set it 11 feet above its old spot. That happened after a terrible flood in 2008. I can’t imagine watching a building that size creep across the ground. The move worked,...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 7d

travelmag.com

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10 Old-School Iowa Hobby Shops Where Trains And Kits Still Line The Shelves

Ever walked into a store looking for one small thing and ended up wanting half the shelves?. That’s exactly the trouble I have with a good hobby shop, especially when model trains and building kits are involved. I might arrive looking for a replacement part, only to spend the...

Iowa · 9d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 638 followers

Cedar Rapids ventriloquist treated with jokes on Halloween

CEDAR RAPIDS — You’ve got to work for your goodies when trick-or-treating at the Naughtons’ house. Dennis Naughton, a Cedar Rapids lawyer and a semi-professional ventriloquist, has kids tell a joke in exchange for a treat. He’s been doing that for around a decade, with some families telling him their kids pick out and practice their jokes in advance of Halloween. Naughton already is jittery at 4:30 p.m. Halloween night. Dressed in a Revolutionary War costume repurposed from the America 250 celebration, his eyes dart to the window as he waits for the first trick-or-treater to arrive. His skeleton assistant, Bonehead, sits ready on his stool on the Naughtons’ front porch on Grand Avenue SE. Bonehead is a bit of a mess. His head is a different color from his body, his jaw sits at an angle and his eyes bulge in two different directions. He’s oddly endearing, as if he’s used to being the butt of the joke himself. When visitors arrive, Naughton pulls a metal grip in Bonehead’s rib cage, and the skeleton explains the rules for a treat in a grating voice. Some kids aren’t sure how to approach Bonehead. One tiny toddler dressed as a minion

Cedar Rapids, IA · 10d