This weekend the popular Art in the Park will fill our park with beautiful, creative works of art waiting to be discovered by shoppers. This event has been a mainstay of the summer for many years.
In early 1977, the Arts Council was organized. One of their first events was Art Sail held in 1978.
The Art Council continued to expand and evolve, eventually needing a place to call home. They occupied 212 Main Avenue until the building was taken down.
In 2006, they moved into the former bank building that had stood at their current location. It was soon remodeled and expanded into the Art Center we enjoy today.
The Art Sail continued to evolve over the years as well. In 1988, a Storytelling Festival joined the event.
In 1992 a truly spooky Ghostboat ride on Lady of the Lake is still legendary in our collective history. The boat left at 9 pm. Many unsettling stories were shared and a glimpse of a ghostly figure was spotted on our island. The Lady became enveloped by an eerie fog. The boat and her exhausted passengers didn’t get to dry dock until 4am. Truly a scary experience!
The Storytelling Festival put on by the Clear Lake Public Library has moved to the third weekend of July and is held at the North Iowa Fair.
A new Ghosts of Clear Lake walking tour, sponsored by the Clear Lake Public Library and the Historical Society, is scheduled for this fall. Local haunts and spirits will provide fascinating stories for two evenings.
In 1992, Dixiefest was added to the Art Sail. This prompted a name change of the weekend to Lakefest, reflecting the full lineup of events. After 18 years of toe tapping music the Dixieland component bowed out of the lineup. As musicians aged, it became increasingly difficult to find performers.
While you marvel at the incredible art in our park on Saturday, listen carefully. Perhaps a ghost of a Dixieland tune still lingers in City Park.
