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DISCOVER! MAGAZINE

2.)$ 28, 2025

PET ROCK JUMP! VAN HALEN EXPERIENCE ROOTS IN BLUE

Fourth of July concerts lined up for holiday weekend — SEE PAGE 9

Fo$ th! Lov! o%

,.4+3!' *6$!*#$

Showcase is ideal for small, very talented cast

— SEE PAGE 6

Rockin’

+) *6$ .4!

Village to

celebrate 50th

anniversary with

large fireworks

display July 3

— SEE PAGE 14

Local towns

and cities

celebrate

the Fourth

with

fireworks

— S E E

PAGE 19

Galor!

"+#$%0#&4

Your source for weekend fun in N’West Iowa

FunAtBoji.com

2 | JUNE 28, 2025 | DISCOVER!

FREE

CONCERTS

PRESENTED BY

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THE SOUTH

AT PRESERVATION PLAZA

JUNE 28TH

PREMIUM

SUMMER

CONCERT SERIES

JUNE 27, 2025

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5

Lineup:

Here is a list of who’s

playing where this weekend.

6

Playbill:

OST showcase is ideal

for small, very talented cast.

The nights around the Fourth of July are alight with fireworks in N’West Iowa. Check out

our list of where you can see fireworks this holiday weekend.

9

Fourth

14

19

20

22

6

of July: Fourth of July

concerts lined up for holiday weekend.

9

Other Happenings: Other

11 must-see area events to check out.

14

Fourth of July: Village to celebrate

anniversary with display.

Fourth of July: Local towns

celebrate the Fourth with fireworks.

Screen: New releases for the big

screen and good new rentals.

Calendar: Our list of what is

happening where.

DISCOVER! | JUNE 28, 2025

Contents | 3

Side Trip:

!uth Ann Burke is never short on ideas. She

serves as executive director of the Okoboji

Summer Theatre, and last year debuted

a gala on the eve of the season opener. It was

a successful evening, so the staff and students

planned a similar event

this year, using a 1920s

speakeasy theme.

My husband and I

aren’t known to do costumes.

When our office

team decides to have a

Halloween potluck and

costume contest, we

support everyone else’s

"#!$%

&%'$(!

efforts, but don’t do too

much ourselves.

The speakeasy theme

resonated differently

with me — a fringetrimmed

dress and long black gloves I could do.

A vest and hat — that suited my husband. We

got on board.

The night of the event there were plenty

of flapper dresses, long strands of beads and

sequins galore. This was a theatre crowd, after

all, and they love to play a part.

We had a secret password to gain access to

the featured drinks at the bar, Tom Andes provided

live jazz music in the background, and a

large Art Deco backdrop created the ideal photo

op. After dining, we were treated to a preview

of the season’s musicals and gifted individually

boxed French pastries.

What surprised me most about the night was

hearing our names called as winners in the

costume contest. “For the first time ever in the

two years we’ve been doing this … We have a

couple as winners.”

It was all in good fun, and my husband

quickly donned the long strand of “pearls”

we were presented, sporting them with his

pinstripe vest and gold pocket watch.

From what we experienced during the

preview, the 67th season at the Okoboji

Summer Theatre is going to be a good one.

DISCOVER! is your guide to all the special events and activities in the greater

northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, southeast South Dakota and northeast

Nebraska areas. It is distributed free throughout these areas.

Copyright 2025. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or in any way

reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

Advertising and Editorial Offices:

P.O. Box 160, Sheldon, IA 51201

1-800-247-0186

e-mail: discover@iowainformation.com

funatboji.com


Please join us for

VILLAGE NORTHWEST

INDEPENDENCE DAY

CELEBRATION

A family-friendly, fun-filled evening

Thursday, July 3 rd , 2025, in Sheldon, IA

5 P.M. - Food Booths Open • 5:30 P.M. - Zoo Mobile & Ice Cream

6 P.M. - Carnival Games & Inflatables Open • 7 P.M. - Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Spectacular Fireworks at Dark!

712-348-0426 • Archer, IA 712-324-2516 • Sheldon, IA 712-324-2348 • Sheldon, IA 712-324-4800 • Sheldon, IA

NORTH STAR

Community Credit Union

712-752-8525 • Hospers, IA

Federally Insured by NCUA

712-324-0190 • Sheldon, IA

www.nsccu.org

712-324-2531 • Sheldon, IA

Jay A. Theis

CFP ® , CRPC ® , APMA ® , CLTC ®

712-324-5292 • Sheldon, IA

L-K CONSTRUCTION

Mark & Melissa Gurtler

712-324-3404 • Sheldon, IA 712-324-3744 • Sheldon, IA


Lineup | 5

Check out who is playing

where this weekend.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

Cain & Co.

712-332-7045

5 p.m. - Captain’s Getaway,

Boon, Lambert & Friends 6 p.m. -

Roof Garden Ballroom, 712-330-0889

Charlie Leissler 6 p.m. - Little Swan

Lake Winery, 712-858-4592

Tyler Braden 7 p.m. - Captain’s Getaway,

712-332-7045

Wes Weller 6 p.m. - Round Lake Vineyards

& Winery, 507-945-1100

Foreigner: Very Important

Beer 7:30 p.m. - Roof Garden Ballroom,

712-332-2183

Taylor Huseman 8 p.m. - Wine Bar &

Art Gallery, 712-539-1351

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

Cain & Co.

712-332-7045


Hope Rasmussen 6 p.m. - Calico

Skies Vineyard & Winery, 712-753-2110

Dave Anderson & The Invisible

String Band 6 p.m. - Round Lake Vineyards

& Winery, 507-945-1100

Jake Gill Band

712-332-7303

7 p.m. - Barefoot Bar,

Foreigner 7:30 p.m. - Preservation Plaza,

712-332-2183

The Nadas 8 p.m. - Okoboji Store, 712-

332-5628

Chris Wham 8 p.m. - Wine Bar & Art

Gallery, 712-539-1351

9 p.m. - Captain’s Get-

Varsity Rejects

away, 712-332-7045

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Adam and I 9 a.m. - Farmers Market in

the Park, 712-332-2183

Kick 1 p.m. - Okoboji Store, 712-332-

5628

Chad Elliott 2 p.m. - Round Lake Vineyards

& Winery, 507-945-1100

Jake Gill Band

712-332-7303

Jud Hailey

712-332-7045

2:30 p.m. - Barefoot Bar,


Ridottos 6 p.m. - Little Swan Lake Winery,

712-858-4592

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Chad Elliott 2 p.m. - Round Lake Vineyards

& Winery, 507-945-1100

Jeremy DeWall Band

7 p.m. - Barefoot

Bar, 712-332-7303

Songs of the South

7:30 p.m. - Preservation

Plaza, 712-332-2183

Not Quite Brothers

Store, 712-332-5628

9 p.m. - Captain’s Get-

Varsity Rejects

away, 712-332-7045

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

8 p.m. - Okoboji

Kick 1 p.m. - Okoboji Store, 712-332-

5628

Landon Weiss 2 p.m. - Round Lake

Vineyards & Winery, 507-945-1100

Billy Lurken 2 p.m. - Calico Skies Vineyard

& Winery, 712-753-2110

John Griggs 2 p.m. - Barefoot Bar, 712-

332-7303

South 71 4 p.m. - Little Swan Lake Winery,

712-858-4592

Jud Hailey

712-332-7045


Herman’s Hermits 7:30 p.m. - Roof

Garden Ballroom, 712-332-2183

MONDAY, JUNE 30

Dick Bauman Big Band 7 p.m. -

Pearson Lakes Art Center, 712-332-7013

Iowa Great Lakes Area | Iowa

JUNE 28, 2025 | DISCOVER!

6 |

Playbill

Going on Now!

-.'’%

)(,,

./%0

Up Next:

"#$%& “The Musical of Musicals

(The Musical!)”

"#!'& June 24-29

%()!& Tuesday-Saturday evenings

at 8 p.m., Saturday matinee at 4:30

p.m., Sunday evening at 6 p.m.

%(*+!%,& $26 each, available

online through Eventbrite.com, by

sending an e-mail to boxoffice@

okobojisummertheatre.org or by

calling the box office at (712)

332-7773.

MYRNA WAGNER | EDITOR

)/,(*$1 %#!$%2!

for those who love musical theatre

!ven if you don’t know

musical theatre, you’ll

enjoy the opening

show of the Okoboji Summer

Theatre season. You

might miss a bit of the

humor and satire, but

you’ll still enjoy it.

If you are a musical

theatre buff, “The

Musical of

M u s i c a l s

( T h e

Musical!)” is the show for you. It’s onstage now

through June 29. You will love it.

Nothing is off limits for this arrangement, that

plays off the stylings of legendary musical theatre

composers. There is a small group of actors, with

one struggling to pay the rent. Her journey winds

through a multitude of musicals, while mimicking and

exaggerating the quirks of Rodgers and Hammerstein,

Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kander

and Ebb and Jerry Herman.

Songs include bits and pieces of famous melodies,

but never more than a few bars before it’s on to the

next song or a variation of the familiar.

It would be nearly impossible to catch all the

references to famous shows and composers in just

one viewing, but some of the easier ones for amateur

theatre goers to catch include “Oklahoma!,” “South

Pacific,” “Carousel” and “The Sound of Music” from

Rodgers and Hammerstein. From Stephen Sondheim,

“Into the Woods” and “Sweeny Todd.” By Jerry Herman,

“Hello Dolly!” and “Mame.”

From the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Evita,” “Jesus

Christ Superstar,” “Cats,” “Phantom of the Opera” and

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

The second act parodies a speakeasy, playing off

“Chicago” and “Cabaret,” the work of John Kander and

Fred Ebb.

Directing and choreography duties fall to Alison

Morooney, who understands the challenge of

entertaining both the musical novices and the experts.

Her actors are constantly on the move, and change

styles with each scene, each new parody. They aren’t

just one character for the evening but multiple.

Choreography is at its best in the cabaret, and acting

shines in the blending of “Cats” with “Phantom of

the Opera.”

Movements that mimic roller skating are fluid and

symbolic, the falling chandelier and Abby with the

wire cutters is melodramatic.

The cast includes Sophia Poole, Josh Crowley,

Nicholas Youngstead, Sarah Whitehead, Aisha Perez,

Sophia Frenna, Marquel Hawkins, Lily Mace, Jeremy

Cain and Jesamine Katzman.

Set designer Nathan Lee creates a two-story

platform that serves the story well. It can be the

hallway of an apartment building, the catwalk of a

theatre, and a dramatic entrance many different times

and ways. Oversize and somewhat abstract silhouettes

along the front and back of the two-story walkway hint

at many of the musicals being parodied. Cornstalks in

the opening number look remarkably realistic.

Musical director and pianist Richard Beiver is nearly

nonstop on the keyboards for the duration. He is the

only musician, keeping it lively with a few moments of

drama and mood.

Costume designer Ashley Harrison creates five to six

different outfits for each character. A personal favorite

is the phantom/cat creation for Jitter, but Abby also has

great dresses and robes, and Willy is quite the contrast

in his all black French artist look contrasted with his

argyle sweater vest and knickers. Lighting designer

is Lennox Emery, while Anastasiia Didenko handles

sound.

This is a show that you could see multiple times

during its weeklong run at OST and catch something

new each time. It gets the season off to a fast start, and

adds optimism that this will be a great year of live, local

theatre. F

Showcase is ideal for small, very

talented cast

Okoboji | Iowa

Celebrate

DISCOVER! | JUNE 28, 2025 | 7

Sunday, June 29

6 p.m. - Miss George/Little Miss George Pageant @ GLR Auditorium

Thursday, July 3

7 p.m.- 7:45 p.m. - Street Dance Opening by Max Deboer@ Last Call

8 p.m.- Midnight - Street Dance with 2 Weeks Notice playing @ Last Call

Friday, July 4

4-6 p.m. - Fun Run/Walk Registration @ Locker Park Train Depot

5:30 p.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull Registration (Children 4-11 years)@ Old Park

5:45 p.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull @ Old Park

7-9 p.m. - Cruise Night

7-9 p.m. - Swimming Pool Bake Sale Fundraiser @ George Pool

Saturday, July 5

8 a.m. - Flag Raising & National Anthem @ Freedom Rock Locker Pond

8 a.m. - Fun Run/Walk @ George Rec Trail

9 a.m. - George Firemen Duck Races

9 a.m.-4 p.m. - George Museum Open (Closed during Parade)

11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Town & Country 4-H Food Stand @ Community Room

11 a.m.-1 p.m. - GLR Junior Class Prom Fundraiser Food Stand @ GLR School

Noon - Antique Tractor Pull Registration (SE Edge of George by County Shed)

1 p.m. - Parade (Main Street/Dakota Avenue/Washington Street)

2 p.m. - Antique Tractor Pull (SE Edge of George by County Shed)

2 -8:30 p.m. - GLR Junior Class Prom Fundraiser Food Stand @ GLR School

2-7 p.m. - Games & Inflatables @ GLR School Grounds

6 p.m. - All Door Prize Ticket Sales End

6 - 7 p.m. - Evening Entertainment-”Diamond Empire”

@ GLR School Grounds

7 - 7:30 p.m. - Pie Auction Fundraiser for Freedom Days Celebration

- Part 1 @ GLR School Grounds

7:30 - 8 p.m. - Door Prize Drawing Winners Announced @ GLR School Grounds

8-8:30 p.m. - Pie Auction Fundraiser for Freedom Days Celebration

- Part 2 @ GLR School Grounds

8:30 p.m. - 2024 Chamber Photo Contest Framed Print Auction

8:30-9:30 p.m.. - Evening Entertainment- “Diamond Empire”

@ GLR School Grounds

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks Show @ GLR School Grounds

Sunday, July 6

9 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Dad's Belgian Waffle Breakfast-George Chamber Fundraiser

@ GLR Central Office Building Lunch Room

FREEWILL DONATION towards Freedom Days Activities

& George Chamber of Commerce Activities

11:30 a.m. - Betterment Club Fishing Tournament Registration @ Locker Park

Noon -1 p.m. - Betterment Club Fishing Tournament@ Locker Park

1- 1:30 p.m. - Betterment Club Tournament Prizes

2-4 p.m. - George Museum Open

Sponsored by George Chamber of Commerce

For weather updates and schedule changes, please watch our

facebook page:George Iowa Chamber of Commerce

Hair Hut

712-475-3375

George, IA

712-475-3612 • George, IA

712-475-6330 • George, IA

712-475-3218 • George, IA

800-745-6970 • Lester, IA

www.drgmechanical.com

712-475-3325 • George, IA

712-475-3307 • George, IA

712-475-3391 • George, IA

1-800-247-0186 • Sheldon, IA


th

SPECTACULAR

INWOOD, IA

www.Inwood4thofJuly.com

Community Appreciation Picnic • Tuesday, July 1, 5-7:30 p.m. in the park

Sunday, June 29 • Community Worship Service • 6 p.m. Inwood City Park

Wednesday, July 2 • Car Show & Shine • 6-9 p.m. - Burnouts 7:30-8:30 p.m. (South End Main Street)

A night of Food, Music, Cool Cars and Burnouts! For more info, contact Steve 712-541-3503 • Golf Cart Decorating Contest by the pool 6-7 p.m.

Thursday, July 3 • Fire & Rescue Fun Night • In the park serving food 5:30-8 p.m. (Freewill Donation)

Hamburgers & Pork Loin Sandwiches, Ice Cream • Fire Truck Rides • Many Games for the Kids • Ra!e • Pickleball Tournament

Friday, July 4, 2025

7-9 a.m. - Kiwanis Breakfast at Bethlehem Lutheran Church

7:30 a.m. - Road Race 5K & 1-Mile run. Starts at Community Center. For more info, contact Becca 303-941-8838

Registration can be found at https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/Inwood/lnwoodfirecracker5kandlMilefunRun

9 a.m.-2 p.m. - Vendor Fair All day starting at 9 a.m. For details, call 605-366-4109

10 a.m. - Kiddie Parade Registration at 9:30 a.m. at Fellowship Village parking lot

10:15 a.m. - Parade Registration at 8:30-10 a.m. at First Reformed Church (no Semitrailers)

Preregister Online by July 1 at www.inwood4thofjuly.com

ALL DAY Food & Refreshments in the park after the parade and at the derby

1-3 p.m. - Kids Activities in the Park • Inflatables • Games

2-4 p.m. - Bingo at Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Food & Beverages Provided

6:30 p.m. - Demolition Derby Advanced Ticket Sales: July 2, 6-8 p.m. on Main Street & in the Park on July 3, 6-8 p.m.

Tickets available at the Gate July 4 at 4:30 p.m. For rules and entry form visit: R&RTotalDestruction.com or Rob 515-971-1328 or

Facebook: Inwood 4th of July Spectacular. Tickets: $15/person • 6 & under FREE • $25 Pit Passes

712-477-2700

Larchwood, IA

712-753-4911

Inwood, IA

712-477-2383

Larchwood, IA

Lil’ Chubs

Corner Stop

Ice Cream Treats

Inwood, IA

712-461-2904

Inwood, IA

605-929-6442

Inwood, IA

712-753-2156

Inwood, IA

1$!3 "'2!

,$#)%4$!-5


Fourth of July | 9

#.0) 12-.,

and bright lights

Fourth of July concerts lined up for holiday weekend

PET ROCK

/antastic fireworks and crowd pleasing concerts

have become synonymous with Fourth of July in

the Iowa Great Lakes.

This year a trio of shows scheduled for Arnolds

Parks’ Live at the Lake series will surely pack

Preservation Plaza for a few memorable holiday

evenings.

All the concerts get started at 7:30 p.m. and are free

to attend.

Starting off with a bang will be Pet Rock at Friday,

July 4, which will be followed by the summer’s largest

fireworks display from Smith’s Bay on West Okoboji

Lake.

“Pet Rock is big for 70s music and they dress the

part,” said Chris Swanson, director of makerting for

Historic Arnolds Park, Inc. “It’s one of those things

where it doesn’t matter what age you are, you’ll hear

songs you know and want to sing along. It’s been a few

years since they’ve been here and a lot of people have

said how excited they are to have them come back.

You tend to think of the 70s as this free spirit kind of

era and that seems to really fit in well with the Fourth

of July.”

The next night will take the audience to new heights

with the Jump! Van Halen Experience.

“It’s been a couple years for these guys too, and

they’re a bunch of young guys that just love Van Halen

music,” Swanson said. “If you remember David Lee

Roth jumping in the air and doing the splits and all

those things - it will be a high energy show for sure.

Just classic rock and roll with Van Halen having such

a large catalog of music slots perfectly as a Saturday

night kind of energy.”

Wrapping up the holiday weekend will be a first

time event for Preservation Plaza.

Roots in Blue - USAF Band of Mid-America will

bring a rock and roll show to the stage Sunday evening.

“So the military has all kinds of different types of

bands, from orchestras to rock and country and every

branch of the military does this,” Swanson said. “This

is the United State Air Force band out of Illinois and

this is their version that plays Top 40, contemporary

music, so they’ll do country and they’ll do pop music.

I thought it would be a great way to end the Fourth of

July weekend and the park has never had a military

band before so we’re pretty excited.”

It’s shaped up to be another weekend that solidifies

the Iowa Great Lakes as the place to be during the

Fourth of July.

“So Lake Okoboji and Arnolds Park is becoming

pretty well known in the Midwest for live music and

the fireworks and so it’s not hard to find a band that

wants to come here and play on the Fourth of July,"

Swanson said. “The bands all love it, they sing their

last song and can turn and face the lake and watch the

fireworks along with everyone else. There’s something

about fireworks on the lake that is just magical and

with all the boats with their lights on it makes for a neat

scene.” F

At a Glance:

(&$*+ Pet Rock

(&)!)+ Preservation Plaza, 37

Lake St., Arnolds Park IA

(&)%+ 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 4

,'-*+ Free

,'%*$,*+ 712-332-2183

'%#.%)+ www.arnoldspark.com

At a Glance:

(&$*+ Jump! Van Halen Experience



(&)%+ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5

,'-*+ Free

,'%*$,*+ 712-332-2183


At a Glance:

(&$*+ Roots in Blue - USAF Band

of Mid-America



(&)%+ 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6

,'-*+ Free

,'%*$,*+ 712-332-2183


JUMP! VAN HALEN EXPERIENCE

!"#$% &'() | STAFF WRITER

Arnolds Park | Iowa


LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR TRADE-IN

OVER 2300

FIREARMS

New & Used

Stop in!

350 BOWS

& BOW SETS

New & Used

Over 25 Cross Bow Sets

We take Firearms

in for trade on

Bows & X-Bows

BOWS & CROSSBOWS • BROWNING SAFES

FIREARMS • AMMO & ARCHERY SUPPLIES

THERE ARE SO

MANY THINGS

TO DO AND

EXPLORE IN

CLAY COUNTY!

712-262-7213 • 325 11th St. SW • Spencer, IA

Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat 9 AM-5:30 PM

Thurs 9 AM-7 PM • Sun Closed

Fused Glass

Fused Glass

CREATE Create YOUR your own OWN

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

glass display

INDIVIDUALS & SMALL GROUPS

PRIVATE PARTIES - 6 OR MORE CREATORS

NIGHT CLASSES AVAILABLE FOR LARGE GROUPS

Follow us on Facebook!

302 Grand Avenue • Spencer

712-580-4906

vermeerglass@outlook.com

www.vermeerglass.com

@VermeerGlassArt


Other Happenings | 11

PLAC host class to make patriotic

t-shirts on July 1

The Fourth of July means people

grill out, catch candy at parades

and stay up late to enjoy the

fireworks. They do it all while wearing

red, white and blue.

The Pearson Lakes Art Center will

be hosting two events to give people

a chance to create some functional art

for the Fourth. They’ll be hosting their

annual Fourth of July Tie Dye T-Shirts

on July 1-2.

The Fourth of July Tie Dye T-Shirt

class will cost $15 for art center members

and $18 for nonmembers. It will

take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. both

days. People are asked to call ahead

and register for a time slot. The time

slots available are 10:30 a.m-11:30

a.m., 1-2 p.m. or 2-3 p.m.

For the event, people will be provided

a white t-shirt and gloves and the

staff at the Pearson Lakes Art Center

helps teach “different methods of folding

to create a variety of designs and

dye colors of your liking,” according to

the website. People will be provided

with painting shirts so that they don’t

need to worry about tie dyeing their

own clothes. Participants of the tie

dying class will bring their creations

home with them in a ziploc bag with

instructions for washing and wearing.

This opportunity is a fun thing that

anyone in the family would enjoy

and will give people a chance to get

creative with what they wear on the

Fourth of July.

!"#$#% Pearson Lakes Art Center,

2201 Highway 71, Okoboji, IA

!"#&% 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. July 1-2

'(&)*')% 712-332-7013

'(+)% $15/$18

(&,-&#% www.lakesart.org


Your Over Trusted 50+ Iowa Great Lakes Premier Meat Market

Brat Flavors

2 Convenient

Locations

to grab your

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712-339-0536

Monday-Friday: 8am-5:30pm

Saturday & Sunday: 8am-4pm

1710 Ithaca, Spirit Lake

712-339-5992

Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-5:30pm

Friday: 9:30am-5:30pm

Saturday & Sunday: 9:30am-4pm

Follow Us on &

See you

at The Patio!

Monday - Saturday: 7am-7pm | Sunday: 7am - 4pm

2098 IA-86, Milford, IA | 712-338-2384

We’ve added

a brand new

outdoor patio!

More room,

more vibes,

same awesome

OGC.


lakesart.org I 712.332.7029

SUMMER HOURS:

Mon-Sat: 10 am-4 pm

Thurs: 10 am-9 pm

2201 Hwy 71 N

Okoboji, IA 51355

Happy 4th of July!

PLAC will be closed

Friday, July 4th

PERFORMING

Dick Bauman Big Band

Every Monday Night 7-9 PM

Memorial- Labor Day | $10 at the door

7/1 | Commotion

A Tribute To Creedence Clearwater Revival

7:30 PM | $35/$45 SOLD OUT

7/8 | Frontiers

The World’s Number One Tribute To Journey

7:30 PM | $40/$50

7/15 & 7/16 | The Texas Tenors

Country & Classical

7:30 PM | $40/$50

7/22 | John Ford Coley

Acoustic Soft Rock

7:30 PM | $35/$45

8/5| The Drifters

Rock & Roll

7:30 PM | $40/$50

CULINARY EDUCATION VISUAL

Mary Payton: Neuro Plasticity

Through 9/6

Carl Wesley: Mixed Media Melodies

Through 8/2

Mindful Art 2.0 With Karess Knudtson

July 9: Using Watercolors | 6-7:30pm | $30/$40

Level: Any, 18 years+, Must register by 12pm the day of class

Prerequisite Mindful Art 1.0

This mindful drawing activity merges neuroscience

and drawing. This class will benefit anyone who

comes with an open mind through simple drawing

techniques that can be used for personal reflection

and the processing of everyday life through art.

Mediterranean Dinner Series

With Chef Jay Norton of The Hen House

6:00pm | $100/$110 per dinner

July 17: Journey to Morocco

August 21: Journey to Italy

Attend 1 or 2 dinners!

Must register 2 days

prior to each class

Art Books by Betty Haight

Through 8/16

ANNA YOUNGERS Demo & Artist Talk

July 24 | 4:30pm | $Free/$10

Betty Haight, Stephanie Cunningham,

& Danielle Clouse Gast

Through 8/16

Join Anna as she shares her artistic journey

while demonstrating her process of oil painting.

Approximately 2 hours of demo/Q&A. Reserve a seat

requested, Walk-ins Welcome.

Life’s a Beach - Time for Wine Cocktails

With Jennifer Tritle-Oitzman

July 10 | 6:00pm | $55/$65

Jennifer will share the history of wine-based mixers

and guide us in crafting delightful cocktails sure to

impress your summer guests! Beachy picnic snacks

included. Register by July 9.


14 |

Fourth of July

(*#+ ),-#

.*'$/0*#12

"#$%% %&$'($)$# | STAFF WRITER

Rockin’

in

theUSA

!illage Northwest Unlimited’s Independence

Day Celebration didn’t start as a full-fledged

community event, but it quickly became one.

Since 1979, it has been a staple on the town’s calendar.

This year aims to be the biggest one yet, since the

Village is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and it is

pulling out all the stops this time.

“We love bringing people onto the campus and letting

them experience what it’s like,” said Brian Robyn,

the director of human resources at Village Northwest

Unlimited. “It’s a way of us saying thank you to the

communities around here for the support that they

give us, now for 50 years.”

The event started as a get together for residents at

the Village, but it expanded into the wider Sheldon

and N’West Iowa community a few years later. As

the years went on, the event grew to where it is today.

People from all over the surrounding areas have come

to see the celebration.

“It’s clean family fun,” Robyn said.

Activities for this year will start at 5 p.m. Thursday,

July 3. Many local vendors are expected to come,

including various food trucks ranging from tacos,

smash burgers, pizza, barbecue and more.

“The food trucks have been a big plus,” Robyn said.

“When it originally started, the Village staff made the


Fourth of July | 15

At a Glance:

!"#$% Village Northwest Unlimited’s

Independence Day Celebration

!"&'&% 330 Village Circle, Sheldon, IA

!"&(% Thursday, July 3

)(*+(&% www.villagenorthwest.org/

events/independence-day

Village to

celebrate 50th

anniversary

with large

fireworks

display July 3

food and served the food.”

Carnival games and inflatables will

begin at 6 p.m. Activities and rides

include a petting zoo, fire truck rides,

giant games and inflatables such as

bouncy houses and obstacle courses.

Caricatures will be available for the

first time. One aspect the Village

implemented this year was offering

Sheldon Elementary School students

free tickets for rides. They were handed

out on the last day of school.

“It was really to say, ‘It’s out 50th

anniversary, what can we do to

celebrate?’” Robyn said. “Our target

audience is families. What a better way

to get families than to say, ‘Here, kids,

you get free tickets.’”

At 7 p.m. a free outdoor concert will

begin. This year it will feature Landslide,

a Fleetwood Mac tribute band.

Finally, the night caps off with the

fireworks show at 9 p.m. This one

aims to be one of the biggest ever

seen at the celebration due to the 50th

anniversary and will last between

20-30 minutes. Robyn said the Village

spent more money on fireworks this

year and that the display will be a

larger, longer, more intense experience.

Once the celebration ends, a wrap-up

meeting is held within the week after

the celebration. Its focus is for staff

members to discuss how the event

went and to make suggestions on what

to do for the next year.

“It just keeps growing,” Robyn said.

“It’s really been a growth of an idea of

celebrating the nation’s independence,

but also then saying let’s give back to

the community that supports us so

well.” F

Sheldon | Iowa


GOOD LUCK

PULLERS!

Can’t Wait To See You At

THUNDER IN THE VALLEY!

Established 1960

FULL CATALOG,

SCAN HERE!

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

WINNER

2025

BEST OF N’WEST

Proven Results. Honest Work.

712.982.2007 • Rock Valley, IA

Established 2003

CALL US FOR ALL OF YOUR CONCRETE NEEDS!

Rock Valley, IA | 712-476-9443

zomercompany.com

Welcome Pullers!

TOGETHER

COME TO US FOR ALL YOUR

WELDING & FARM REPAIR!

Stop in

When you’re in

town for the truck

& tractor pull!

LET’S DRIVE

We can’t wait to

serve you!

GOOD LUCK PULLERS!

712.476.5309

Rock Valley, IA, 51247

www.hiwaychevbuick.com

1005 Creek Blvd • Rock Valley, IA

712.476.2172 • Rock Valley, IA


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Come early! Gates open 2 hours before each Pull. Pits open to

spectators during each session. There will be a full concession stand

available which will serve the famous Pork & Beef sandwich served by

the Lyon County Pork Producers & the Sioux County Cattleman.

THURSDAY, JULY 10 | 7 P.M.

NA 2WD

Light Limited Mods

Light Super Stock

Modified 4WD Truck

FRIDAY, JULY 11 | 6:30 P.M.

NA 2WD

Light Limited Mods

Light Super Stock

Modified 4WD Truck

Pro Stock Semi Truck

Modified Tractor

Pro Stock

Modified 2WD's

Diesel Super Stock

Limited Pro Stock

540's

Super Farm

Light Limited Pro

Stock

Light Super- AG

3200 Super Field

Pro Stock 4x4 Pickup

SATURDAY, JULY 12 | 6 P.M.

Modified 2WD’s

Diesel Super Stock

Limited Pro Stock

540’s

Pro Stock Semi Truck

Modified Tractor

Pro Stock

Super Farm

Light Limited Pro

Stock

Light Super- AG

3200 Super Field

Pro Stock 4x4 Pickup

*Actual class pulling order for each session will be determined

the day of pull. The pulling order for the classes and sleds will

be posted on the Outlaw Pulling App the day of pull.

WHAT THE PULL WILL INCLUDE:

2 tracks, 2 sleds, 3 sessions, 32 classes,

Excellent parking & Camping.


KEEP EP

WITH YOU

YEAR-ROUND!

Receive all 7 issues -

mailed directly to

your home

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Call Lori at 712.631.4805/800.247.0186 ext. 5705

or subscribe online at nwestiowa.com/subscribe

"#$% &'($

)#*+,-#$./


Fourth of July | 19

!he sky will be bright this Fourth

of July

Fireworks

After a day filled with Fourth of

%#!+ 1#$*'2 | STAFF WRITER

July fun like grilled hot dogs, hamburgers,

watermelon, ice cream and fun

with family or friends, there’s no better

way to round out the night then a fireworks

show.

There are opportunities to see

fireworks all over N’West Iowa around

the Fourth of July holiday. F

ALGONA

Friday, July 4

At the Kossuth County Fairgrounds,

fireworks will begin at dusk

515-295-2411

0#*'$+

ARNOLDS PARK

Friday, July 4

At dusk over West Okoboji Lake

712-332-2107

EMMETSBURG

Friday, July 5

Dusk on Five Island Lake

712-852-2283

GEORGE

Saturday, July 5

9:30 p.m. Dusk behind George Little

Rock School Grounds

712-475-3612

Local towns and cities

celebrate the Fourth

with fireworks

INWOOD

Friday, July 4

10 p.m. in the Inwood City Park

712-753-4833

LAKE PARK

Thursday, July 3

Dusk over Silver Lake

712-832-3527

LE MARS

Friday, July 4

10 p.m. at Plymouth County Fairgrounds

712-546-7018

SHELDON

Thursday, July 3

Dusk at Village Northwest Unlimited

Independence Day Celebration

712-324-4873

SIOUX CENTER

Friday, July 4

712-722-0761

Fireworks will be launched from the

south edge of the Ridge Golf Course

SIOUX FALLS, SD

Friday, July 4

Dusk at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

605-336-1620

SPIRIT LAKE

Thursday, July 3

Over Big Spirit Lake- starts around

dusk

712-336-0946

STORM LAKE

Friday, July 4

Dusk over Storm Lake

712-732-3780

WORTHINGTON, MN

Thursday, July 3

Dusk over Lake Okabena following

Beach Bash in Centennial Park

507-372-2919

Regional | Iowa


20 |

Screen

new at the

box office

Limited release movies are not included in “What’s New.” Only films that receive an average “C” or

better rating by movie critics on both coasts and the Midwest are included in “Good Stuff.”

Megan 2.0

PG-13 | 119 min.

After the underlying tech

for M3GAN is stolen and

misused by a powerful

defense contractor to

create a military-grade

weapon known as

Amelia, M3GAN’s creator

Gemma realizes

that the only option is to

resurrect M3GAN and

give her a few upgrades,

making her faster, stronger,

and more lethal.

Bride Hard

R | 113 min.

Sam is a secret agent

whose toughest mission

to date is pleasing her

bride-to-be best friend at

a lavish destination wedding.

When a team of mercenaries

crashes the party

and takes the guests hostage,

Sam is thrown into

a fight unlike any before

— one where she can’t risk

blowing her cover or ruining

the big day.

F1

PG-13 | 155 min.

Racing legend

Sonny Hayes is

coaxed out of

retirement to

lead a struggling

Formula 1 team—

and mentor a

young hotshot

driver—while

chasing one more

chance at glory.

good stuff still playing

Elio

PG

99 min.

★★★★★

Elio, finds himself beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary

organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. He is

mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe.

28 Years Later R

115 min.

It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological

How to Train Your

Dragon

★★★★★

PG

140 min.

★★★★★

weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some

have found ways to exist amidst the infected.

Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared

Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons,

challenging the very foundations of Viking society.


ONE QUICK STOP AT BOJI JUNCTION,

conveniently located on the south end of West Lake Okoboji,

AND YOU CAN GET IT ALL!

Quality Cenex fuel for your car, truck, UTV or boat, great pizza,

fresh made sub sandwiches, all the popular cold drinks,

hot coffee, sweet and salty snacks and more.

• ASHTON • BLUELINE JCT. • BOJI JCT • ELLSWORTH

• GEORGE • HARRIS • HARTLEY • HWY 59 FUEL STOP

• INTERSTATE CENEX • JACKRABBIT JUNCTION • LAKEFIELD

• LAKE PARK • LARCHWOOD • LITTLE ROCK • MELVIN

• OCHEYEDAN • ROCK RAPIDS • SPENCER

Phone 712.338.2248 • 2301 Okoboji Avenue, Milford, IA

Carryout Hotline: 712-338-9100


22 |

Calendar

JULY 11-18

Sioux County Fair

MAY

JUNE 24-29

Okoboji Summer Theatre - “The

Musical of Musicals”

Okoboji Summer Theatre, 2001 Hwy. 71,

Okoboji, IA 712-332-7773

JUNE 26

Rock the Roof - Boon, Lambert &

Friends

The Roof Garden Ballroom, 91 Lake St., Arnolds

Park, IA 712-330-0889

JUNE 26

Foreigner: VIB - Very Important

Beer


Park, IA 712-330-0889

JUNE 27

Familiy Nature Night

Dickinson County Nature Center, 22785 Nature

Center Road, Okoboji, IA 712-336-6352

JUNE 27

Live at the Lake - Foreigner

Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park, IA

JUNE 28

Live at the Lake - Songs of the

South - Tribute to Alabama with

special guest Cory Waller & The

Wicked Things


JUNE 28

Picknic in the Park



JUNE 28

University of Okoboji Campus Ride

Iowa Great Lakes, IA 712-338-2424

JUNE 28

Farmers Market at the Park

Arnolds Park Amusement Park, 37 Lake

Drive, Arnolds Park, IA

JUNE 29

Herman’s Hermits

Pearson Lakes Art Center, 2201 Hwy. 71,

Okoboji, IA 712-332-7013

JUNE 30



Okoboji, IA 712-332-7013

JULY 1

Commotion: A Tribute to the Music

of Creedence Clearwater Revival


Okoboji, IA 712-332-7013

JULY 1-2

Fourth of July Tie Dye T-Shirts


Okoboji, IA 712-332-7013

JULY 1-6

Okoboji Summer Theatre - “Ken

Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo”

Okoboji Summer Theatre, 2001 Hwy. 71,

Okoboji, IA 712-332-7773

JULY 2

OnStage Orange City - Hollander

Jazz

Windmill Park, Orange City, IA 712-707-4510

JULY 3

Independence Day Celebrationi

Village Northwest Unlimited, Sheldon, IA

JULY 3

Rock the Roof - The Fabulous Fifty


Park, IA 712-330-0889

JULY 5

Live at the Lake - Jump! Van Halen

Experience


JULY 4-6

Flea Market and Antique Shows

A Memorial Day weekend tradition in the Iowa

Great Lakes area. Find treasures at Vick’s

Corner, Treasure Village, and the Dickinson

County Expo Center. More flea markets are

held during the Fourth of July weekend and

Labor Day weekend.

JULY 5

Farmers Market at the Park

Arnolds Park Amusement Park, 37 Lake

Drive, Arnolds Park, IA

JULY 6

Live at the Lake - Roots in Blue -

USAF Band of Mid-America


JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

DON’T SEE YOUR EVENT?

Email discover@iowainformation.com with

any calendar submissions.


Highlights | 23

JULY 7


Pearson Lakes Art Center, 2201 Hwy. 71, Okoboji,

IA 712-332-7013

JULY 7

Birding on the Green



JULY 8

Frontiers

Pearson Lakes Art Center, 2201 Hwy. 71, Okoboji,

IA 712-332-7013

JULY 8-13

Okoboji Summer Theatre - “Little

Shop of Horrors”

Okoboji Summer Theatre, 2001 Hwy. 71, Okoboji,

IA 712-332-7773

JULY 9

Nature Tots



JULY 9-12

Boji Bantam at Okoboji Summer

Theatre - “Stuart Little”

Okoboji Summer Theatre, 2001 Highway 71,

Okoboji, IA 712-332-7773

JULY 9

OnStage Orange City - Community

Band

Windmill Park, Orange City, IA 712-707-4510

JULY 10

Rock the Roof - Rock a la Carte


Park, IA 712-330-0889

JULY 10

Kenue Coffee Hour



JULY 10

Xerces Society - Bumblebee Citizen

Science Training Day



JULY 10-13

“Into the Woods” from Deegan Children’s

Theatre

Spencer Community Theatre, 518 First Ave. E,

Spencer, IA 712-262-7336

JULY 11

Live at the Lake - Head East


JULY 11-18

Sioux County Fair

JULY 12

BRASL (Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake)

Begins in downtown Spirit Lake, IA 712-336-

4978

If you are planning ahead for your weekend activities,

HERE’S WHERE WE THINK YOU SHOULD START.

PICNIC IN THE

PARK

There’s nothing that screams

summer as much as a picnic. And

the Dickinson County Nature

Center is giving all families an

opportunity for an engaging,

educational and fun picnic

from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday,

June 28. The nature

center is all set to host their

first Picnic in the Park. “Picnic

in the Park is a nature-based

program that families can slow

down, engage with the outdoors,

and learn more about their natural

surroundings,” said Amy Heibult,

the community relations coordinator

with the Dickinson County

Nature Center. “The event will take

place in the green space near our

Okoboji Gold Disc Golf course

and Westport Schoolhouse, and

afterward participants can enjoy a

picnic with their loved ones.”

!"#$

28

THIS WEEKEND!

UNIVERSITY

OF OKOBOJI

CYCLING

CLASSIC:

CAMPUS

BIKE RIDE

It’s not a race, and

it’s much more

than a ride - it’s the

University of Okoboji

Cycling Classic: Campus

Bike Ride. For more than four

decades cyclists have started

the final Saturday in June with

a ride around the Iowa Great

Lakes. This year’s Cycling Classic

is set for Saturday, June

28, with all the fun and tradition

that has developed over more

than 40 years along the way.

Registration will cost $35 per

person. Proceeds benefit local

emergency departments.

!"#$

28

Iowa Great Lakes Area | Iowa


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